Hugo Ekitike breaks silence on Alexander Isak arrival as Liverpool place in danger
Liverpool broke the bank to sign strikers Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak in an unprecedented summer of spending, but they now face a problem.
Isak arrived on transfer deadline day after Ekitike had already impressed in his first few games, and there now remains the question of how both will fit into the side.
Arne Slot will have a dilemma when Isak is fully fit and ready to go, as Ekitike has arguably made himself undroppable with his early-season form.
Liverpool could move one of their big-name strikers to the left wing, but Cody Gakpo has also started well, and it now appears that it will be a straight battle between Ekitike and Isak for a starting spot.
Hugo Ekitike excited about Alexander Isak arrival
Some questioned how Ekitike would react when Isak arrived, given that he could not have done any more to impress with three goals in his first three games.
However, the Frenchman has now broken his silence over the deal and claimed that he is excited by the British record move to sign the attacker from Newcastle.
| Attribute | Ekitike | Isak |
| Goals last season (domestic) | 15 | 23 |
| Assists last season (domestic) | 8 | 6 |
| xG per 90 | 0.75 | 0.66 |
| Shots per 90 | 4.08 | 3.22 |
| Shots on target per 90 | 1.68 | 1.50 |
| Successful final third passes per 90 | 6.98 | 8.32 |
| Progressive carries per 90 | 6.35 | 8.71 |
“It’s fun. When you play for the best teams, you expect to be competing with the best players. Isak is a player I’ve watched too, so seeing him arrive is a pleasure,” he told Liverpool club media.
“It’s going to be tough competition, but I’m going to focus on performing well so that it’s a problem for the manager.”
Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike can motivate each other
Having two top-quality strikers competing for the same position is not new, but Liverpool will need to strike a balance in how they select the pair, without neglecting one of them.
Isak is likely to be the main starter, but Ekitike can be substituted in regularly to help maintain his fitness, and both can motivate each other to succeed.
If either suffers a dip in form, there will be another centre-forward ready to step in, and this certainly bodes well for the Reds, with Isak’s signing making Liverpool Premier League title favourites.
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