Liverpool are the team that benefits the most from Alexander Isak's talent. And now, their fans will eagerly await the prospect of the most expensive striker in Premier League history wearing the Kop shirt for the first time, in their away match at Burnley.
Isak is likely to start from the bench, having not played much since leaving Newcastle. However, when he is put on the field, he will certainly attract great attention.
Four goals and one assist in six meetings with Liverpool clearly showed Isak's ability. That is the desire to conquer a big stage and the ability to create a constant threat.
Now that Isak has put on a red shirt, the question is how will coach Arne Slot adjust the attack to make the most of this expensive rookie?
After all, Liverpool are leading the Premier League scoring list this season with 8 goals in just the first 3 rounds. So which position will Isak be most suitable for and how will his appearance affect Liverpool's squad structure?
Will Ekitike pair up with Isak, move to the wing or the reserve?
"It will be a fierce competition," Hugo Ekitike admitted during the training session with the French team this month, when asked about Isak's appearance.
Ekitike has quickly established themselves since joining Eintracht Frankfurt last summer. Now, he also has 3 goals in his first appearances for Liverpool, including in the English Super Cup match. However, his upcoming position will be directly affected.
"You may see the coach using two strikers at some point," former defender Jamie Carragher analyzed. However, he stressed that Isak is likely to be the number one choice in the centre-forward position, while Ekitike has to accept a rotation with the Swedish striker or compete for a cross-field spot.
Last season in the Bundesliga, Ekitike made a strong impression with their ability to move flexibly into the corridors while deploying the ball. This helps the home team move deeper into the danger zone before Ekitike moves into the penalty area, shoots or assists from wider positions.
That trend he continued to show at Liverpool. Although he often receives the ball close to the goal, Ekitike has also moved to the left wing many times to coordinate with teammates such as Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz.
Last season, Isak averaged nearly seven touches in the box per game - a statistic that put him in the top 7% of the most effective strikers in Europe's top five leagues. It is easy to imagine that he will continue to exploit the space close to the goal, while Ekitike and his teammates will take a deeper step back to support.
Of course, Isak has the ability to make a breakthrough from afar, with 6 of his 23 goals in the Premier League last season coming from outside the box. Therefore, the positioning swaps and coordination with Ekitike will certainly be in Arne Slot's tactical calculations.
In addition, the rotation factor in the center forward position also needs to be taken into account. "Hugo Ekitike will not be able to carry the attack until Christmas alone" - Carragher commented when discussing Liverpool's need to add a striker in the summer transfer window.
Similarly, expecting Isak - a player who has had an injury problem - to play in every match is unrealistic. Especially since the "Red Brigade" played 56 matches in all competitions last season.
Location of Cody Gakpo
If Ekitike is pushed to the sidelines to give Isak the central position, Gakpo will be the one to sacrifice the starting position. However, the Dutch striker's contributions are something that cannot be easily overlooked.
Gakpo has started every Liverpool game this season as a left winger and has shown outstanding efficiency. He leads the team in the number of assists, chances created as well as the number of shots.
As Isak regains his best form after a broken pre-season, Arne Slot can flexibly rotate Gakpo and Ekitike in the left wing position depending on the game.
In addition, young talent Rio Ngumoha also deserves attention, with a mature and promising performance at the age of 17 since being promoted to the first team.
Can Isak shine with Salah?
A striker who has not been in good form for Liverpool up to this point is Mohamed Salah, although he still managed to leave his mark on 2 goals after 3 rounds in the Premier League.
The Egyptian star, the best player in the Premier League last season, still plays an irreplaceable role in the starting lineup and continues to be a mainstay on the right wing of Liverpool's attack.
Can Isak help Salah regain his top form? The No. 9 rookie will certainly attract significant attention from the opponent's defense, and it is his moves that can open up space for Salah to exploit.
Not only is Isak a benefactor, he is also increasingly showing his creativity. Last season, he had the best assist of his career with 6 passes in the Premier League and a total of 42 chances created.
However, Liverpool also have to consider a big problem. That is Salah's absence when the African Cup of Nations takes place this winter.
Not only did he miss an important period of the season, the Egyptian star also had difficulty regaining his form after previous major tournaments, whether due to injuries or other reasons.
