Hugo Ekitike could not play the full 90 minutes against Crystal Palace as Arne Slot felt it would be too much of a risk with no other No. 9 to replace him.
Liverpool’s No. 9 shirt is now vacant following the sale of Darwin Nunez to Al-Hilal on Saturday night, but the role is now filled by Ekitike.
The Frenchman started against Palace in the Community Shield on Sunday, but was only trusted to play 69 minutes before being replaced by Alexis Mac Allister – with no out-and-out striker used in the final stages.
All being well Nunez will be replaced before the transfer window closes, with Newcastle‘s Alexander Isak the priority target, and explaining his decision to bring Ekitike off, Slot hinted that he wants another striker.
“I think it’s always nice to score a goal – not only for him but also for Jeremie Frimpong – if you start your career at a new club,” Slot told reporters, with the £79 million signing opening his account within four minutes at Wembley.
“But it would have been even nicer to win a game of football, because I think that’s more important than scoring a goal.
“He had a good impact, but he’s also an example of a player who came I think one-and-a-half, two weeks ago on our Asian tour.
“So for me, with only three or four days in between [now and] the Friday game [against Bournemouth], it wouldn’t be smart to play him 90 minutes.
“Of course we have Federico [Chiesa], but of course he’s not been with us for the Asian tour as well, so there’s not a lot to replace him with.
“So if [Ekitike] gets an injury in this moment in time, that would be a big risk for the Bournemouth, Newcastle and Arsenal games.
“That’s why I took him off, but he had a good game today, that’s for sure.”
The call for reinforcement was more direct in Virgil van Dijk‘s post-match interview in the mixed zone, with the Dutchman telling journalists: “There’s always room for an attacker.”
“Do we?” he replied, when put to him that Liverpool have plentiful attacking options.
“Well we just lost Darwin, we lost Lucho, so I think there’s always room for an attacker in order to strengthen us.
“So let’s see what the window brings.”
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