Liverpool have reportedly secured the signing of Hugo Ekitike and are also expressing interest in Alexander Isak.
Liverpool’s activity in the summer transfer window has already been among the most intriguing seen from a Premier League champion in recent memory.
The acquisition of numerous Bundesliga stars, coupled with the replacement of both full-backs, suggests a significant tactical shift, potentially signaling the end of the Jurgen Klopp era and the dawn of a new chapter.
However, the potential addition of Newcastle’s Alexander Isak would elevate Liverpool’s transfer dealings into uncharted territory, especially following the reported signing of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Not since the days of traditional 4-4-2 formations, where strike partnerships of contrasting styles were almost obligatory, has a top club acquired two elite center-forwards in the same window.
What strategic vision does Arne Slot have in mind?
Here are five possible tactical approaches…
Most of our proposed solutions will require players to adapt to unfamiliar roles, with one exception.
Liverpool could implement a narrow 4-2-3-1 formation, where the wingers, nominally Mohamed Salah and Ekitike, operate centrally as number 10s alongside Florian Wirtz. Width would then be provided by the overlapping full-backs.
Jeremie Frimpong, known for his attacking prowess as a right-back, would likely encourage Salah to drift further infield. Ekitike also tends to drop into central positions, even when starting as a number nine, as illustrated in the graphic below.
This system would facilitate fluid movement among the trio of number 10s. For instance, if Salah or Ekitike moves wide, the other would remain central with Wirtz, creating the box-like structure (with Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch) crucial in modern Premier League tactics.
At times, Ekitike or Salah might push forward into a more traditional center-forward role alongside Isak, shifting the box up a line and connecting with two number 10s behind them.
This formation offers a dynamic approach for Slot to integrate all four players into the starting XI, although it would represent a significant departure from previous strategies.
Let’s explore a more conservative option…
A straightforward solution would be to transition Ekitike into a replacement for Luis Diaz, assuming the Colombian forward completes a transfer to Bayern Munich.
Ekitike has played only nine games (two starts, 324 minutes) as a left-winger, but he frequently drifts to that side, particularly during the 2023-24 season.
More importantly, Slot’s utilization of Cody Gapko and Diaz—as one-on-one dribblers who use their acceleration to cut inside—aligns with Ekitike’s strengths.
In the Bundesliga last season, Ekitike ranked fifth in attempted dribbles (126) and shot-ending carries (44). He also provided eight assists and ranked fifth in ‘attacking sequence’ involvements.
While he hasn’t frequently played there, Ekitike possesses the qualities to excel as a left-winger under Slot.
Ekitike’s most impactful performances at Frankfurt occurred in a strike partnership with Omar Marmoush, before Marmoush’s January move to Manchester City led to the end of Dino Toppmoller’s 3-5-2 formation.
Marmoush and Ekitike routinely interchanged positions, complementing each other instinctively as one dropped deep and the other ran in behind. This dynamic balance troubled defenders and propelled Frankfurt into title contention until late December.
Liverpool are unlikely to adopt a back-three formation soon, mainly because a 3-5-2 with Ekitike and Isak would require benching Salah. However, there is a way to deploy Isak and Ekitike together, albeit with some risk.
Slot’s Liverpool often lines up in a 4-2-4/4-4-2 when out of possession, but significantly, a number 10 (Dominik Szoboszlai) functions as a third midfielder when Liverpool has the ball.
Our suggestion is more vulnerable in midfield, requiring a two-man midfield to cover the space when a quick turnover leads to an opposition counter-attack.
There’s also the challenge of playing Wirtz on the left, a position he has rarely occupied for Bayer Leverkusen and Germany.
Realistically, this setup is best suited for when Liverpool are chasing a game—a high-risk option for later stages.
If the third idea seemed unconventional, this one might seem even more so. However, it could prove effective.
Wirtz is often favorably compared to Kevin De Bruyne, and Marmoush (Ekitike’s former strike partner with similar characteristics) has been considered for the De Bruyne role at Man City.
It’s conceivable that Ekitike could adapt to a hybrid eight/10 role, playing alongside Wirtz similarly to how Pep Guardiola has historically used two aggressive eights in front of a holding midfielder.
Guardiola has long influenced Slot, who once described the Catalan’s style as “the ultimate joy in football.” Perhaps the Liverpool manager plans to emulate Pep’s influence and regularly start with two eights/10s.
However, Premier League football is increasingly transitional and end-to-end, with slower, possession-based play becoming less prevalent. Consequently, Guardiola is more likely to play with two holding midfielders—in a 4-2-3-1—rather than the dual playmaker system seen in his early title wins.
When elite teams have less possession and the opposition isn’t pinned back, a solid midfield base becomes more critical to block quick counter-attacks.
Ryan Gravenberch likely cannot handle this alone. Nevertheless, a City-esque 4-3-3 would be exciting to watch.
It isn’t necessary to devise a wildcard formation that crams all new signings into the same team.
If things go well, Liverpool will play over 60 games next season, necessitating a regularly rotating front line to keep players fresh and opponents guessing.
Ekitike as a £69m cover option may not sound appealing, but he could arguably be the second-best player in four different positions for Liverpool—although Szoboszlai, rivaling Wirtz, might disagree.
Considering injuries, the need to rotate for twice-weekly football, and Slot’s tactical adaptations to the opposition, Ekitike could easily accumulate over 30 starts in all competitions, even if he isn’t technically considered part of the club’s best XI.
Managers of elite clubs rarely think in terms of ‘best XIs’ anymore—schedules are too demanding, and injuries are too frequent.
In fact, the team that fans perceive as their team’s best XI rarely plays together, as many Liverpool supporters know.
The most striking example of this was highlighted by Duncan Alexander,, external who noted that the supposedly iconic Liverpool XI under Klopp—the one that started the Champions League final—had never played together before that game and never played together afterward.
So, how do you solve the riddle? How do you get all of Liverpool’s new signings into the same team? The answer: you don’t.
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