Liverpool line up a bold two-No.9 plan: Alexander Isak plus Hugo Ekitike to spearhead Slot’s rebuild

Liverpool are moving decisively to reshape their forward line under Arne Slot, targeting Alexander Isak as the marquee finisher while identifying Hugo Ekitike as a stylistically similar, high-upside partner at a far lower fee. The strategy unlocks a two-No.9 option and preserves 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 flexibility around Mohamed Salah, easing rotation across four competitions. Concerns about minutes and fit are countered by the value of depth, managed loads and a structure that amplifies pressing, runs across the line and penalty-box presence. This is a modern, data-led recalibration—ambitious, coherent, and built to win now and later.

Under a new coaching regime, Liverpool’s recruitment and analytics departments have sharpened their focus on a high-pressing, vertical-attacking profile up front. In parallel with internal squad planning and scenario modeling for a long season across multiple competitions, the club has assessed market options for an elite No.9 and a value play with similar movement patterns. Alexander Isak fits the role of proven Premier League shot-quality leader, while Hugo Ekitike is viewed as a younger, complementary runner who can mirror key behaviors for a fraction of the cost. The approach is designed to secure immediate goals and sustainable depth without compromising tactical identity.

Liverpool of the past only sign Ekitike, not Isak. He profiles as someone who can become as good as Isak whilst being a similar profile for half the price, except maybe that has happened quicker than expected. Causes selection issues with two special #9's at Slot's disposal…

@EBL2017

Impact Analysis

Adding Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike would instantly redefine Liverpool’s attacking threat and scheduling resilience. Isak’s strengths—first touch under pressure, separation in the box, deceptive acceleration over short distances, and a cold-blooded finish—translate straight into Premier League reliability. He thrives attacking the blind side of center-backs and receives cleanly between lines, which dovetails with Slot’s positional play. Ekitike, meanwhile, presents as a value-aligned runner with elastic movement, late-box arrivals and pressing intensity, offering stylistic rhyme without the same wage and fee exposure.

Tactically, Slot gains levers rather than headaches. In-possession, Liverpool can morph from a 4-3-3 into a 3-2-5, with a dual-9 occupation pinning the last line while Salah or an attacking midfielder exploits zone-14 rebounds and cut-backs. A 4-4-2 diamond appears viable against low blocks: Isak operates as the reference point, Ekitike stretches depth and presses first, while Salah or a creator works as the tip. Versus elite opponents, the duo can be staggered—one starts, one finishes—keeping tempo high and the counter-press fresh.

From a squad-building standpoint, this balances immediate firepower with long-term asset growth. It mitigates single-point failure: if one forward misses time, the system persists. It also aligns wage bill architecture with performance ceilings. The expected ripple effects include higher quality shots, more second-phase recoveries in the final third, and improved set-piece threat through more consistent penalty-box occupation. In short, this is a strategically coherent, upside-rich recalibration.

Reaction

Supporter sentiment is sharply split yet energetic. A vocal tactical cohort argues that Slot should lean into a 4-4-2 diamond to unlock overlapping fullbacks and field two strikers without sacrificing control; they view the ‘selection issue’ as a feature, not a bug. Another group believes the club may be talking itself into a luxury it didn’t need, preferring a direct 1v1 winger to balance Salah and stress back lines on the outside. Some highlight the practical point: nobody plays every game, and competing deep in four competitions demands elite rotation.

There are fitness anxieties around managing a heavy-minute talisman, with calls to stagger starts and avoid overuse—especially across winter congestion. Comparisons surface with other top sides carrying two premium center-forwards, noting how intentional rotation and role clarity keep everyone productive. Others counter that when the structure is right—press triggers, distances, and third-man runs—the partnership writes its own chemistry. The consensus landing spot? If the recruitment department is convinced by the data that Ekitike mirrors core Isak behaviors at a discount, the upside of depth and modularity outweighs fears about squeezing them into the same XI every week.

Social reactions

And what happens if Ekitike gets injured?

Football Focus (@FootballFocusXD)

Don't see why HE can't play out wide. There's nothing Gakpo does better than him on a consistent basis in that position. But I agree with the sentiment, two WC #9's over a WC #9 and versatile forward (Semenyo) doesn't make too much sense.

Kash (@__kashflow__)

Makes no sense why they pursue the deal after Ekotike had played well the first games...makes life difficult for the coach

DE BOOZAR (@COOLDZYD)

Prediction

Short term, expect Liverpool to prioritize a headline No.9 acquisition—Isak fits the brief—while advancing a parallel, cost-effective move for Ekitike to secure depth without distorting the wage curve. Preseason and early autumn would likely feature alternating starts, with Slot probing a 4-2-3-1 and a diamond as situational solutions against deep versus aggressive opponents. Against low blocks, the two-striker look should appear in controlled stints; against transitional threats, one starts with the other as a game-state swing piece on the hour.

Medium term, the staff will re-balance the wide roles. A dedicated 1v1 winger remains on the whiteboard for the next window, enabling rotation with Salah and creating the classic ‘stretch wide, finish central’ pattern. If the data confirms Ekitike’s development curve accelerates, Liverpool can distribute minutes cleanly without eroding Isak’s rhythm. Expect set-piece output to tick up with more consistent box occupation and a higher rate of second balls recovered.

In the market, the club should maintain optionality: a forward sale is not required, but interest-driven exits could be accommodated without structural compromise. By spring, the conversation is likely to shift from ‘fit’ to ‘finishing depth,’ as the two-No.9 model beds in and provides results across league and Europe.

Latest today

• £65m January clause for Antoine Semenyo as Bournemouth brace for bids
• Neymar and his father reportedly acquire Pelé’s brand legacy for $18m, gaining image right...
• Karim Benzema flirts with Real Madrid return - optimism grows for a sensational reunion
• Man United sense €40m opening for Conor Gallagher as Chelsea face contract crossroads

Conclusion

Liverpool’s proposed two-No.9 blueprint is not a contradiction of identity—it is an amplification of it. Isak offers bankable Premier League goals, gravity against elite defenses and a ruthlessness that wins tight games. Ekitike adds elasticity, vertical threat and relentless pressing at a price that preserves future flexibility. Together, they furnish Slot with the rarest commodity at the top level: interchangeable power without stylistic dissonance.

Depth is destiny in modern football. The so-called ‘selection dilemma’ dissolves when role definition is precise, minutes are managed, and structures are stable. This pathway provides continuity through injuries, fixture crushes and form cycles, while keeping Liverpool’s attack unpredictable and explosive. If executed, the double move will look less like indulgence and more like foresight—the kind that sustains title pushes and European campaigns. The message is clear: Liverpool are building an attack to outlast the calendar and outscore the field.