Liverpool's Decision to Sign Two Strikers Now Appears Prudent, Says Slot

According to Arne Slot, Liverpool's decision to sign two centre-forwards in the summer transfer window now seems like a wise move. This comes after Hugo Ekitike suffered a devastating injury, rupturing his right Achilles tendon during the Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain. As a result, Ekitike will miss the remainder of the season and the World Cup with France, and may also be sidelined for a significant portion of the next campaign. Slot expressed his sympathy for Ekitike, stating that it's unfortunate for the player to experience such a setback early in his Liverpool career. However, he remains optimistic about Ekitike's future, believing that he can come back stronger than ever and perform at an even higher level. The timing of Ekitike's injury is particularly unfortunate, given that Alexander Isak has only just returned from his own long-term injury. Isak started his first match since December in the loss to Paris Saint-Germain but struggled to make an impact and was substituted at half-time. Slot acknowledged that having two strikers has proven to be a smart decision, as it provides the team with more options and depth. He also expressed his confidence in the team's ability to compete with the best teams in Europe, citing their performance against Paris Saint-Germain as an example. Despite the 2-0 defeat, Liverpool had more ball possession, generated 21 shots, and had a high xG. Slot believes that with some changes in the summer, the future looks bright for the team. The focus now shifts to securing Champions League football, starting with the upcoming Merseyside derby against Everton.