Liverpool “wizard” could be Slot’s own Divock Origi

Liverpool are flying in the Premier League, and Arne Slot will be satisfied with the 12 points claimed from as many available during this early stage of the season.

But each time the Reds have come close to sharing the spoils, with the midweek Champions League victory, Virgil van Dijk thumping home in the dying embers, ensuring Liverpool have left it late to win their fifth match in a row.

Unsustainable? Sure. Although, more importantly, this is the sign of a winning unit, one still acclimatising to a new wave of quality.

Alexander Isak made his debut for the club on Wednesday evening, having joined from Newcastle United for a British record £125m fee on deadline day. Will he reprise his starting berth against David Moyes’ Everton, or should fellow new recruit Hugo Ekitike get the nod?

Who Liverpool should start up front against Everton

It’s the Merseyside derby, and the chances are that Liverpool will face another stern test as they continue to click into gear and push for a second successive Premier League title.

Slot was quizzed on whether Isak or Ekitike would play up top against the Toffees, and his answer was unsurprisingly elusive.

However, it’s rather comforting to know that, throw Cody Gakpo into the mix too, and Liverpool have an abundance of quality ready to shift and change as the manager demands.

This is a team capable of competing for all the major honours this term, to be sure.

However, the tale of Liverpool’s tape has indeed been one of late-stage drama, and Slot might actually be forced to turn to another forward on Saturday afternoon, one who might be required to channel his inner Divock Origi, who loved a derby for the Reds.

Liverpool’s new Divock Origi

Origi is perhaps the definitive cult hero of modern times for Liverpool, a player who never managed to nail down a starting berth with any regularity but popped up with big goals on numerous occasions.

Across his Liverpool career, the Belgian striker scored 41 goals and supplied 17 more across 175 matches, notably scoring the wrap-it-up goal in the Champions League final as the Anfield side downed Tottenham Hotspur.

And how he loved to play Everton, notching six goals against the Blues. In fact, his haul of six goals against Liverpool’s rivals is double a host of teams who sit second in his personal scoring chart.

And Federico Chiesa could now step up as Slot’s own version of the 30-year-old, with the Italian having enjoyed something of an early Liverpool rebirth himself so far this season (Origi was loaned out to Wolfsburg after a slow start to his career in England).

Chiesa was Liverpool’s sole summer signing one year ago, and injuries limited him to a bit-part role. However, he has already raised the bar this year, netting the winner as Liverpool beat Bournemouth in their opening Premier League match of the season.

Hailed as a “wizard” for his remarkable performances in his homeland by broadcaster Roger Bennett, Chiesa has rekindled the fire in his belly and looks set to contribute toward the club’s efforts this season.

All eyes will be on Isak for the Merseyside derby, should the record-breaking striker indeed start from the opening. If not him, it’s bound to be Ekitike at number nine.

But Liverpool’s proclivity, their need, for late goals and the nature of this fixture against Everton suggest that it may once again go down to the wire, and if that is the case, Chiesa’s skills might be needed.

He’s already come up trumps once for Slot’s side this season, and now the dynamic attacker may be called upon again, channelling his inner Origi to perhaps strike late and ensure Liverpool’s flawless start continues.

Would such an outcome really be that surprising at this point?