There is no selection 'headache' between Ekitike and Isak, says Slot

Arne Slot insisted he does not have a selection headache over Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak after the former impressed in Liverpool's 2-1 win over Everton on Saturday.

The reigning Premier League champions continued their winning start to the Premier League season thanks to goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Ekitike, and they held on against Everton's attempted fightback following Idrissa Gueye's strike.

The Reds have won five consecutive top-flight games under Slot for the very first time, last doing so in September 2023 under Jurgen Klopp.

And it is the fifth time in the club's history that they have opened a top-flight campaign with five consecutive wins, and the first since 2019-20.

Ekitike has scored four goals in all competitions since joining Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt, and was replaced in the 67th minute by club-record signing Isak, who is still regaining fitness after a stilted pre-season.

"There's no headache at all," Slot said when asked about the two strikers. "These two players are very happy we have them both.

"Both of them know it's very hard for them to play three times 90. Hugo is 23 and comes to a new intensity league. You can see the ones who are used to that – Virgil [van Dijk], Ryan, Mo [Salah]. But for the new ones, you can see that's harder.

"Alex is far from ready to play 90. We are trying to bring him there as long as he stays fit. It's nice that you can ask me this question about any position."

Liverpool have now won five consecutive home matches against Everton for just the second time in their history, though the Reds once again looked vulnerable when taking a two-goal lead, as they did against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

"[I liked] the first-half performance," added Slot.

"We always knew how difficult it was going to be, three games in seven days, early kick-off on Saturday. You can also see how much impact this has.

"The first half, when we were fresh, was unbelievable in how we played. The second half, you have to give credit to Everton, but you could see we were [losing energy]."

Gravenberch became the youngest Liverpool player (23 years, 127 days) to both score and assist a goal in a Premier League Merseyside derby with his first-half showing on Saturday.

He has also now scored twice in his four league games for the Reds this season – he had only scored once in 63 appearances in the competition in 2023-24 and 2024-25 combined.

"I'm really happy with the goal," Gravenberch told TNT Sports. "Last season I did not score a lot, so I'm really happy, especially in a Merseyside derby.

"When Mo gets the ball, we know he has that pass and that the players on the ball side, the space is in behind.

"We know we had three games in seven days. In England, it is really tough, but we prepared well.

"The goal we conceded did not need to happen. We were a little bit going back and going for the counter; we had chances to score again, but we didn't.

"This season we have more freedom in the midfield. Last season I was in the six, deep, but now I can go forward more."