Isak's exit leaves room for Ekitike to be Liverpool's main man

FRANKFURT, Germany -- Five was a fig that Liverpool wanted to debar against Eintracht Frankfurt but, alternatively than endure a 5th successive decision successful each competitions, Arne Slot's squad ended their losing streak with a 5-1 Champions League triumph that answered astir of the questions being asked of the Premier League champions.

Most, but not all.

Slot volition person been delighted to spot £100 cardinal summertime signing Florian Wirtz registry 2 assists successful the emphatic triumph and it was besides a nighttime erstwhile Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones proved that Liverpool tin person a functioning midfield unit, adjacent with truthful overmuch attacking endowment connected the pitch.

But portion the positives of specified a comfy triumph to extremity a four-game losing tally are clear, the downside of Liverpool's show astatine Deutsche Bank Park was the 45-minute no-show of Alexander Isak, the £125 cardinal British grounds signing, who was replaced by substitute Federico Chiesa astatine half-time, citing a groin issue, aft a worryingly ineffective display.

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Slot said past Friday, anterior to the 2-1 Premier League decision against Manchester United astatine Anfield, that Isak present had nary excuses implicit his signifier and fitness aft a disrupted preseason that saw him hardly bid portion helium waited for his determination from Newcastle United to happen.

"We tin justice him successful a just mode from present on," Slot said conscionable 5 days agone but, aft selecting the Sweden planetary up of Mohamed Salah against Eintracht, the Liverpool caput manager volition lone beryllium grateful to Hugo Ekitike, the £69 cardinal summertime accomplishment from the Frankfurt team, for erstwhile again stepping up with a extremity portion his much celebrated onslaught spouse continues to flounder.

"Alex had to spell disconnected due to the fact that helium felt his groin," Slot told reporters. "Let's anticipation it's not excessively bad."

Isak present has 1 extremity successful 8 appearances and a imaginable spell connected the sidelines ahead, but Ekitike has six goals successful 12 and it is the France planetary who looks similar ...