Wayne Rooney says Alexander Isak should have Hugo Ekitike 'worry' at Liverpool

Alexander Isak's decision to leave Newcastle for Liverpool has backfired spectacularly, and Wayne Rooney believes the 26-year-old striker has only himself to blame

Wayne Rooney has criticized Alexander Isak(Image: Getty Images)

Wayne Rooney has suggested Alexander Isak bears responsibility for his British-record transfer to Liverpool descending into chaos.

The Swedish forward has endured a torrid time since departing Newcastle for the English champions in a £125 million ($170.9 million) switch, having stated his ambition to "create history and win trophies" at Anfield.

However, he has instead found himself battling to secure a regular spot in Arne Slot's starting XI. Isak has been named in the first team for merely six league fixtures and netted three times across 16 outings in all competitions. Compounding his woes, the striker has struggled with fitness issues and is presently ruled out with a broken leg sustained in December.

Rather than expressing sympathy for the 26-year-old, Rooney believes Isak's choice to down tools at Newcastle in order to engineer a switch to Liverpool is now coming back to haunt him.

The England and Manchester United icon stated on the Wayne Rooney Show: "I think it's his own fault. You know, he didn't train with Newcastle. There's no harm in asking, in leaving Newcastle for Liverpool.

"I think logically, probably nine out of 10 Newcastle players would do that now. But I think the way he went about it, and not training with the team, he left himself short without a pre-season. And then he picked up his first injury.

Alexander Isak is currently nursing a broken leg(Image: Getty Images)

"I know the second one (injury) is a tackle, but he hasn't been match fit since he's been at Liverpool, I don't think.

"We always talk about the mental side of the game and there's big pressure playing at big clubs. He knows that. Newcastle is a big club, their fan base, I can imagine that being a tough team to play for with how passionate the Newcastle fans are.

"So he'll have known and expected that. But his Liverpool career just hasn't got up and going yet."

Rooney also believes that Isak should be worried about Hugo Ekitike's form at Anfield. Ekitike, who was expected to be Isak's back-up, has scored 15 goals and provided four assists this season to become arguably the main man on Merseyside.

"I'd be more worried if I was Isak, sat there watching," added Rooney.

"His Liverpool career just hasn't got up and going yet. Obviously, they paid a lot of money for him, and these two (Florian Wirtz and Ekitike) seem to have a real good understanding of each other's game, and they look like a real threat.

"Ekitike's second goal in particular was brilliant; it reminds me of Romario. A little toe-poke goal, but it's instinctive.

"He is the type of player I like to watch. He's not a number nine, he's not a number 10. He drifts out wide, he gets on the ball, brings players into the game, and he can score goals. So he's got a bit of everything really."