Hugo Ekitike was unable to complete the full 90 minutes against Crystal Palace, as manager Arne Slot felt it would be too risky with no other natural No. 9 available to replace him.
Liverpool’s iconic No. 9 shirt is currently vacant following Darwin Nunez’s sale to Al-Hilal on Saturday night.
However, the role has been temporarily filled by Ekitike.
The French forward started in Sunday’s Community Shield clash against Palace but was substituted after 69 minutes, with Alexis Mac Allister coming on.
Notably, Liverpool did not field an out-and-out striker in the closing stages of the match.
Slot hinted that the club are keen to sign a new striker before the transfer window closes, with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak reportedly the top target, explaining his decision to withdraw Ekitike.
“I think it’s always nice to score a goal – not only for him but also for Jeremie Frimpong – if you start your career at a new club,” Slot told reporters.
“But it would have been even nicer to win a game of football, because I think that’s more important than scoring a goal.
“He had a good impact, but he’s also an example of a player who came I think one-and-a-half, two weeks ago on our Asian tour.
“So for me, with only three or four days in between [now and] the Friday game [against Bournemouth], it wouldn’t be smart to play him 90 minutes.
“Of course we have Federico [Chiesa], but of course he’s not been with us for the Asian tour as well, so there’s not a lot to replace him with.
“So if [Ekitike] gets an injury in this moment in time, that would be a big risk for the Bournemouth, Newcastle and Arsenal games.
“That’s why I took him off, but he had a good game today, that’s for sure.”
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