Club insider questions Arne Slot's treatment of Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool paid £125m for Alexander Isak last summer.

It made the Sweden striker the most expensive player ever in British football history - and the fourth-most expensive player of all time. In many ways Isak was the dream signing of sporting director Richard Hughes and head coach Arne Slot.

The Reds spent all summer courting the 26-year-old - who went on strike in order to force a move to Anfield. He arrived - finally - on transfer deadline day and has spent the time since catching up his match fitness.

Liverpool will no doubt expect the No9 to hit his best form soon - and begin to pay back that sizeable transfer fee.

Ekitike has fallen out of favour

But the Reds also signed another top forward over the summer. Hugo Ekitike, 23, came on board from Eintracht Frankfurt - signing for the Premier League champions in a £69m deal.

And before Isak’s signing was made official it was left to Ekitike to lead the line. He got off to a bright start in his Anfield career - scoring three times in his first five top-flight games and also getting off the mark in the Community Shield and the EFL Cup.

But Ekitike has largely fallen out of favour with Arne Slot since scoring against Southampton in the EFL Cup - when he was sent off for removing his shirt in celebration.

He served a suspension versus Crystal Palace - in a game that Liverpool lost - and has had to settle for a place on the bench against both Chelsea and Manchester United.

Ekitike treated 'harshly'

Liverpool of course have LOST all of those games with Isak going scoreless up top. And now club insider James Pearce has shared what he thinks of Ekitike’s situation.

“Hugo Ekitike has been harshly consigned to bench duty to accommodate Isak, but his introduction against United instantly provided the kind of dynamism and directness that had been lacking with the misfiring Swede leading the line,” he said in a report in the Athletic.

Despite his strong start it looks like Ekitike might have to contend himself with a back-up role even while Isak finds his best form.

It’s a shame for the France international right now but there should be a sufficient number of games for him to make an impact over the course of the season.

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