Premier League icon Alan Shearer has shared his thoughts on the competition between Liverpool forwards Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak regarding who should lead the line for the team.
After their significant summer transfers—Ekitike for £125M and Isak for £70M—the discussion surrounding who deserves the starting position has intensified.
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Ekitike has made a solid impression, scoring six goals in 12 matches across all competitions, while Isak has managed just one goal, which came in the EFL Cup against Southampton a few weeks back.
Ekitike should take the lead
In a conversation with Betfair, Shearer expressed his belief that Ekitike has already established himself as the preferred striker for Liverpool, regardless of transfer fees and expectations.
“In my opinion, Hugo Ekitike has already proven he deserves to be Liverpool’s leading striker; we should set aside the financial aspects,” he stated.
“He made an immediate impact by scoring goals and looked impressive in that central role. However, he was shifted to a wider position last night, limiting his involvement in the match until he scored.”
Ekitike may replace Isak
Ekitike returned to Eintracht Frankfurt with Liverpool on Wednesday, scoring the equalizer in the first half while playing alongside Isak. Shearer noted that if Ekitike maintains this level of performance, he could secure his spot in the lineup over Isak, who many feel should have stayed with Newcastle United.
“Even the commentators highlighted that Isak hadn’t seen much of the ball. However, the way he took his goal and positioned himself was commendable—he has every reason to believe he should be starting regularly,” Shearer added.
“I recognize that the football landscape has evolved, and it’s challenging to start every match in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup. Nonetheless, Ekitike certainly has a strong case for remaining in the team.”
Isak’s absence from preseason training with Newcastle has hindered his form, but with ample time since the international break, there are rising concerns about whether he can return to his previous standard.