Rooney fires Isak warning as Ekitike continues to impress for Liverpool
The Premier League legend says the former Newcastle strike should be worried about his place in the team
Hugo Ekitike’s recent form has created a selection dilemma for Liverpool when Alexander Isak returns from injury, according to former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney.
Ekitike scored twice as Liverpool came from behind to beat Newcastle at Anfield on Saturday, taking the 23-year-old’s tally to 15 goals in 32 appearances in all competitions this season.
The France forward joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial £69m in the summer and has quickly developed an understanding with fellow big-money signing Florian Wirtz, who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen in a £116m deal.
Rooney believes that partnership raises questions over where Isak fits in once he is back to full fitness. The Sweden international completed a British record £125m move to Liverpool from Newcastle but has been sidelined since December with a broken leg.
“I’d be more worried if I was Isak, sat there watching,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.
“His Liverpool career just hasn’t got up and going yet. Obviously they paid a lot of money for him and these two seem to have a really good understanding of each other’s game and they look like a real threat.”
Rooney was particularly impressed by Ekitike’s second goal against Newcastle.
“Ekitike’s second goal in particular was brilliant, it reminds me of Romario. A little toe-poke goal but it’s instinctive,” he said.
“He is the type of player I like to watch. He’s not a number nine, he’s not a number 10. He drifts out wide, he gets on the ball, brings players into the game and he can score goals. So he’s got a bit of everything really.”
Isak, 26, had scored three goals in 16 appearances for Liverpool before his injury but now faces competition for a starting place following Ekitike’s impact.