Ekitike played in the middle of a front three that also included Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah, with Florian Wirtz sitting in behind. But with Liverpool still linked with a move for Isak, Slot gave an interesting breakdown on how he sees Ekitike fitting into his system and how the arrival of the Newcastle frontman could impact him.

Liverpool’s Premier League title defence began with an entertaining yet uneven 4-2 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield. The spotlight inevitably fell on Hugo Ekitike, the £79 million summer signing from Eintracht Frankfurt, who marked his league debut with a goal and an assist. For the French striker, it was the realisation of a long-held ambition.