Isak doesn't deserve start over Ekitike - Rooney

British-record signing Alexander Isak is not doing capable to warrant starting up of Hugo Ekitike for Liverpool, says erstwhile England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

Sweden world Isak, 25, joined nan Reds astatine nan commencement of September from Newcastle for £125m, but has scored 1 extremity - successful nan League Cup - successful 7 appearances successful each competitions.

Sunday's defeat by Manchester United astatine Anfield was his 3rd Premier League commencement successful a statement without scoring.

His chap guardant Ekitike, who was a substitute against nan Red Devils, has scored 4 goals for Liverpool pinch 3 of those successful nan league.

"I wouldn't play Isak, he hasn't looked fresh since coming from Newcastle," Rooney said connected The Wayne Rooney Show.

"He hasn't trained, hasn't had a pre-season. It's truthful important. While Newcastle were training he was astir apt sat astatine location connected nan telephone to his supplier for six hours a time trying to get a move.

"It's truthful difficult erstwhile you don't person a pre-season. He might've done worldly by himself but he's paying nan value of it.

"On performances, he doesn't merit to beryllium playing up of Ekitike."

Defeat by Manchester United was Liverpool's 4th nonaccomplishment successful a statement successful each competitions, nan first clip they person endured specified a tally since November 2014.

Liverpool won nan Premier League title past play and moreover though they started powerfully this word pinch 7 successive wins successful each competitions, they person seldom put together consistently awesome displays crossed full games.

"They've sewage a spot complacent," added Rooney.

"For Arne Slot, you hide because he won nan Premier League, but he's still rather young - 46 years of property and this was nan first clip he's mislaid 4 successful a statement successful his career.

"[Against Manchester United] he was arguing pinch nan officials connected nan touchline, I haven't seen that earlier from him.

"We're starting to spot things unfold which shows that there's unit there."

Another interest for Liverpool is nan shape of their talismanic guardant Mohamed Salah, who Rooney believes is "in nan apical 5 top ever Premier League players".

The Egypt world was a cardinal facet successful Liverpool's title triumph past season, scoring 29 goals successful 38 Premier League games.

However, he has looked a protector of his accustomed aforesaid truthful acold this play and struggled to make an effect against Manchester United - a broadside he had scored 16 goals against successful 17 erstwhile appearances.

"Salah has played a batch of games complete nan past fewer years and been nan main man, carried that pressure," added Rooney.

Salah's early astatine Liverpool, who he joined from Roma successful 2017, had appeared uncertain past twelvemonth until he signed a caller two-year statement successful April.

Rooney added: "There was talk of him leaving, he signed a caller woody but it wouldn't astonishment maine if successful nan summertime he does time off nan club.

"I person loved watching him, a awesome player, but I deliberation it might've caught up. You don't want to admit it but it does get you and adjacent point you're gone."

The triumph for Manchester United was their first astatine Anfield since 2016.

Ruben Amorim has endured a mostly difficult clip astatine Manchester United truthful acold but Sunday's triumph intends they are up to ninth, but conscionable 2 points down fourth-placed Liverpool.

"It's specified a immense triumph for nan manager," Rooney said.

"I've questioned decisions, I've questioned tactics, I've questioned players' desire complete this play and past season. That triumph is massive. To triumph astatine Anfield is not easy to do.

"The assurance that gives nan players and nan manager, I'll beryllium nan first to opportunity he sewage it perfectly spot on.

"I dream we spot much of it. Two points disconnected Liverpool now. I really liked nan capacity and we cognize nan players tin do it, we person to spot this connected a accordant level."