Alan Shearer delivers Isak Newcastle dig amid Liverpool 'top man' dilemma

Hugo Ekitike has scored six goals in 12 appearances for Liverpool this season, but has been shifted out wide to accommodate Alexander Isak in recent weeks

Former Newcastle United legend reckons Hugo Ekitike has already proved himself worthy of being Liverpool's leading striker despite Alexander Isak's big-money arrival at Anfield this summer. The Reds splashed out a whopping £79million to bring the French ace from Eintracht Frankfurt, and he's made an immediate impact, netting six times in 12 outings across all competitions.

With Newcastle's determined stance against selling Isak, it appeared Ekitike would spearhead Liverpool's attack. But when the two sides finally reached an agreement, Arne Slot's team seized the chance to snap up one of the Premier League's most dangerous goal threats.

Isak's £125m arrival shattered the British transfer record fee that had already been broken by Liverpool earlier in the window following Florian Wirtz's move to Anfield.

The Swedish striker boasts a more expensive price tag than Ekitike. Yet Isak hasn't made the explosive start many expected since his switch to Merseyside, managing just a solitary strike in the Carabao Cup against Championship outfit Southampton.

The Swedish hitman missed pre-season with the Magpies, leaving Slot with the tricky task of nursing him back to peak condition whilst desperately needing results.

Chatting to Betfair, Shearer said: "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.

"I know footballs changed and I know it's very difficult to start every game in Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup. But he's got every chance to think that he's done enough to stay in the team."

Ekitike scored on his return to his former club Frankfurt, starring for Liverpool in the Champions League triumph.

The French forward started alongside Isak in Germany, with Mohamed Salah dropping to the bench having also struggled for form in recent weeks.

Slot's side return to domestic action on Saturday night when they take on Brentford, hoping to claw back some of the deficit to Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.

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