How Liverpool Could Line Up With Both Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool remain in the conversation for Alexander Isak amid his public feud with Newcastle United.

Hugo Ekitiké has made a bright start to his Liverpool career. / IMAGO/Propaganda Photo

Arne Slot must be waking up like a kid on Christmas morning every day this summer.

The Dutchman’s next shiny new toy is seemingly never too far away. Liverpool’s summer spending has now eclipsed £300 million ($405 million), with the Reds having rejuvenated at full back and significantly bolstered their attack with the record-breaking arrival of Florian Wirtz.

Hugo Ekitiké has followed Wirtz from the Bundesliga to Anfield, making a lightning quick start to his Liverpool career. Yet, the Reds retain significant interest in another centre forward: Alexander Isak.

The Newcastle United forward has his heart set on a move to Liverpool and has even released a shock statement on social media in a bid to accelerate his exit. The Magpies, who continue to play hardball, have issued a defiant response that only serves to create greater uncertainty around the Swede’s future.

Whether Liverpool can negotiate and finalise a deal for Isak before the impending deadline remains to be seen, but their Premier League title competitors will be fearing a union between the Reds and the 25-year-old.

Here’s how Liverpool could line up with Isak and Ekitiké.

---

Two-Striker System

Ekitiké shone in tandem with Omar Marmoush at Eintracht Frankfurt. / IMAGO/Sven Simon

Before Omar Marmoush joined Manchester City in January, he worked in destructive tandem with Ekitiké at Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Frenchman’s success working as part of a strike duo means he could function alongside Isak at Anfield, although that would likely require a shift in approach from Slot. Without the ball, there would be little need for change. Liverpool often defended in a 4-2-4 shape last season, with advanced midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai joining the first pressing line.

Instead, the two strikers will lead the Reds’ press, with Liverpool likely to shift to more of a 4-4-2 in possession, although there would be scope to morph further, potentially into a 3-2-5 configuration, depending on the positions of both full backs.

Slot has opened the door to a two-striker system when discussing Ekitiké’s role, revealing: “I see Hugo mainly as a No. 9 that could also play from the left or play together with another No. 9.”

Liverpool’s already devastating attack would take a different shape with Ekitiké and Isak, but Slot has seemingly planned for a future with both of them in Liverpool red.

---

Free Rotation Out Wide

Both strikers are comfortable drifting out wide. / IMAGO/Action Plus

Slot’s default was a fluid 4-2-3-1 last season, and Ekitiké previously performed as a wide forward when Frankfurt adopted a back four. The Frenchman is no winger, but he’s adept at withdrawing from a striker position and drifting out wide.

Ekitiké tends to float out to the left, where he can receive possession and cut infield—evident in both his goal and assist against Bournemouth in Liverpool’s league opener. After moving inside, he can then combine with the striker in and around the opposition’s box. Isak, as Marmoush did, would benefit from his partner’s ability to escape pressure and break games open with his dribbling ability. The Sweden international is excellent at hanging on the last shoulder of defenders and timing his runs in behind perfectly.

Isak could thus get the nod up top in a 4-2-3-1 with Ekitiké starting wide left, but the fluidity Slot preaches between his attackers means the two will constantly occupy one another’s zones. Isak is also comfortable rotating out to the left flank, producing one of the assists of the 2023–24 season at Goodison Park after working his way down the touchline and bamboozling a string of Everton defenders before teeing up Jacob Murphy.

---

Room for One

The Liverpool boss may only have room for one new striker in his strongest XI. / IMAGO/NurPhoto

Ekitiké’s talent is off the charts, but the 23-year-old is not the finished article. Isak, on the contrary, ranked among the best-performing strikers in Europe last season. He’s as Premier League proven as it gets.

While Slot would ideally find a way of getting both summer additions in the same starting XI, there may only be room for one. The Liverpool boss has to consider German superstar Wirtz, which renders a two-striker system unlikely. Moreover, there’s no guarantee that Ekitiké and Isak will strike the sort of relationship that brought the Frenchman so much success alongside Marmoush at Frankfurt,

From a balance perspective, it simply might not work. Slot may be content with having Gakpo wide left, Salah on the opposite side, while Wirtz operates off the shoulder of Isak. Ekitiké might have to accept a supporting role.

---

READ THE LATEST LIVERPOOL NEWS, TRANSFER RUMORS AND MORE

feed