Nine-goal forward SENSATION now pushing for first-team debut

Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak over the summer - for a combined total of almost £200m.

Those two were expected to carry the goalscoring burden for the Reds in the 2025/26 season as well as the years ahead. Ekitike has got off to a brilliant start in his Anfield career - with 11 goals scored already.

But the Premier League champions are still waiting to see the best of Isak - who has only two top-flight goals to his name and is now absent with a broken leg.

Therefore Hugo Ekitike’s hamstring injury hasn’t come at an ideal time.

Keyrol Figueroa in red-hot form

Liverpool were forced to play without a natural No9 in the recent games against Fulham and Arsenal - with Ekitike unfit.

Owing to Isak’s injury it has been necessary to use the 23-year-old more than what Arne Slot would consider ideal. And the upshot is that the former Eintracht Frankfurt man is now injured.

Liverpool have got a game against League One Barnsley on Monday night in the FA Cup third round. Under ordinary circumstances you would expect Slot to shuffle the pack and give his first-choice troops a rest against lowly opposition.

That possibility looks more likely given Liverpool’s current injury troubles - meaning we could see a young striker given his chance on Monday.

Arne Slot should start Keyrol Figueroa

And who better to consider than Keyrol Figueroa?

The 19-year-old striker has been tearing it up at Premier League 2 level - scoring nine goals in 10 matches overall for Rob Page’s side.

The son of former Wigan player Maynor Figueroa has scored SEVEN goals in his last FOUR appearances at that level - with his latest interventions rescuing the game against Norwich on Friday.

The USA youth international hit two late strikes having come off the bench in the away fixture - converting a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 win.

Liverpool’s other young options are painfully thin - with Jayden Danns still injured and Will Wright working his way back to fitness too.

Arne Slot has already called upon Figueroa for the first team once this season - offering him a place on the bench for the EFL Cup defeat to Crystal Palace.

Given his form it may be time to give a player with the Midas touch in front of goal his opportunity against Barnsley.

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