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Werner left Anfield on Saturday after witnessing a display from Alexander Isak that left many wondering what exactly ownership group FSG bought for £125m.
The Swede was Liverpool’s high-profile summer signing, acquired from Newcastle United after a long and intense pursuit that included the striker dropping the necessary tools to initiate his move.
The British record fee came after Liverpool spent 116 million pounds on German Florian Wirtz, who has yet to score a goal or assist in the English Premier League this season.
Wirtz, who has struggled with physicality in the Premier League and has yet to look fit in either a role behind the Liverpool striker or on the left side, was taken off injured against Forest.
This duo has undoubted quality, but Slot needs to connect them very soon. It is the lowest amount to offer at £241m.
It was Isaac who highlighted Liverpool’s struggles sharply with a poor individual performance against Forest.
Isak arrived at Liverpool ill-prepared after being exiled to Newcastle, while a thigh injury also interrupted his adaptation period, but even taking those factors into account, he was worryingly poor before Slott called him on after 68 minutes.
Isak, who had proven his brilliance on Tyneside, was nowhere to be seen, his body language defeatist. Lightweight, inert, lost.
The statistics provide a damning indictment. Isaac had 14 touches, 11 in the first half, and just two in the first 25 minutes.
Issac’s lack of influence has led to justifiable claims that even the much-criticized and now departed Darwin Nunez would have at least wandered around a bit to try and make things happen.
Hugo Ekitiki was the reason for Liverpool’s success in the summer, but Slott’s decision to start Isak meant the Frenchman was reduced to a substitute role, playing on the left flank against Forest when he came on after 55 minutes.
Ekitiki is Liverpool’s top scorer with six goals this season, and also scored his first goal for France. The selection of Isaac before him lacked logic, and was a slap in the face of a manager groping for answers, almost trying to get an expensive signing to play in the team himself.
There is little evidence, so far, that the two can play together. At a cost of around £200m, it looks like one player or another will have to settle for a place on the bench.
Ekitike has demonstrated quality. Isaac, at the moment, is still a very expensive problem.
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