Wayne Rooney has raised questions about Alexander Isak’s position in Liverpool’s starting lineup, suggesting that the striker hasn’t done enough to justify his place over Hugo Ekitike.
Rooney pointed out that Isak has struggled since joining from Newcastle United, failing to score in his last three Premier League starts, including a recent 2-0 defeat to Manchester United. In contrast, Ekitike has scored four times this season, including three league goals, despite coming off the bench in the last match.
“I wouldn’t play Isak; he hasn’t looked ready since coming from Newcastle,” Rooney stated on The Wayne Rooney Show. “He hasn’t had a proper pre-season, which is so important. While Newcastle were training, he was probably negotiating his transfer instead of focusing on fitness. It’s so difficult when you don’t have a pre-season, and he’s paying the price for it now. Based on performances, he doesn’t deserve to start over Ekitike.”
Liverpool’s loss to Manchester United marked their fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions, their worst run since 2014. Despite starting the season with seven straight wins, the reigning Premier League champions have struggled for consistency recently.
“They’ve become a bit complacent,” Rooney added. “For Arne Slot, you forget because he won the Premier League, but he’s still relatively young at 46 years old, and this is the first time he’s lost four in a row in his career. During the Manchester United match, he was arguing with officials on the touchline, which I haven’t seen from him before. We’re starting to see things unfold, showing that there’s pressure there.”
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