Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney has delivered a damning verdict on Alexander Isak's troubled spell at Liverpool, insisting the Swedish striker has only himself to blame for his ongoing nightmare at Anfield.
Record Move Turns Sour
Isak's British-record £125 million transfer from Newcastle United to Liverpool has spectacularly backfired, with the 26-year-old struggling to make any meaningful impact since his high-profile switch. The forward boldly declared his intention to "create history and win trophies" with the English champions, but his ambitions have been completely derailed by a combination of poor form and persistent injury problems.
Statistics Tell Grim Story
The numbers make for sobering reading for both Isak and Liverpool supporters. The striker has managed just six Premier League starts under manager Arne Slot, scoring only three goals across sixteen appearances in all competitions. His situation deteriorated further in December when he suffered a broken ankle that has kept him sidelined ever since, preventing any chance of rebuilding his faltering career at the club.
Rooney's Blunt Assessment
Speaking on his popular BBC show, Rooney showed no sympathy for Isak's predicament, instead pointing directly to the player's conduct during his final days at Newcastle as the root cause of his current troubles. "I think it's his own fault," stated the former England captain bluntly. "You know, he didn't train with Newcastle. There's no harm in asking, in leaving Newcastle for Liverpool. I think logically, probably nine out of ten Newcastle players would do that now."
Rooney elaborated further on his criticism, explaining: "But I think the way he went about it and not training with the team, he left himself short without a pre-season. And then he picked up his first injury. I know the second one is a tackle, but he hasn't been match fit since he's been at Liverpool, I don't think."
Mental Pressure at Elite Clubs
The football icon also highlighted the significant psychological demands of playing for top-tier clubs, suggesting Isak should have been better prepared for the intense scrutiny at Anfield. "We always talk about the mental side of the game and there's big pressure playing at big clubs," Rooney noted. "He knows that. Newcastle is a big club, their fan base, I can imagine that being a tough team to play for with how passionate the Newcastle fans are. So he'll have known and expected that. But his Liverpool career just hasn't got up and going yet."
Rooney's comments underscore the growing concern surrounding Isak's future at Liverpool, with the striker's decision to force his exit from St James' Park through a training strike now appearing increasingly ill-advised. As he continues his recovery from injury, the pressure mounts for Isak to finally justify his enormous price tag and resurrect what has thus far been a disastrous chapter in his professional career.
