Managing Liverpool: Arne Slot gets £65m Alexander Isak replacement as Wirtz decision made

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Liverpool are now fifth in the Premier League table and 10 points off the top spot, but there is a huge task ahead of them with a mounting injury listDespite registering a 2-1 victory over Tottenham at the weekend, Liverpool suffered a major casualty in Alexander Isak. With Mohamed Salah away with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool are now significantly under strength in the forward line.With the January transfer window fast approaching, Mirror Football takes a look at some of the decisions that may have to be made by Arne Slot and co. if the Anfield outfit are to challenge for Europe and perhaps still even the title.Get Semenyo inWith Isak and Cody Gakpo injured and Salah away, Slot needs to get a reinforcement in to bolster the attacking options.

If they don't do this and another player gets injured, it will make life infinitely more difficult for Slot and Liverpool.One player that has been consistently linked with the Reds is Bournemouth forward man Antoine Semenyo, who has enjoyed a stellar campaign to date.READ MORE: Erling Haaland locked in robot war with Peter Crouch over iconic goal celebrationREAD MORE: Virgil van Dijk reveals Xavi Simons conversation after red card challengeAlthough Semenyo plays off the left and Salah on the right, the attacking player scores goals and creates chances, so he would be replacing Salah in that regard, in the long-term. Liverpool are understood to be battling with Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur for his signature, valued at £65m.Semenyo has also previously discussed his aspirations to play as a central striker, so the Premier League star could well be slotted in to replace Isak should Hugo Ekitike be rested/rotated.

He has been one of the form players this season yet again and it may be worth putting £30m on the table for Palace to ensure Liverpool get their man.They could, of course try and negotiate a deal for him in the summer but given the injuries to Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez, Liverpool simply have to get another centre-back in to steady the ship. Otherwise, they risk a replay of 2020/2021, where Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams were the centre-back partnership in the absence of multiple senior defenders.Play Wirtz in his actual positionFlorian Wirtz was signed as one of the most promising central attacking midfielders in Europe but Slot has started him on the left of late.It would be great to see the £116m prodigy get another chance in what he has proven is his most effective role at number 10, despite disappointing there at the start of the campaign.Liverpool have gone from Fabinho to Ryan Gravenberch as sixes in recent years and both have been excellent, with the two midfielders ahead of them allowed to flourish and explore the space in their path.Now Slot could utilise Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in a flat midfield partnership - arguably the two best midfielders right now ahead of Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones, although the latter has been superb lately.Then, put Wirtz back in his actual position behind a potential attacking trio of Antoine Semenyo, Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa.