Arne Slot\u2019s selection headache is an enviable problem: Hugo Ekitik\u00e9 or Alexander Isak? The debate has intensified amid an unsettling patch of form for Liverpool, although a commanding win over Eintracht Frankfurt has offered some relief.<\/p>\n
Ekitik\u00e9 arrived on Merseyside a month before Isak and has taken immediate advantage. Since his \u00a379 million move he has scored six times, including three in his first three appearances and one just four minutes into the Community Shield. He also returned to the scoresheet against his former employers Frankfurt midweek. Beyond goals, the 23-year-old has impressed with his work rate out of possession, his link-up play and by leading the squad for successful dribbles per 90 in the Premier League.<\/p>\n
Isak\u2019s start has been the opposite. The 26-year-old missed Newcastle United\u2019s pre-season after a protracted transfer saga and only arrived on Deadline Day, which has left him short of match sharpness and fitness. He has produced two goal contributions in eight matches \u2014 a goal in the cup at Southampton and an assist at Chelsea before the October international break \u2014 but his displays have felt below the standard Liverpool paid a Premier League-record sum to secure.<\/p>\n
When times are tough, passengers cannot be carried. Isak has looked rusty and has lacked the clinical edge expected of a player of his reputation, even if his quality remains obvious and returns can be expected with time.<\/p>\n
Slot has frequently rotated the front line; against Frankfurt both started and it was Ekitik\u00e9 who produced the more eye-catching contribution, with Isak substituted at half time. With Liverpool having spent around \u00a3204 million on centre forwards this summer and needing immediate results, selection decisions carry added weight.<\/p>\n
Playing Isak in easier fixtures and cup ties such as the Carabao Cup fourth round with Crystal Palace is a sensible way to build his rhythm. For now, however, Ekitik\u00e9\u2019s form and contributions give him the stronger short-term case to lead the line for Liverpool.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ekitik\u00e9’s fast start has created a clear short-term case to start; Isak needs games to recover form.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4000,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[175,172,1125],"tags":[195,299,1181],"class_list":["post-4001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-liverpool","category-epl","category-strikers","tag-alexander-isak","tag-arne-slot","tag-ekitike-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.weplayfpl.com\/news-articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.weplayfpl.com\/news-articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.weplayfpl.com\/news-articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.weplayfpl.com\/news-articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.weplayfpl.com\/news-articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4001"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.weplayfpl.com\/news-articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4001\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.weplayfpl.com\/news-articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4000"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.weplayfpl.com\/news-articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.weplayfpl.com\/news-articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.weplayfpl.com\/news-articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}