Alexander Isak sent brutal Alan Shearer Liverpool dig as transfer truth finally emerges

Alan Shearer believes Hugo Ekitike deserves to be Liverpool's first-choice striker ahead of big-money signing Alexander Isak. The Sweden international joined the Reds last month in a British record £130million transfer, bringing an end to the protracted summer saga that had gripped football.

Isak made his Premier League bow in the Merseyside derby just 19 days after his Anfield arrival. Seven outings later, the 26-year-old has managed just one goal, which came during a 2-1 EFL Cup victory over Championship side Southampton. Beyond his goalscoring struggles, Isak has failed to click with his teammates amid Liverpool's three-game Premier League losing run.

In contrast, fellow summer recruit Ekitike has thrived since making the switch to English football, netting six times this campaign - more than any other Liverpool player. Despite his impressive form, Ekitike has found himself on the bench for Liverpool's previous two league fixtures, with Arne Slot opting for Isak in attack.

The French striker is expected to get the nod ahead of his team-mate against Brentford on Saturday, withIsak nursing a groin problem. However, Shearer insisted Ekitike has earned the right to usurp Isak as the Reds' leading striker on merit alone.

Speaking to Betfair, the Newcastle legend 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 football's 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." Whilst Isak continues to struggle for form, his successor on Tyneside has hit the ground running from day one.

Nick Woltemade has won over the Newcastle faithful with five strikes in his opening nine appearances for the club. The German striker has found the back of the net four times in five Premier League outings and has provided a rare bright spot during an otherwise underwhelming start to the season, with Newcastle languishing in 14th place having managed just two victories from their first eight matches.