Alexander Isak’s struggles spark debate as Hugo Ekitike earns Wayne Rooney backing

Alexander Isak is at the heart of a growing debate over Liverpool’s struggling attack, with critics divided on whether he should retain his starting spot.

Calls for his replacement have intensified following another underwhelming performance against Nottingham Forest, his first start in a month.

Isak, who has Eritrean heritage, has found life difficult at Anfield since arriving in a British record £125 million transfer from Newcastle.

Hugo Ekitike, of Cameroonian heritage, also vying for minutes, has impressed in limited appearances, prompting debate over who should lead the line.

Former England international Wayne Rooney weighed in on the controversy, suggesting Isak requires a sustained run of games to regain confidence.

There will be a bit more pressure, and obviously it’s a big club, but I think Alexander Isak just needs a run of games.

“He just needs any type of goal to get him going and I’m sure he’ll find a good run of form after that. But he’ll be scratching his head. It’s hard when you’re going through a run of games and not scoring. You just have to try to keep everything simple.”

“None of them [summer signings] have really paid off apart from Hugo Ekitike. If I was Ekitike, I’d be fuming if I wasn’t playing.”

Meanwhile, former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson has urged manager Arne Slot to consider dropping Isak in favour of Ekitike, citing fitness and form concerns.

“He [Isak] is not fit. Ekitike should be back in the team,” Lawrenson said on talkSPORT. He explained that training alone cannot replicate competitive match sharpness, leaving Isak “about 25 per cent less than players in front of him.”

Lawrenson also highlighted Liverpool’s defensive frailties, advising Slot to prioritise organization over attacking experimentation.

“You just have to get the players together and go, ‘We start at 0-0 and make sure the nil is against us’. Until you start making yourself difficult to beat, the way we are at the moment, we just concede for fun.”

As Liverpool prepare for Wednesday’s Champions League clash against PSV, the debate over Isak and Ekitike’s roles underscores the pressure on Slot to balance form, fitness, and strategic needs.