West Ham striker **Michail Antonio** has cast doubt over Liverpool’s ability to smoothly integrate their new attacking options, warning that Arne Slot could face serious **teething problems** in managing both **Alexander Isak** and **Hugo Ekitike**.
### The No. 9 Conundrum
When Liverpool smashed the transfer record to sign Isak, the expectation was clear: he would be the Reds’ first-choice centre-forward. But Hugo Ekitike’s impressive form has thrown a spanner in the works.
The young Frenchman has seized the spotlight, making the No. 9 position his own — leaving Slot with a dilemma. Does he bench a £130 million signing? Or does he reconfigure the attack to fit both players?
### The Salah Factor
Complicating matters further is **Mohamed Salah’s untouchable status on the right wing**. That leaves only the left flank available for Isak, but shifting him there raises tactical and chemistry concerns. Can the Swede adapt to a wide role without disrupting the balance of the team?
### Managing Stars and Egos
Antonio believes that while these issues are natural, the real challenge lies in **man-management**:
> “Isak wasn’t signed to sit on the bench. At the same time, Ekitike is proving he deserves his place. Slot has to find a way to keep both happy, or it could unsettle the dressing room.”
### Slot’s Biggest Test Yet
For Liverpool, this is more than a tactical puzzle — it’s a test of Arne Slot’s authority and adaptability. With two elite strikers vying for the spotlight, the Dutch manager must strike the right balance to ensure the team’s chemistry doesn’t suffer.
The early signs suggest Liverpool’s attack has immense potential, but as Antonio warns, **the road to harmony may be a bumpy one.**
