28 Jul 2025 23:38:19
Can I ask people’s thoughts on ekitikes position? I know he’s a striker of course, but if Isak does come in, will he be comfortable on the wing too, or is that makeshift? I of course trust slot and the team, but from what I have seen of ekitike I really like, he seems like a taller firmino style, maybe with a little more pace, and that would be best suited to number 9. Will he get a fair shot if Isak came in? Would that money not be better spent on a Rodrygo type who can offer quality across the front three, potentially a long term salah replcemebt, and allowing ekitike to play his main role?
29 Jul 2025 00:21:41
Ekitike can play from the left and I’m sure he could adapt to playing from the right too.
He has quality which is what’s most important.
I think we need to get away from wanting a Salah replacement or a VVD replacement for that matter. These guys are unicorns you’ll never find another CB that makes it look so easy or another RW that scores as many goals.
For me this window has been the start of the changing of the guard. Get Isak and Ekitike in and along with Gakpo they can replace the goals when Salah finally can’t do it anymore.
We now need to find a solid partner for Konate (if he stays) but it won’t be someone like Virgil because that player doesn’t exist. It all of course means that the team will operate differently but differently doesn’t always mean worse.
We will have more creativity in the midfield with Wirtz and will score more goals from a central position with Isak with the wingers chipping in 10 to 15 goals a season. The CBs will be a partnership that is greater together than the sum of its parts rather than being reliant on Virgil to hold it together.
Don’t worry, Arne has got this.
29 Jul 2025 00:59:22
Ekitike is adaptable.
Isak will be the least adaptable of all the attackers
But overall, across 50-odd games, there will be plenty of opportunity for game time and also plenty of flexibility for Slot to set up the team the way he wants to.
29 Jul 2025 05:35:14
I would have bought a proper winger to replace Diaz instead of “He can operate there”. Ekitike reminds of Antony Martial. Hope I am wrong. The guy is the skinniest football I have ever seen.
{Ed078's Note - A certain Mr Crouch would disagree.
29 Jul 2025 05:40:25
Diaz only played as a winger half the time last year. So I would say we have replaced him.
I've written something about ekitike and isak and how they can play together, you can do a search in the archives if you'd like to read it ;)
29 Jul 2025 06:12:06
Doesn’t look like a winger to me.
29 Jul 2025 06:41:23
LiverpoolFC08
I agree ?.
29 Jul 2025 06:56:24
Diaz played centrally because Nunez was rubbish and Jota was injured. He was rather forced to play as a CF.
You ll need to change the way we play to accommodate both. He is not a winger by any stretch. And that was my initial argument.
Diaz excelled in dribbling. He had relentless pace and can beat any man on his day. He could also hit the byline consistently.
I have only seen very little of Ekitike. So I don’t know what’s the plan with him.
29 Jul 2025 06:58:40
Firmino didn't look like a CF initially, Milner didn't look like a CM when he joined us, and Grav wasn't deemed to be a DM as well. Maybe we can see what Slot is cooking up first before we pass judgements on how they can or cannot fit in together.
29 Jul 2025 08:30:56
Diaz played centrally because he offered something that Slot wanted from his center forwards. Maybe players' skill sets fitting a tactical vision is actually a bit important in football, rather than this or that player being intrinsically rubbish? Ekitike excels in dribbling, has pace and can beat any man on his day. We have also replaced Robbo with a full back who loves to stay out wide, so our 'wide' attacker can play more centrally or in the half spaces. Let's not get so hung up on 'the way we play', maybe? Slot has shown that he can change things up, even within the space of 90 minutes.
29 Jul 2025 13:18:15
For those freaking out about Ekitike not being a winger, this is how you get at least 2 quality players for every position while giving each of them enough game time.
Look at City and Pep using players in their position but very often also in other positions. Look at PSG for example playing Dembele through the middle when he's a winger. Dracred above gave few LFC examples too.
When you got a player of the quality of Isak coming as CF, you'll struggle to get a top quality CF as a backup if they can only play as a one-dimensional CF and nothingelse. Instead you'll end up with an ok one because no top CF will want to play backup most of the season.
That's why you need versatile players like Ekitike. He's a great up-and-coming CF who will be backup to Isak. the type of player you won't feel like we have a huge weakness if Isak is injured or rested but he'll also be able to play other positions when Isak starts so everyone's happy with plenty of game time.
This is how the top teams can have 2 quality players per position and compete on all fronts.