Liverpool fans should be very excited by what French press are now reporting about Ekitike and Olise - opinion
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Hugo Ekitike continues to impress for both Liverpool and France after making his full international debut on Friday.The rangy striker has hit the ground running at Anfield, scoring five times in his first ten appearances for the club.Despite his clear quality, however, there is a general expectation that Ekitike may find himself relegated to a back-up role, as Alexander Isak assumes starting duties.Isak looks fully up to speed during the international break, meaning we should finally get a peek into how Liverpool plan to use the two strikers going forward once domestic football returns.In the meantime, Liverpool continue to be linked with Michael Olise, with the Bayern Munich attacker reportedly seen as a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah.While some supporters may be concerned at how Olise, Ekitike and Isak could fit into the same team, the French press have given a promising verdict on how it might just work.Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty ImagesHugo Ekitike and Michael Olise developing understandingInterestingly, Ekitike started in a front two with Kylian Mbappe for France on Friday. With Kingsley Coman on the left wing and Olise starting on the right, it was very much a 4-4-2 for Les Bleus.READ MORE: Northern Ireland teammates blown away by ‘unbelievable’ Liverpool star Conor BradleyEkitike and Mbappe linked up well, the Liverpool man providing an assist for his Real Madrid colleague, and dovetailing nicely with him throughout the game.While this bodes well for how Ekitike and Isak can play together, Foot Mercato provided another little snippet of what Liverpool may be planning.They claim that Ekitike and Olise gained a clear ‘understanding’ together which ‘showed great promise for the future.’Although they were obviously referring to their potential time together with the national team, it is something that should excite Liverpool fans about what their future could look like too.Ekitike, Olise and Isak need a fourth BeatleMore generally, Foot Mercato are incredibly positive about how Ekitike played during his full France debut.Liverpool’s No.
22 is described as having been ‘active, inspired, and dangerous’ while playing the role of a ‘mobile centre forward,’ which is said to have suited him down to the ground.In the meantime, the link up with Mbappe and Olise really should give Liverpool fans an idea of what Arne Slot is trying to achieve with his forward line.However, if Mbappe is replaced by Isak for the Reds, and Olise is Salah for the time being, and perhaps even himself in the fullness of time, Liverpool still need to nail down a player for the left wing.Cody Gakpo could still be the answer, but there is a feeling that the Dutchman is not quite of the quality of his attacking teammates. As a result, perhaps a key feature of Slot’s recruitment drive in the coming years should be to nail down who can take up that fourth position alongside what could be an exceptional trio.
Supporters should keep an eye on how Ekitike and Olise’s partnership develops, they could one day see it in action at Anfield.