Alan Shearer revives Newcastle feud with Alexander Isak by insisting Hugo Ekitike is 'Liverpool's No.1 striker'

Isak is still finding his feet at Liverpool following his big-money move from Newcastle on transfer deadline day. The 26-year-old has made eight appearances in all competitions for the Reds, with his only goal coming in the club’s 2-1 victory over Championship side Southampton in the Carabao Cup in September.

Ekitike, on the other hand, has made a blistering start to life at Anfield. Following his summer move from Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt, the 23-year-old has scored six goals in 12 appearances in all competitions for Slot’s men, while he has also recorded one assist. The France international returned to Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, scoring the equaliser as the Merseysiders eventually ran out 5-1 winners at Deutsche Bank Park. Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai were also on the scoresheet as Liverpool ended a four-match losing streak with victory in Germany.

And while Isak and Ekitike started alongside each other at Frankfurt, with Liverpool operating in a 4-4-2 formation without the ball, Newcastle icon Shearer is in no doubts as to who should be considered the club's main man up top.

Speaking to Betfair, the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer 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.”

Shearer - who scored 260 goals in 441 Premier League appearances, with 148 of them coming for Newcastle - was critical of Isak’s attitude after he made it clear he would not play for the club again, such was his desperation to join Liverpool in the summer.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast in August, Shearer said: "I'm not angry at all towards him. I understand how football works, I know what happens in and around the game.

“I probably understand his mentality. Do I like it? Do I understand it? Probably two different things. But I know what football is about and I know how it works, and obviously Liverpool have been into him or his agent.

“I just thought it might have happened next year and if it really is impossible for Eddie to turn him around and he says no, and it sounds like that is the case, I want him to be out now, you get your big money for him, whoever’s prepared to pay that and you get other people in, hopefully beforehand, and then you move on.

“As I said, no individual is bigger than any football club, and if he doesn’t want to be there, fine, get what you can and get him out and say thanks very much for the memories, off you go.”

Ekitike will be looking to continue his fine form when Liverpool travel to Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday evening. The former Paris Saint-Germain forward is poised to lead the line on his own as Isak remains a doubt after sustaining a groin injury against Frankfurt. Newcastle, meanwhile, play host to Fulham at St. James’ Park on the same day. Eddie Howe’s men were also victorious in midweek, recording a 3-0 victory over Jose Mourinho’s Benfica in the Champions League.