In the aftermath of Liverpool’s 2–1 defeat to Manchester United, football legend Wayne Rooney has dropped a bombshell opinion — he says he’d bench Alexander Isak and start Hugo Ekitike instead.
Speaking on BBC’s “The Wayne Rooney Show,” the former Manchester United captain didn’t hold back in his analysis of Isak’s poor run of form.
“I wouldn’t play Isak, he hasn’t looked ready since coming from Newcastle,” Rooney said. “He hasn’t trained, hasn’t had a preseason. It’s so important. While Newcastle were training he was probably sat at home on the phone to his agent for six hours a day trying to get a move.”
Rooney added that Isak’s struggles stem from his disrupted preparation.
“It’s so difficult when you don’t have a preseason. He might’ve done stuff by himself but he’s paying the price of it. On performances, he doesn’t deserve to be playing ahead of Ekitike.”
Liverpool boss Arne Slot had opted to start Isak over Ekitike, leaving the French forward on the bench. But Isak failed to justify his manager’s faith, missing a golden first-half opportunity when he went one-on-one with goalkeeper Senne Lammens, only to see his shot saved.
The Swedish striker is still chasing his first Premier League goal for Liverpool after four appearances, despite joining the club last month in a British-record £125 million ($171m) transfer. His only goal so far came in the Carabao Cup victory over Southampton.
Sunday’s defeat marked Liverpool’s fourth consecutive loss in all competitions. Harry Maguire’s late header sealed victory for United, leaving Liverpool fourth in the Premier League table, four points behind leaders Arsenal.
Rooney suggested that complacency and pressure may be creeping into Arne Slot’s camp.
“They’ve got a bit complacent,” Rooney noted. “For Arne Slot, you forget because he won the Premier League, but he’s still quite young — 46 years of age — and this was the first time he has lost four in a row in his career.”
“[Against United] he was arguing with the officials on the touchline, I haven’t seen that before from him. We’re starting to see things unfold which shows that there’s pressure there.”
With mounting tension at Anfield and Rooney’s bold verdict now echoing across football circles, all eyes will be on Arne Slot’s next lineup — and whether Hugo Ekitike finally gets his shot to lead Liverpool’s attack.