For the primary time in 9 years, Manchester United triumphed over Liverpool at Anfield Stadium, casting a shadow over Arne Slot’s begin of the season. With Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz gone, Liverpool scrambled to rebuild their squad by way of a number of key signings. Nevertheless, the brand new lineup has struggled to carry out, drawing sharp criticism from legend Wayne Rooney in the direction of the $171 million star acquisition of the season.
“I wouldn’t play (Alexander) Isak, he hasn’t appeared prepared since coming from Newcastle. He hasn’t skilled, hasn’t had a preseason… Whereas Newcastle had been coaching he was most likely sat at house on the cellphone to his agent for six hours a day attempting to get a transfer…It’s so tough once you don’t have a preseason. He would possibly’ve completed stuff by himself however he’s paying the worth of it…On performances, he doesn’t should be taking part in forward of Ekitike,” Wayne Rooney mentioned, through ‘The Wayne Rooney Present podcast.
Alexander Isak shortly established himself as a standout at Newcastle by netting over 20 targets in every of the previous two Premier League seasons, incomes him a report switch to Liverpool. The Reds, eyeing him because the treatment for his or her scoring woes from the earlier season, positioned excessive expectations on the prolific Swede. But, in a shocking flip, Isak has solely managed to attain as soon as in seven appearances, casting doubt over his standing within the beginning lineup.
Alongside signing Isak, Liverpool secured Hugo Ekitike’s arrival for $93.4 million from Eintracht Frankfurt. Defying preliminary doubts about his Premier League readiness, the Frenchman has excelled with 5 targets and one help in 11 video games beneath coach Arne Slot. His dynamic performances have received over the followers, positioning him because the favored heart ahead and presenting a problem to Alexander who’s struggling to adapt to the Reds.
Alexander Isak of Liverpool through the Premier League recreation.
Alexander Isak vs Hugo Ekitike: The French striker opens up on the battle for Liverpool’s starter spot
Liverpool discover themselves in a heated competitors for the beginning spot between two multi-million greenback signings, Isak and Ekitike. Regardless of the Frenchman’s sturdy performances, coach Arne Slot lately most well-liked the Swede for Premier League matches. Nevertheless, with Alexander’s struggles and Hugo’s standout shows, followers are actually demanding a change. For that purpose, Ekitike addressed the intensifying rivalry for the starter spot.
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“I believe it’s good with gamers in such an enormous membership. I can’t see one huge membership taking part in with just one striker, so I believe it’s good that he’s right here… Even for me at my age, I believe I nonetheless have a whole lot of issues to enhance and be taught, so for me it’s good that he’s right here,” Hugo Ekitike mentioned after a press convention in September 2025.
Though Arne Slot has up to now opted for a formation with just one striker, the multi-million greenback funding in each gamers means that the door shouldn’t be closed to them taking part in in the identical lineup. In mild of this, Ekitike made his perspective on this potential different clear. “That’s for the coach to resolve how he needs to play. That’s not me. However clearly it’s nice gamers. I’ve been taking part in in two-striker composition, one striker, so I can do a whole lot of issues.”
