Liverpool manager Arne Slot has a huge problem when trying to integrate his two new strikers, that being Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak.
After a strong first five matches, the Reds have had a tough season so far, with two 3-0 defeats in their last couple of Premier League games, as poor performances against Manchester City and Nottingham Forest which have contributed to them being 11th place in the table, the lowest position Slot's side have found themselves during the Dutchman's reign on Merseyside.
But it's not as if the 47-year-old hasn't got a strong squad at his disposal, with two of the most highly thought of strikers in the league currently at Anfield.
However it's clear that so far, having Isak and Ekitike at the club hasn't quite panned out as well as both the management and owners would've liked.
The Swedish international scored over 20 goals in both of his last two seasons whilst at Newcastle, though only has the singular goal for the Reds, that coming in the Carabao Cup win against Southampton.
The 26-year-old's Liverpool career is still yet to catch a spark, with a lack of preseason followed by an injury setback meaning that Isak has been unable to produce the type of form that convinced the Premier League champions to spend a record breaking £125 million on the forward.
Ekitike on the other hand, started his life on Merseyside with a bang, with three goals in his first five league matches, though his form has dropped off in recent weeks, which has coincided with the Reds' poor run of results since the end of September.
🚨 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧: Premier League G/A by Liverpool's summer signings:
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• Ekitike: 3 goals + 1 assists.
• Isak: 0 goals + 1 assist.
• Wirtz: 0 goals + 0 assists.
• Kerkez: 1 goal + 0 assists.
• Frimpong: 0 goals + 0 assists. pic.twitter.com/Wkm1LpsTIW
With both of Liverpool's big money attackers failing to consistently deliver, it's unclear whether the hierarchy at Anfield planned to play both of them in the same team, or were they brought in to be rotated in the number nine position?
The pair have only started one match together during their first couple of months at the club, which was the first half against Frankfurt in the Champions League. Therefore, if the plan isn't to play the two together, which one is the first choice striker, and having a couple of big money forwards at the club can cause its own problems. Both Isak and Ekitike will feel they deserve to be the main man for Slot, and the decision will ultimately cause a divide in the fanbase, with every Kopite having an opinion.
However, some could argue that both are needed if the Reds want to challenge on all fronts in the future, with Isak missing 99 days during his last two seasons due to injury.
With the departure of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, and the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, Slot's squad did need a bolster in the attacking areas, so getting both strikers may have been needed to ensure Liverpool weren't left short up front.
Though is there an option to play them both in the same side more often? It's clear that they are both number nines and that is there preferred position, yet we have seen forwards excel out of their original place in the team before.
In his last season at Anfield, Sadio Mane moved to play through the middle to accommodate the arrival of Luis Diaz, and ultimately played arguably his best football for the club in that position.
So is it that much of stretch to give Ekitike a run out on the left wing and play him in a front three with his Swedish teammate.
The Frenchman seems to be the one who would fit the winger role better, so with results not currently going in the Reds' favour, could Slot take some inspiration from his predecessor Jurgen Klopp, and move Ekitike to one of the flanks?
Even if this idea was experimented, something needs to change in the creative side of Liverpool's team.
It's understandable that the two strikers aren't firing at the levels that the Anfield faithful would expect when you look at the amount of chances they are actually receiving.
During the game against Nottingham Forest, Isak played 68 minutes and in that time only had one shot and touches of the ball, emphasising the task that Liverpool's number nine has, as if he isn't getting the ball in dangerous situations he's ultimately has no chance of scoring.
It's clear as day for every Liverpool fan to see that the cohesion of the team is severely lacking, and without proper service, from the likes of Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and others, then the Reds' two big money men up top will still most likely fail to meet up to the expectations of the fans.
