Former Manchester City and England defender Joleon Lescott believes Arne Slot should drop striker Hugo Ekitike in favour of Alexander Isak. The Swedish forward finally sealed his switch to Anfield on deadline day.
Isak became the most costly British transfer in history when he completed a £125million move from Newcastle United. After becoming caught up in an acrimonious transfer saga, his arrival pushed the Reds' expenditure beyond the £400m threshold, whilst Frenchman Ekitike accounts for £79m of this figure following his signing from German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ekitike has begun his career on Merseyside in impressive fashion, netting in Liverpool's Community Shield defeat and their opening two Premier League fixtures.
However, Lescott remains convinced he will occupy the substitutes' bench and make way for Isak in attack, rather than featuring in Slot's first XI ahead of Cody Gakpo on the left flank.
"You [Ekitike] can be on the Liverpool bench. You can be sitting down," acknowledged Lescott, speaking on In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet. "We've seen it happen to other teams. [Julian] Alvarez sat down and he was banging in goals behind [Erling] Haaland for Manchester City.
"They [Liverpool's new signings] don't have to all fit in, that's the thing. If you're playing in Champions League games, it's not like, 'Oh, I'm seen in the second team.'
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"If you're missing league games to play in the League Cup, then I understand you may feel like that. But if you're playing in the Champions League and it's a massive game...
"They've got some tough games this season, Liverpool. If you're playing Real Madrid and then on the weekend it's Man City, there is no lesser game."
Asked if Isak would start both fixtures, ex-City and Aston Villa man Lescott was convinced Slot would rotate his side and retorted: "No chance."
With a handful of top players brought in this summer, Lescott is also certain Liverpool will challenge for several pieces of silverware this season, stating: "They have to win something. One of the big two [Premier League and Champions League]. That's if everyone stays fit.
"What if, God forbid it happens, what if they lose Virgil [van Dijk] to injury? Put it that way. Anyway, they do have to challenge [for all competitions]. They would have regardless."
Liverpool aimed to finalise a deadline day deal for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, who would have been ideal cover at centre-half. However, even after a medical was done, issues with Palace finding a replacement and coach Oliver Glasner's clear stance led to the deal falling through.
Lescott chimed in on Guehi's situation, adding: "Marc will be all right. He'll leave on a free [next year]. It [a move] might come in January, but he deserved it now."