Arne Slott has been told to let go of one of Liverpool’s struggling star players. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Liverpool are currently in a difficult situation, having lost three of their last four games in all competitions. The latest of those defeats came against Man United on Sunday. Arne Slott’s team has struggled to gel, especially with their summer big-money acquisitions sluggish.
The biggest player in those signings was Alexander Isak, who arrived from Newcastle in the biggest deal in English transfer history worth £125 million. His contract promised a lot but so far it has been hugely disappointing as his goalless run in the Premier League continued against Man United.
Micah Richards urges Arn Slott to remove Alexander Isaac
Speaking on the podcast ‘The Rest Is Football’ (via Football Insider), Micah Richards said Isak is several levels ahead of what he has shown for Newcastle over the past few seasons.
“The fiasco that happened in the summer shows that. He’s not fit. Arne Slott said in a previous press conference that he looks fit now and we’ll see the real LSAK from now on. But the chances he got in the game, if he’s at Newcastle, he’ll hide it.”
Richards also made it clear that Isaac should be removed from the starting XI for the time being and replaced by Hugo Ekitike.
“Ekitike is a better nine at the moment, it’s simple. He’s fitter, he’s sharper. When he comes on, he creates chances for himself. It looked like at one stage of the game they changed their formation to accommodate both strikers when they went into something like a 4-2-4. Then they sent Isaac off.”
“I think Ekitike has adapted better and had a better preseason. It’s very simple, but he has to play.”
Isak didn’t have an easy start to life at Liverpool, but there’s still plenty of time to turn things around. Slott hopes that happens, but like Florian Wirtz, it might be best for him to be sidelined for now.