Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has urged manager Arne Slot to view Mohamed Salah's impending absence as a golden opportunity to revitalise the Reds' attack.
Salah Departure Opens Door for New Partnership
Salah has now left Merseyside to join up with the Egypt national team for the Africa Cup of Nations, following a period of tension with the Dutch coach. The 33-year-old forward publicly criticised Slot for benching him in successive matches, though the pair reportedly reconciled in a meeting before last weekend's 2-0 victory over Brighton.
Crouch, however, believes the time is right for Slot to experiment by pairing two of his summer signings. "This is a chance for the Isak and Ekitike partnership to really flourish," Crouch told Paddy Power. "Ekitike just has to start for me, absolutely no doubt. He's been class from the moment he's come in."
Unleashing Liverpool's Summer Signings
Crouch suggested that Saturday's Premier League clash against Tottenham provides the perfect stage for the tactical shift. He proposed deploying Cody Gakpo or Florian Wirtz on the right wing to accommodate Ekitike from the left, or even playing both Ekitike and Isak as a central strike duo.
The statistics highlight a stark contrast in the duo's early impacts. Hugo Ekitike has contributed an impressive 10 goals in 23 games since his arrival. In contrast, the more expensive acquisition, Alexander Isak, has managed just two goals in 15 appearances as he struggles to find his rhythm.
Salah's Anfield Future Remains Clouded
Salah's long-term future at Liverpool continues to be a major talking point. He has been consistently linked with a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League, and his contract is set to expire in June 2027. His emotional reaction to the Anfield crowd after the Brighton win, where he provided an assist, has sparked debate over whether it was a farewell.
"Is he going to leave full stop? Yeah, potentially he could," admitted Crouch. "But for the moment, no one knows, I think not even Mo Salah knows for sure." The pundit did, however, criticise Salah's decision to air his grievances with Slot on social media, stating such matters should be handled privately.
Regardless of Salah's eventual decision, Crouch's analysis points to a pivotal period for Arne Slot. The coming weeks without his star forward could define Liverpool's attacking strategy for the season and beyond.
