Danny Murphy believes Liverpool would be ‘naive’ not to make one change when Alexander Isak is fit
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Liverpool could do with their £125 million signing starting sooner rather than later.
Sunday’s game against Burnley was a frustrating performance from the Reds, but the result ended up the same as it has since the start of the season, a late win this time caused by a single defensive mistake.
A Hannibal Mejbri handball gifted the team a penalty, which could only be converted by the one and only Mohamed Salah to snatch a 1-0 victory at Turf Moor against the newly promoted side.
The Clarets defended superbly in the game, with Scott Parker’s men being able to maintain a compact low block, which stopped any open play goals, but they could not account for a red card and the Hannibal mistake.
What it showed Arne Slot’s side is that there needs to be much more creativity and decisiveness in the final third from their midfield and forward players if they are to win back-to-back Premier League titles.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
That is where Alexander Isak should come in for Slot after joining the squad on transfer deadline day from Newcastle United, after a saga which was the main talking point of the summer window.
Isak was a revelation for Newcastle and took their team forward into the top spots of the league.
Now, the Swede is set to push Liverpool towards more title glory.
Although fans will not be seeing the 25-year-old until Wednesday night in the Champions League, it already looks like he can add a new dimension to their team.
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It does mean Hugo Ekitike may have to make way for the Swedish striker to line up in his natural position, which is something former Red Danny Murphy believes has to happen.
During post-match analysis on Match of the Day, Murphy explained why it makes sense to put the big-money signing straight into the starting XI when he is fit and ready ahead of Ekitike.
He said: “Well, I think Isak is going to start more of the games as a striker than Ekitike because he is more rounded.
I mean, Ekitike’s done great, and he is a younger player who is learning, and he can play different positions.
Isak’s bright in terms of his link up so I think that will help one or two of the others around him as well.
“But it’s just so nice for the manager to have all these options, they are probably going to play over 60 games this season, hopefully… But I think when Isak gets fit, it would be naive to think he’s not going to start in that position, and everyone else around him will play off him.”
While the Frenchman would prefer to stay down the middle for a time, he may find himself competing with Cody Gakpo on the left wing if he is displaced in the striker position.
The 23-year-old can play down the left-hand side of the pitch but is more suited to the central position.
Although a stint on the left could unlock a new aspect of his game, which can help serve the team and Isak when he arrives.
The issue will come for Gakpo, who is a consistent, natural option down the left channel, and it would be hard to unseat him from the position.
However, the star quality shown by the former Eintracht Frankfurt striker could pose a threat to the Dutchman’s presumably safe position within the squad.