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Alan Shearer believes Hugo Ekitike can learn from Alexander Isak after the pair both arrived at Liverpool for significant transfer fees during the summer window.
It looked as though Ekitike would be entrusted to lead the line for the Reds this season when he arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt, but Isak's arrival from Newcastle on deadline day knocked the Frenchman down in the striker pecking order.
Ekitike, though, has started his Liverpool career impressively, scoring five times in nine appearances, and generally looking menacing whenever he has played, and he was given the nod against Galatasaray on Tuesday in the Champions League.
Isak lined up for his new club in the Premier League for the first time over the weekend, and coincidentally the game ended in Liverpool's first league defeat of the season.
Ekitike was back in the starting line-up for the game away to Galatasaray on Tuesday, and Shearer discussed the two strikers' battle for minutes ahead of kick-off.
"Ekitike is a wonderful talent but he can look and learn from Isak, because he is a world-class player," Shearer said. "They can bounce off each other. Ekitike has had a fantastic start to his Liverpool career.
"I don't think we will see the best of Isak until after the international break. He may be involved at the weekend [against Chelsea] and I am sure he will then play for Sweden, more so than in the last break.
"He will definitely play more in those games and then we should start to see the best of him."
Shearer, widely considered Newcastle's greatest-ever player, was asked whether he would give Isak a hug upon seeing him, after the Swede forced his way out of St. James' Park during the transfer window. "Of course, you can't hold grudges," he said.
Meanwhile, Ekitike was asked about his battle for minutes with Isak ahead of Liverpool's game against Galatasaray, and said that he believes that he could play successfully play alongside Isak if given the chance.
“We play at such a big club, they cannot have only one striker, so it is good he is here, I still have a lot of things to improve and learn," Ekitike said in a press conference.
“That is for the coach to decide who plays, it's not up to me. I played with two strikers before and one striker, so I can do a lot of things, so if we have to play together, I can.”
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