When a Premier League legend like Alan Shearer speaks, the football world listens — and this time, his message to Arne Slot is crystal clear: Hugo Ekitike cannot be left out of Liverpool’s starting XI. Fresh off a brilliant display and a clinical goal against Everton, the young striker has forced his way into undroppable status. With Alexander Isak still battling for full fitness and Liverpool overflowing with attacking options, Shearer insists Slot has only one real choice — keep riding the red-hot form of Ekitike
Liverpool have two elite number nines in their squad, but Alan Shearer feels only one of them is currently undroppable off the back of the victory over Everton at Anfield
Alan Shearer believes Arne Slot cannot afford to drop Hugo Ekitike at present. That is despite Liverpool possessing another top-class number nine option in Alexander Isak, who is still awaiting his first league start.
“It’s not a bad option, is it?” Shearer remarked on NBC Sports. “Having said that, at the minute, there’s no way I would, if I was Ekitike, there’s no way I’d be thinking I deserve to be left out this side with the form that I’m in, the goals that I’m scoring.
“He can’t leave him out. He has to play him. So, Isak will have to be patient. He’s not 100 per cent fit yet, which he’ll be working on. But they’ve got so many options, not only with those two, but in wide positions as well.
“If things are working, fine. If it’s not, then at least he’s got the players to chuck on and try and change it. Good problems to have, if you call them problems.”
Federico Chiesa failed to secure a place amongst the substitutes as Liverpool faced Everton at the weekend. Promising winger Rio Ngumoha was selected instead, although he remained unused throughout the match.
Ekitike delivered an outstanding display and finished clinically when presented with the opportunity following a sublime Ryan Gravenberch through ball.
Shearer, however, was less impressed with Liverpool’s left-back Milos Kerkez’s performance against Everton.
Despite a solid display, the Newcastle legend remained unimpressed.
“At the minute, we’re not seeing the same player in Kerkez, as we saw with Bournemouth,” he said.
“He was free-flowing. He had the license to go and roam and get forward.
“Here, to me it seems as if he’s caught in two minds whether he’s going to go, whether he’s going to stay and help protect that with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.”
Liverpool are set to face Southampton in the League Cup next, with Slot expected to make significant changes to his starting line-up.
Isak could see more game time as he continues to regain his match fitness.
