Liverpool are said to have strong interest in signing Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, and here Sports Mole looks at how Arne Slot could pair him with Hugo Ekitike.
Liverpool have been strongly linked with the signature of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, who is reported to want out of St James’ Park.
The Reds’ transfer business this summer has astonished fans, with the likes of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike joining from the Bundesliga.
While boss Arne Slot will be pleased with the additions to his squad so far, the prospect of adding Isak to his starting XI is a tantalising prospect.
The Dutch boss could face a dilemma given both Ekitike and Isak prefer to play as strikers, while the departure of Luis Diaz has also left the manager short of options on the left of attack.
Cody Gakpo appears to be his only senior option to play from the left, and if no more signings are made after Isak, then Slot will have to find internal solutions.
Here, Sports Mole analyses how Slot could fit his attacking stars into a balanced XI next season as his side look to retain their Premier League crown.
How Arne Slot has set Liverpool up in pre-season so far
Liverpool have played three pre-season games so far in preparation for the 2025-26 campaign, and though it is difficult to make snap judgements from friendlies, consistent themes have emerged.
Against the likes of AC Milan and Yokohama F. Marinos, Slot showed a preference to use a 4-2-3-1 system, with Mohamed Salah flanking a central striker from the right, while Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha have flanked from the left.
Wirtz has been used as a number 10, and though Ekitike was used in a centre-forward role against Yokohama on Wednesday, it is difficult to imagine Isak not starting up front as a striker, especially if he is bought for a fee in excess of £100m.
Considering Ekitike cost the Reds significant money – an initial fee of £69m was agreed with Eintracht Frankfurt – it would be surprising if he was left out of the starting XI.
The only position that could be up for grabs would be on the left of attack, but Slot has so far used his wingers as wide attackers, something that could be problematic given Ekitike is at his best in narrow positions.
Who will replace Luis Diaz in the starting XI next season?
Salah can be pencilled in on the right flank, but if Ekitike, Isak and Wirtz are to all in the starting XI next season, then one of them will be forced to play on the left flank.
Winger Diaz would have likely been Slot’s number one on the left in 2025-26, but he has completed a move to Bayern Munich.
If Isak is eyed for the number nine role, then perhaps Ekitike would be able to play as his side’s left-winger if Slot asks left-back Milos Kerkez to overlap in order to allow the Frenchman to move into central positions.
Wirtz could also be an option on the left, as while many have earmarked him as the team’s attacking midfielder, he predominantly played in a left-sided role for Bayer Leverkusen before joining Liverpool.
The German playmaker is too influential in central positions to be wasted on the touchline, so if he was utilised on the left for the Reds, Slot would have to find ways of allowing him to move inside the pitch.
Liverpool did use natural midfielder Curtis Jones as an insider winger away from home against Aston Villa in the Premier League last term, so there is precedence for such a role.
However, with the Premier League season set to begin on August 15, Slot has so far instructed Kerkez to invert into midfield zones, and to change tactics so close to the beginning of the campaign could be risky.
Could Slot change his formation?
Throughout his time at Anfield, Slot has utilised different variations of a 4-2-3-1 shape, and given he won the Premier League title in 2024-25, he may be reluctant to move away from his proven system.
It should be noted that Slot used essentially the same squad that previous Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp had at his disposal in 2023-24, so there is an argument that the current manager’s playstyle was borne out of necessity rather than choice.
Now that he has had a summer transfer window in which an outlay of more than £400m is expected, the former Feyenoord boss could opt for a switch-up at Anfield.
One possible alteration is the use of a two-striker system as the Dutchman would then be able to get Ekitike and Isak into the zones that they feel most comfortable in.
Salah has excelled in a wider creative role for Liverpool in the past seasons, and he would almost certainly be as impactful playing behind a front two.
Wirtz would be at his best if he was given licence to drift to get involved on the ball, though he is still dominant in the left half of the pitch.
One drawback of such a system would be a lack of depth in the centre-forward roles, though internal solutions could be found.
Wirtz is able to play as a false nine, and if he was shifted into a central position up front, Gakpo could come back into the XI on the left.
Federico Chiesa is yet to complete a move away from the club, and he could be kept as a depth option capable of playing across the frontline.
Slot has demonstrated great flexibility during his short tenure in England, and though he may find it difficult to balance his team next term, most clubs would dream of being able to call upon the likes of Ekitike, Wirtz and Isak.
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