23 Feb 2026 16:44:26
Hi Eds, can I ask a stupid question, was Slot's plan, in buying two number 9's, for Ekitike and Isak to play up front together? I assumed it was and then Isak got injured. Or was the plan to play Isak up front with Ekitike and Mo behind, with Wirtz in-between? I never really understood what the plan was. Thanks.
{Ed001's Note - the plan was for Isak to be first choice and Ekitike as rotation cover or back up.}
23 Feb 2026 18:06:00
It's going to be a nice problem for the next manager. How to keep both of them happy. Ekitike is solidly first choice right now and won't want to lose his place, while Isak is a brilliant player when actually fit.
23 Feb 2026 18:13:40
I think this was the biggest problem, and why the season has failed massively. The formation and slow style just don't suit the squad anymore.
23 Feb 2026 18:19:15
The goal we scored at Tottenham when Isak was injured was interplay from Wirtz, Hugo and Isak. Like to see more of that when Isak comes back. Both Hugo and Isak can interchange and play off the left or play Wirtz behind the pair. Nice problem to have.
23 Feb 2026 18:25:35
Agreed, LFC8, we're not playing to Isak's strengths at all.
23 Feb 2026 18:28:52
Having two top class strikers is never a bad idea.
23 Feb 2026 18:32:02
When we get a good manager in charge, then hopefully they can deal with it.
23 Feb 2026 18:46:27
Don't see the issue with playing both of them, to be honest. It's made out to be some mystical phenomenon these days, playing two up top, but it really should be. There are plenty of ways you can play with two strikers, whilst packing the midfield to counter the typical 4231 these days.
23 Feb 2026 19:03:29
Shouldn't be, I mean.
23 Feb 2026 19:06:24
We need to get a manager who knows how to play Wirtz, Hugo and Isak, and find the answer to Gapko, Grav, Maca and a replacement for Salah, and we need him very quickly before we fall any further behind. YNWA.
23 Feb 2026 19:07:14
Isak is not top class, and is pretty poor in all aspects of his game apart from finishing. I doubt he will score over 50 goals for Liverpool before he is released on a free.
23 Feb 2026 19:24:05
I sense someone might have upvoted their own post. ??
23 Feb 2026 20:05:39
Well, I think Isak is top class. Finishing is the most difficult thing to do in football.
23 Feb 2026 20:46:34
Competition for places and rotation is exactly what we want and need. I felt it worked a treat last season with Gakpo and Diaz on the left, both players benefited and so did the team. I felt almost 40 goals between them, I think.
When we signed Wirtz, the general consensus was Szobo would lose his place, but it's brought his game this season to another level. By far our best player. Isak and Ekitike should bring out the best in each other.
23 Feb 2026 20:59:50
Frimpong, Bradley, Endo, Jones, and Gomez have all pushed Szob on to be a better back up right back this season.
23 Feb 2026 21:08:33
Whatever the plan was, it was always starting behind the start line, as Isak was never fit enough and then broke his leg.
23 Feb 2026 22:01:24
@Lucas: Please. ✋
23 Feb 2026 22:37:55
Didn't Man United win the league with Rooney, Tevez, and Berbatov? They had Ronaldo as well, but I remember him playing more on the left. City used Marmoush / Haaland as two up top yesterday, and Real had Ronaldo / Benzema. Actually, I think Ekitike and Isak would work better than either would with Gakpo; they seem to be the least flexible, play-wise.
23 Feb 2026 23:44:38
Ekitike is slightly overrated. Big potential but lots to work on.
24 Feb 2026 07:25:38
I don't think Ekitike is overrated at all. He exceeded all the expectations I had when he first joined. There are still some areas that he needs to work on, particularly his heading, but I think he has been good for us so far.
24 Feb 2026 09:45:36
Maybe ask Crouchie or Shearer to give a bit of heading coaching to Eki.
24 Feb 2026 12:25:35
imo, Isak should never have seen the pitch that early to begin with, with no preseason. That would never have happened under Klopp or Rafa. He would have been put on a programme to get fit, and, esp. with Hugo starting well, we would not have needed to rush him.
Using actual games as preseason training to bed in Isak was a massive mistake. I know he got injured via a bad tackle, but, in terms of his fitness, that was a massive mistake by Slot, in addition to his other failures that have been well-documented.