Arsenal
With Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak performing as Liverpool’s main No. 9 choices this summer season, we in contrast the gamers’ strengths and kinds.
Liverpool have actively sought Isak and Ekitike this summer season, the latter is now set to signal for a £79 million charge together with add-ons.
Regardless of this, the Reds’ curiosity in Isak stay, with Newcastle doing their greatest to carry onto their greatest participant.
Seeing each strikers be part of Liverpool this summer season can be an enormous assertion of intent, with Darwin Nunez departing, however how related are they throughout varied departments?
Ruthless attackers at totally different levels of maturity
In Isak, Liverpool can be signing the most effective strikers in Europe – one who, at 25 years previous, is getting into the prime years of his profession.
Final season, the Swede scored 23 targets within the league with solely Mohamed Salah (29) forward of him, and he’s the seventh-fastest participant in historical past to succeed in 50 targets within the Premier League period.
A tally of 62 targets in simply 109 Newcastle appearances is an outstanding return, and in a title-winning Reds staff, he would rating for enjoyable.
At 23, Ekitike isn’t but as polished as Isak, however his final-third statistics nonetheless spotlight why Liverpool are spending large on him.
Fifteen targets within the Bundesliga in 2024/25 imply that solely 5 gamers scored greater than him, whereas eight assists have been a superior quantity to Isak’s six, in a single fewer look.
That mentioned, Isak scored with each 4.1 pictures he took within the league, per FBref, whereas Ekitike’s conversion fee was one aim for each 7.6 pictures.
In the meantime, Ekitike’s anticipated targets determine (xG) of 0.66 per 90 minutes was the identical as Isak’s, indicating he was extra wasteful in entrance of aim, having scored 0.24 fewer targets per recreation.
That is all to be anticipated, although, given the rawness that also exists in Ekitike’s recreation.
Extra than simply goalscorers
It’s simple to see why Liverpool have prioritised Ekitike and Isak this summer season, with the pair related when it comes to fashion.
Each are wiry footballers with tempo to burn, giving them a capability to run in behind. Ekitike is only one centimetre shorter than 6’2″ Isak.
They’re way over simply goalscorers, although, dropping deep and being able to dribble dangerously in tight areas.
The Frenchman averaged 1.6 dribbles per recreation within the league final season, whereas Isak averaged 1.2. By comparability, Nunez’s tally was simply 0.3.
Ekitike is best relating to aerial duel wins, nevertheless, successful 46.2 p.c of them, which is considerably greater than Isak (32.1 p.c).
Each have even been in comparison with Thierry Henry of their operating fashion, with Micah Richards saying that the Arsenal legend has been impressed by his compatriot, Ekitike.
“By way of Ekitike, I’ve spoken to Thierry about him lots,” Richards mentioned on The Relaxation is Soccer.
“He says he’s not a irritating participant, however one minute he seems superb and the subsequent minute he doesn’t do the fundamentals very properly.”
Isak the proper Ekitike mentor?
Liverpool followers will likely be dreaming of getting each Ekitike and Isak of their ranks subsequent season, throughout what has been one in all their most energetic summers within the switch market in years.
With Nunez making approach, to have each obtainable at Slot’s disposal can be an ideal consequence, and the Newcastle marksman might even be an excellent mentor to the Frankfurt attacker.
Granted, Ekitike wouldn’t essentially be pleased with a squad function, however he might study from the Sweden worldwide, honing his recreation alongside him.
Finally, it does nonetheless really feel extra seemingly that Isak will stay a Newcastle participant in the interim, however we’re all allowed to dream!
With Florian Wirtz introduced in as a world-class signing, in addition to Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez bringing further tempo within the full-back positions, Liverpool really feel primed to defend their Premier League crown.
Signing Isak on high of Ekitike might make the Reds Europe’s most formidable staff, giving Slot two particular putting choices, one in all whom is arguably the world’s greatest in his place proper now.
