Liverpool's £12m Isak replacement forward is BETTER than Haaland

Liverpool have been left devastated by the long-term injury suffered by Alexander Isak.

The Sweden international, 26, was signed on transfer deadline day for £125m. Having left Newcastle he became the most expensive player in British football history - and the third most expensive of all time.

But his time in Liverpool has been cursed so far. He arrived unfit, picked up an injury which kept him out for weeks, and has never truly looked like the Newcastle version of himself up to now.

Arne Slot hoped he would turn a corner in the weekend win against Tottenham - and his goal which was assisted by Florian Wirtz was certainly an encouraging sign.

Unfortunately Isak suffered a broken leg in the process of scoring his goal - an incredibly harsh blow for a player looking to get back into form during a difficult season.

Liverpool require Isak cover

Isak will be out for at least three to four months - although seeing him in a red shirt before the end of the season would at this stage be a bonus.

Hugo Ekitike will no doubt pick up the pieces in the meantime - with the Frenchman overshadowing the more expensive striker since both were signed last summer.

But the Reds will require cover - with suggestions that Richard Hughes is ready to move for a replacement in January. That would be to overlook the talent already on the books however - as one player has demonstrated that he has the quality to step up.

Chiesa's better goal record than Haaland

Arne Slot might not like to hear it but Federico Chiesa is the man who could succeed Isak for the rest of the season - and the club wouldn’t have to spend a penny.

He cost only £12m in summer 2024 - and after a first campaign which was broadly disappointing the 28-year-old has really stepped up this term.

Chiesa has got his head down, worked hard and impressed whenever Slot has afforded him minutes on the pitch. In fact he’s got a better goals per 90-minute ratio in the Premier League this season than anyone else - Erling Haaland included.

Federico Chiesa can do a job for Liverpool

Chiesa has scored two Premier League goals in only 151 minutes or thereabouts. His goals per 90 is 1.19 whereas Haaland’s is at 1.17.

And still Slot hasn’t seen fit to give Chiesa a start - either on the right wing as a Mo Salah alternative or else up front where Chiesa has mostly played this season.

It’s clear that Slot doesn’t see Chiesa as a starter - or as a winger for that matter - but he continues to do the business even as his manager underrates him.

With Isak out it could be time to give Chiesa more prominence - and allow him to showcase for a better quantity of time that he’s got a rare matchwinning quality sorely lacking in other Liverpool forwards this term.

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