Wayne Rooney says there's something 'people don't realise' about Alexander Isak at Liverpool now

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Wayne Rooney has commented on Alexander Isak’s difficult start to life at Anfield.Liverpool paid Newcastle a record transfer fee to prise the Swede away from St James’ Park.In the early stages of 2025/26, however, we have seen very little of the striker, with Isak just returning to training late last week.Join our newsletter for news & smart analysis. He scored 27 goals in all competitions for the Magpies last term, but has found the back of the net just once in eight outings during 2025/26.Now, former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney thinks he knows why Isak has had such a slow start.Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesWayne Rooney explains Alexander Isak’s Liverpool strugglesSpeaking on the latest episode of The Overlap Fan Debate, Rooney was quick to highlight how a lack of pre-season can impact a player.He said: “You know what, Isak, I think… people don’t realise as much how important your pre-season is.

If you don’t have a pre-season, it’s very difficult.“Obviously, everything went on and trying to get out of Newcastle and missing that, there’s no surprise he’s injured. You know yourself, if you missed that pre-season, you’re always catching up.”Isak didn’t join Liverpool until September 1, and prior to that, he was frozen out at Newcastle.He made the bench against City, but was not brought on by Slot despite the Reds chasing the game.With the international break now upon us, the 26-year-old will have time to build up his fitness before the Premier League is back.But once Liverpool return to action, Slot faces another issue regarding the striker.What will Arne Slot do with Alexander IsakFor the most part, Hugo Ekitike has shone in the striker role while the ex-Newcastle man has been absent.But it does beg the question, how will the Liverpool manager fit both players into the team moving forward?The Frenchman doesn’t really deserve to be dropped, even if he wasn’t at 100 percent versus Manchester City, while Isak really has to play, given his price tag.The solution, right now at least, looks to be moving Ekitike out wide, something Slot commented on prior to the City defeat.He said: “Hugo could also play off the left in my opinion or maybe around Alex where Alex is more of an out-and-out, is I think the way you say it, out-and-out nine.“He’s just the finisher of the attacks, could drop into midfield.“But Hugo is yeah, maybe more a player that also likes to drop more in spaces coming off the left, where Alex I think prefers to be in the middle.”