How Liverpool could line-up with Alexander Isak as £125m transfer close
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Liverpool will be hoping Alexander Isak can replicate his form at Anfield.(Image: Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Liverpool are one step closer to completing a deal to sign Alexander Isak in a move that would shatter the British transfer record.
He will also have to begin planning for life with a new striker in the building and the potential headache that comes with fitting world-class players into his system and starting 11.
It will soon become clear what the focus for the Premier League champions' frontline will look like, but for the meantime, you would expect his workload to be managed in order to ensure that Liverpool aren't without their record signing for an extended period of time after forcing him into the frame too quickly.
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The new-look Liverpool squad have had teething issues, but they have continued their superb run with Dominik Szoboszlai's wonder goal, ensuring an important 1-0 win in an early-season title showdown with Arsenal.
Already through the door this summer are Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.
The pair have been everpresent in the Premier League for Liverpool so far in the opening three matches.
In a different world, Ekitike may have been lining up with Isak at Newcastle United, as Eddie Howe's side targeted the Frenchman as part of their pursuit of strengthening attacking options.
However, Liverpool swooped in to land the forward from Eintracht Frankfurt and since his Anfield switch, he has scored three goals in four competitive games - he found the back of the net against Arsenal, but it was chalked off after Cody Gakpo strayed offside.
The question facing the Liverpool head coach is where Isak will fit in.
With the introduction of Wirtz, as well as the returning Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, Szoboszlai has been deployed at right-back, delivering two standout performances, with Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley out injured.
One possibility, which received some kickback from Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher during the opening day win over Bournemouth, is Isak leading the line in place of Ekitike.
But the point that the two Sky Sports pundits made was whether it would be right having a £69million option from the bench.
With the quantity of matches that Liverpool will play, including five in 16 days to round off September, there will be plenty of opportunities to rotate.
In the opening three games, Ekitike has been the lone forward in a 4-2-3-1 with Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo on either flank.
Slot may view Ekitike as an option down the flanks in the attacking trio alongside Salah and Wirtz, with Isak up front.
Newcastle may have offered a blueprint for what a dominant attacking force would look like in an Ekitike and Isak partnership.