‘You can’t leave £100m striker Alexander Isak on the bench’ – Didi Hamann warns Slot

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar “Didi” Hamann has criticised manager Arne Slot’s team selection, insisting the club cannot afford to keep striker Alexander Isak on the bench.

Hamann stressed that with Liverpool struggling in attack, Slot must find a way to deploy both Isak and Hugo Ekitike together, particularly ahead of their Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven.

“You don’t want a hundred-million-pound striker sitting on the bench as a backup. He has to pick a team that gives them the best chance to win games,” Hamann said.

Isak, the Swedish forward of Eritrean heritage, joined Liverpool from Newcastle in a club-record £125 million deal, following the signing of Ekitike from Frankfurt for £69 million.

Both strikers have so far been rotated rather than deployed simultaneously, limiting their impact in a Liverpool attack that has struggled to create chances and finish clinically this season.

Hamann highlighted the need for Slot to change tactics after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, which left Liverpool 12th in the Premier League, eleven points behind leaders Arsenal.

“You can’t keep picking the same players and expect a different performance or result. It’s probably worth considering playing two up front, especially if you bring in two players for over a hundred million,” he said.

The former Liverpool man also emphasised that the Champions League presents a better opportunity for Slot’s forwards to shine.

“Some of their best performances have been in the Champions League because it’s not as frantic and hectic as the Premier League,” Hamann noted, while warning that domestic fixtures remain a tough test.