Liverpool news: Alan Shearer verdict speaks volumes as new Alexander Isak worry emerges

Liverpool returned to winning ways in the Champions League and will look to bring that form into the Premier League after a woeful few weeks and question marks surrounding their striker situation

Liverpool finally looked like their dominant and scintillating selves again during Wednesday night’s mauling of Eintracht Frankfurt. Having lost four games on the bounce in all competitions, Arne Slot’s men secured a thumping 5-1 win away from home in the Champions League’s league phase.

The Reds will be feeling just a bit better about themselves after all the doom and gloom surrounding their results in the past few weeks. That’s not just down to the result itself, but also the displays on show, namely Florian Wirtz’s two assists on his return to Germany after a difficult first few months on Merseyside.

Liverpool will now turn their attention to facing Brentford away from home in the Premier League on Saturday night, where they will look to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal to one point. And we now take a look at two of the latest stories surrounding the Reds ahead of the clash.

READ MORE: Arne Slot issues Alexander Isak update and says Liverpool star ‘isn’t in a good place’READ MORE: Liverpool star admits coach warning over costly issue after surprise appearance

Shearer aims dig at Isak

Alan Shearer has taken an indirect swipe at Alexander Isak by claiming Hugo Ekitike should be the Reds’ starting striker ahead of the Swede. The Reds splurged £79million on the Frenchman in the summer and he hit the ground running at Anfield, having scored six goals so far.

But Liverpool made the questionable decision to then bring in Isak for a British record fee of £125m from Shearer’s beloved Newcastle after a long and toxic transfer saga, which saw the Magpies faithful burn all bridges with their Carabao Cup hero. Isak, meanwhile, has been underwhelming, scoring once in eight appearances while the team’s results have faltered since his integration into the team.

Shearer didn’t mince his words, telling Slot that he must bring Ekitike back into a starting role. He told Betfair: “I think that Hugo Ekitike has already done enough to become Liverpool’s number one striker for me, forget the price tags and everything else.

“He came in before anyone and obviously had scored the goals and looked really good in that position. Then he was sort of shifted out last night to a wider position, he wasn’t really involved in the game up until the goal.

“Even the commentators said at the time that he hadn’t really had many touches. But then, the way he took his goal and the way he finished it to get himself into that position – he’s got every right to think he should be starting on a regular basis.”

Liverpool worry – Ekitike opportunity

Despite the criticism, Isak came close to finding the net against Eintracht in Liverpool’s midweek Champions League game. The 5-1 win saw him start alongside Ekitike, who scored against his former club.

But the victory was marred by an injury to Isak, 26, who was taken off at half time with a groin problem and replaced by Federico Chiesa. Slot told TNT Sports afterwards: “Alexander had to go off at half-time because he felt his groin a little bit. That’s a pity. I’ve said many times it is such a difficult balance to find with a player that missed three months.

“You go slowly with him and people argue about playing him longer. We’ve now played him for the second time in three days and unfortunately he had to go off. Let’s hope for the best but it is not an easy balance to find when a player has been out for so long.”

It is unclear how long the Sweden international will be out for, with Slot saying on Friday his situation is “not too bad” and that he is a “question mark for the weekend”. His potential absence could allow Ekitike the freedom to lead the line once more and make a strong case to the manager that he deserves the nod going forward.

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