Isak ready to step up for Liverpool after Ekitike ban

Mixed night in Carabao Cup

Liverpool advanced to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup but the victory over Southampton was overshadowed by troubling incidents. Giovanni Leoni was stretchered off with what looked like a serious injury and Hugo Ekitike, who had scored the late winner, was sent off for a second booking.

Arne Slot confirmed that Liverpool will have to wait for scans to assess the extent of Leoni’s problem. Meanwhile, Ekitike’s dismissal means he is banned for Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace, leaving Alexander Isak in line for another start.

Isak finding rhythm in red

Isak, who scored his first goal for Liverpool in the win, is gradually finding his feet after a disrupted summer. His finish came just before half-time, seizing on a mistake from goalkeeper Alex McCarthy before Federico Chiesa provided the assist.

The relief was visible. For a forward who arrived with expectations, moments like these are about rhythm as much as reputation. “I feel good,” Isak said. “Every game I play is very helpful and gets me in better shape, so hopefully I’m just getting more and more ready.”

He continued: “It’s difficult to say how close to 100% I am. I think it’s a mixture of fitness wise and football wise, but I feel good, I feel like I’m in a shape to at least make a difference.”

It was only his third appearance for Liverpool, and though his sharpness remains in progress, there is a growing sense that he is edging closer to the form that made him such a valuable signing.

Implications of Ekitike ban

Ekitike’s dismissal reshapes Liverpool’s attacking options. The French striker’s exuberance, capped by a decisive goal, turned to frustration when his celebration earned a second yellow card. Slot must now consider who leads the line at Selhurst Park, with Isak the most obvious candidate.

The Swede was philosophical about the incident. “I’m sure he just wasn’t aware of being on a yellow in that moment,” he explained. “It can sometimes be emotional, when you score a goal you’re just in that moment. Of course it’s unfortunate.”

Slot faces the task of balancing fitness with necessity. Isak’s gradual integration is being accelerated by circumstance. What Liverpool saw on Tuesday was a player showing flashes of readiness, even if the full picture is yet to come.

Slot’s decision for weekend

With Leoni sidelined and Ekitike banned, the Liverpool manager is left juggling his resources. The Carabao Cup win ensured progress, but it also created questions about depth and durability.

Isak looks ready to answer one of them. His goal may prove timely, not only in securing victory but in underlining that he can step in when required. For a squad chasing multiple objectives, the significance of such contributions cannot be underestimated.