Jamie Carragher says one position in Arne Slot’s team is ‘up for grabs’ after a flurry of high-profile signings has reshaped Liverpool’s front four.
The Reds completed the signing of striker Alexander Isak on transfer deadline day, securing a British record deal worth £125 million. The reigning champions had been chasing the Sweden international throughout the summer, initially making a £110 million offer before finally concluding the deal in dramatic fashion on the eve of the summer transfer window.
Isak joins Florian Wirtz, signed for £116 million, and Hugo Ekitike, who arrived for £79 million, forming a front-line investment of over £300 million. These additions have immediately reshaped Liverpool’s attacking landscape, adding depth and quality to a team that already features one of Europe’s most feared wingers in Mohamed Salah.
But the integration of these new arrivals will require tactical ingenuity and squad rotation, particularly as Liverpool juggle multiple competitions.
Following Isak’s arrival, questions are now emerging how the front-line will look, in particular the role in the left wing with competition coming from Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, and the promising academy prodigy Rio Ngumoha.
Former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher says three out of the four positions are set, but one is far from guaranteed.
“I think Mo Salah plays on the right-wing. I think Isak plays centre-forward now, and I think Florian Wirtz will play in that number 10 position.
The left-wing position is probably up for grabs I would say, with [Cody] Gakpo, young Rio [Ngumoha], maybe [Hugo] Ekitike can play there as well as fill in for Isak.
Maybe, at times, we’ll see a front two employed by the manager because Florian Wirtz can play from the left as well, so I he’s [Arne Slot] got a lot more options on the left and we’ll see a lot more rotation in that position than the other front four positions.”
For Cody Gakpo in particular, this spells a renewed challenge. The Dutch winger has been a consistent performer since joining Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, tallying 42 goals and 19 assists in 131 appearances — a contribution just shy of a goal every two games. Despite these numbers, the arrival of Isak and the presence of other wide options means Gakpo will have to continually prove his worth.
Even with Luis Diaz’s sale to Bayern Munich, Gakpo cannot take his starting spot for granted. The winger himself has acknowledged the competitive nature of Liverpool’s squad following the signing of a new long-term contract that will keep him at Anfield until at least 2028.
“I’m very grateful and hopefully I can give back many more beautiful moments.”
Complicating matters further is the emergence of Rio Ngumoha, a young talent who impressed during pre-season. Ngumoha showed glimpses of versatility and dynamism on the left wing, making him a serious contender to challenge Gakpo for minutes.
With Gakpo, Ngumoha, and Ekitike all capable of playing wide or centrally, Slot has more options than ever, and rotation seems inevitable.
The new arrivals are expected to bolster Liverpool’s chances on all fronts, but it also raises questions about who will feature regularly and who will be forced to prove themselves from the bench.
