Alan Shearer names Liverpool player Arne Slot cannot leave out – 'He has to play him'
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Alan Shearer believes Arne Slot cannot afford to drop Hugo Ekitike at present.
That is despite Liverpool possessing another top-class number nine option in Alexander Isak, who is still awaiting his first league start.
Both forwards made the switch to Merseyside for substantial fees during the summer window, yet they are still to feature on the pitch simultaneously.
Isak started the Champions League win against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday before Ekitike returned to the starting XI for the Premier League success over Everton on Saturday.
As they have not played together before, the strategy remains unclear regarding how frequently they will be utilised in a front two, though Shearer insists Ekitike currently holds the starting berth.
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"It's not a bad option, is it?" Shearer remarked on NBC Sports.
"Having said that, at the minute, there's no way I would, if I was Ekitike, there's no way I'd be thinking I deserve to be left out this side with the form that I'm in, the goals that I'm scoring.
"He can't leave him out.
Promising winger Rio Ngumoha was selected instead, although he remained unused throughout the match.
Ekitike delivered an outstanding display and finished clinically when presented with the opportunity following a sublime Ryan Gravenberch through ball.
Shearer, however, was less impressed with Liverpool's left-back Milos Kerkez's performance against Everton.
Despite a solid display, the Newcastle legend remained unimpressed.
"At the minute, we're not seeing the same player in Kerkez, as we saw with Bournemouth," he said.
"He was free-flowing.
He had the license to go and roam and get forward.
"Here, to me it seems as if he's caught in two minds whether he's going to go, whether he's going to stay and help protect that with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate."
Liverpool are set to face Southampton in the League Cup next, with Slot expected to make significant changes to his starting line-up.
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Isak could see more game time as he continues to regain his match fitness.