Liverpool’s transfer business raises big tactical questions for Arne Slot

Liverpool’s summer recruitment drive has been one of the most intriguing in recent Premier League history, Sport360NG reports.

The club have raided the Bundesliga, revamped both full-back positions, and signalled a decisive break from the Jurgen Klopp era. Now, the potential arrival of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, hot on the heels of Hugo Ekitike’s signing from Eintracht Frankfurt, adds another layer of complexity to Arne Slot’s plans.

Rarely do elite clubs recruit two recognised centre-forwards in the same window. The move recalls the days of classic strike pairings in a 4-4-2 system, a concept long thought obsolete at the top level.

So how might Slot make it work? Here are five possible approaches.

1. A narrow 4-2-3-1

This set-up could accommodate Mohamed Salah, Ekitike and new arrival Florian Wirtz in advanced central roles behind Isak. With Jeremie Frimpong and Liverpool’s new full-backs providing the width, Salah and Ekitike would tuck inside as roaming playmakers, leaving Wirtz to dictate between the lines.
The interchanging of these three could form the box-shaped midfield that has become a tactical hallmark in the modern Premier League.

2. Ekitike as a left-sided attacker

The most straightforward solution would see Ekitike take the place of Luis Díaz, now at Bayern Munich. Though he has rarely started on the wing, the Frenchman’s direct dribbling and ability to cut inside mirror the qualities Slot previously valued in Díaz and Cody Gakpo. His Bundesliga numbers, including eight assists last season, suggest he could adapt well to that role.

3. A bold 4-2-2-2

At Frankfurt, Ekitike thrived alongside Omar Marmoush in a fluid front two, with the pair rotating positions. A similar partnership with Isak could be recreated in a Liverpool shirt.
However, this shape would leave the midfield exposed, especially against counter-attacks, and force Wirtz into an unfamiliar wide role. It feels more like an option when chasing games than a default system.

4. Dual attacking midfielders

Another possibility is a City-inspired 4-3-3, with Wirtz and Ekitike operating as advanced ‘eights’ ahead of a deeper midfielder. Slot has spoken before of his admiration for Pep Guardiola’s methods, and using two creative eights could unlock a new dimension in Liverpool’s attack.
But it comes with risks: the Premier League’s pace and transitional nature could leave a lightweight midfield vulnerable without enough defensive cover.

5. Rotation rather than reinvention

Perhaps the simplest answer is that not every new signing has to start together. Liverpool could play more than 60 matches this season, and Ekitike has the versatility to cover four different attacking roles.
Even if not always first choice, his minutes will add up through rotation, injuries, and tactical tweaks. Elite clubs rarely rely on one fixed XI anymore, a truth Klopp’s Liverpool learned first-hand.

The verdict

Slot’s challenge isn’t to cram every signing into one formation but to use Liverpool’s deeper, more versatile squad to stay fresh across a demanding season. Isak and Ekitike may not always start side by side, but their presence signals the start of a very different Liverpool era.