Arne Slot takes on a new role: Ekitike plays on the left flank alongside Isak.

Arne Slot revealed to TNT Sports his plan to use Hugo Ekitike as a left-wing forward, opening the way for a potential partnership with Alexander Isak without disrupting Liverpool's center-forward structure. Ekitike has scored six goals since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt, leading the scoring charts, and the new role could allow him to utilize his speed, off-ball movement, and reduce the burden of tackling.

Ekitike on the left wing: the solution to using two strikers.

The challenge that arose after Liverpool spent heavily to bring in Alexander Isak from Newcastle was how to utilize two players who tend to play as the furthest forward in a formation that originally only had one central striker. The Dutch manager's answer: push Ekitike to the left to create a more versatile attacking option, supporting and exploiting Isak's position in the central midfield area.

Different roles: Isak is the number 9, Ekitike exploits space.

Arne Slot describes Isak as a true number 9: positioning himself in the penalty area, finishing neatly, and maintaining control of the ball. In contrast, Ekitike prefers space, can drop deep or drift wide, thereby stretching the opposing defense and opening up opportunities for midfield combinations. When playing on the left, Ekitike can receive the ball and cut inside, attack through the half-space, and form a triangular passing combination with the striker and left-back.

Reduce the risk of disputes, accelerate breakthroughs.

Ahead of this weekend's match against Man City, Arne Slot admitted that Ekitike needs to improve in one-on-one duels and aerial duels if he plays as a classic center forward. Playing on the left wing reduces the need for constant physical challenges, allowing Ekitike to focus on his strengths: acceleration, positioning behind full-backs, and making runs into favorable shooting areas. Ball retention and hold-up play could be handled by Isak, maintaining a stable attacking structure.

The connection with Liverpool's attacking system.

The left-sided Ekitick formation allows Liverpool to recreate a dynamic three-pronged attack: a true number 9 (Isak), a wide-ranging forward (Ekitick), and a key player on the opposite flank. This idea is reminiscent of the era when Liverpool played with Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Mohamed Salah: positional interchange, direct attacks, but still maintaining control of the game. With Ekitick, Slot has the added tool to stretch the opponent's defensive structure and create runs from the wing into the center.

The significance of the match against Manchester City

Facing strong opponents like Manchester City, the diversity in attack helps Liverpool avoid being reliant on a single attacking direction. Ekitick playing on the left wing is both a personnel solution (allowing the use of both Isak and Ekitick) and a tactical adjustment to balance speed, depth, and the ability to maintain positional awareness in the penalty area. If Ekitick adapts quickly, Liverpool could possess a youthful and modern Isak-Ekitick strike partnership, laying the foundation for a new attacking phase under Arne Slot.

From an efficiency standpoint, the six goals since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt signal that Slot should expand Ekitike's role. Moving him to the left isn't just a change in position; it's a fine-tuning of the task: optimizing off-ball movement, improving the quality of chances on the left flank, and minimizing unfavorable challenges. Given the demanding schedule and high rotation requirements, this flexibility could determine Liverpool's attacking rhythm.