Wayne Rooney sets Alexander Isak Hugo Ekitike Liverpool challenge as red card verdict delivered

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.

Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballLiverpool FCWayne Rooney has been speaking about Liverpool pair Alexander Isak and Hugo EkitikeWayne Rooney believes Hugo Ekitike is a superstar and has told Alexander Isak he needs to show he is as good as the Frenchman at Liverpool. After scoring in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace, the 23-year-old has scored against Bournemouth, Newcastle United and Everton in the Premier League.However, he missed his side’s first defeat of the season against Crystal Palace on Saturday after he was sent off against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.READ MORE: Federico Chiesa absent from Liverpool Champions League squad for GalatasarayREAD MORE: Federico Chiesa trains alongside Hugo Ekitike after Liverpool recall as injured striker missing And reacting to the Reds’ 2-1 defeat to Palace, Rooney said: “I think the sending off to Ekitike was bigger than people think.“I think he’s a superstar, he can affect Liverpool in so many different ways.

Obviously they’ve got Isak but I think that loss was massive.”Ekitike was joined at Anfield by Alexander Isak, who made the move to Merseyside from Newcastle United on transfer deadline day in a deal worth £125m.The 25-year-old effectively went on strike in an effort to force his way out of St James’ Park, having been lured by Liverpool overtures.However, unlike Ekitike, Isak is yet to score for the Reds, and Rooney believes “Ekitike one million per cent is in competition with Isak.“You’ve got a real competition between two forwards who are slightly different. Isak is proven in the Premier League that he can do that.

But he has to prove he can do it at Anfield. Ekitike has taken it quite quickly.“Everything I’ve seen at the moment Isak hasn’t been able to do that so quickly, I’m sure when he gets fit that will change.”Speaking on his BBC podcast, Rooney also revealed how playing at Anfield left him feeling cold.He said: "You get some tight dressing rooms.