Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has criticised Alexander Isak’s place in Liverpool’s starting XI, arguing the £125m signing has not earned his spot ahead of Hugo Ekitike.
Isak arrived from Newcastle in September for a British-record transfer fee, but has struggled to make an early impact—scoring just one goal in seven appearances, and failing to score in three consecutive Premier League starts. In contrast, 22-year-old Ekitike has scored four goals, including three in the league, despite playing fewer minutes.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England captain was blunt in his assessment:
“I wouldn’t play Isak. He hasn’t looked ready since coming from Newcastle,” said Rooney. “He didn’t have a pre-season, and you can see he’s paying the price. While Newcastle were training, he was probably on the phone to his agent for six hours a day trying to get a move.” “On performances, he doesn’t deserve to be playing ahead of Ekitike.”
Rooney also suggested that Liverpool’s ongoing struggles—now four consecutive defeats in all competitions—have exposed deeper issues within the team.
The 3–0 defeat to Manchester United at Anfield marked Liverpool’s fourth loss in a row, their worst run of form since November 2014. Despite winning the Premier League last season and opening this campaign with seven straight victories, their performances have lacked conviction.
Rooney questioned whether manager Arne Slot is starting to feel the pressure:
“They’ve got complacent. People forget he’s still quite young for a top manager at 46. He’s never lost four in a row before. Against Manchester United he was arguing with the officials—I’ve never seen that from him before. Pressure is showing.”
Another major worry for Liverpool is the dip in form of Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian forward, who scored 29 goals last season and is widely regarded by Rooney as “one of the Premier League’s top five players of all time”, struggled again versus Manchester United.
Despite a prolific record against United—16 goals in 17 games prior to Sunday—Salah was ineffective and rarely involved.
Rooney hinted that physical and mental fatigue may be catching up with the 32-year-old:
“He’s been the main man for years and carried the pressure. It catches up with you eventually. I wouldn’t be surprised if he leaves in the summer.”
Salah signed a two-year contract extension in April, but speculation over his long-term future persists.
For Manchester United, Sunday’s victory was their first at Anfield since 2016. The result lifted Ruben Amorim’s side to ninth place, just two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.
Rooney, who has previously criticised Amorim’s tactics and selections, praised the performance:
“It’s a huge win. To win at Anfield is never easy. I’ve questioned a lot this season, but the manager got it spot on. The confidence this gives the squad could be massive. Now they need to show consistency.”
Rooney’s comments reflect a growing unease around Liverpool’s trajectory. The struggles of big-name players like Isak and Salah, combined with visible frustration from Slot, point to a team searching for identity and rhythm. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s resilience at Anfield offers Amorim a potential turning point—if they can build on the result.
With pressure mounting, Liverpool’s response over the coming weeks may define their season.
