Wayne Rooney believes one Liverpool forward should be feeling uneasy despite the Reds' emphatic 4-1 win over Newcastle United , with new attacking partnerships beginning to take shape.
Liverpool's dominant display showcased fluid movement, sharp finishing, and growing chemistry in the final third.
While the result strengthened their position, Rooney's post-match analysis focused less on the scoreline and more on what it means for individual roles within the squad.
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Speaking on his podcast , Rooney singled out Isak, who may be under pressure following the performance.
"I'd be more worried if I was Isak, sat there watching. His Liverpool career just hasn't got up and going yet," Rooney said.
He added: "Obviously, they paid a lot of money for him and these two [ Wirtz and Ekitike ] seem to have a real good understanding of each other's game, and they look like a real threat."
Rooney's point centred on momentum. With Liverpool's attack clicking, opportunities could become limited for those not currently part of the preferred combination.
Rooney reserved particular praise for Ekitike, highlighting the quality and variety of his contribution.
"Ekitike's second goal in particular was brilliant, it reminds me of Romario. A little toe-poke goal but it's instinctive. He is the type of player I like to watch," Rooney continued.
"He's not a number nine, he's not a number 10. He drifts out wide, he gets on the ball, brings players into the game and he can score goals. So he's got a bit of everything really," he concluded.
The description underlined why Ekitike's role feels difficult to dislodge. His movement created space, his link-up play kept attacks flowing, and his finishing provided the decisive edge.
For Liverpool, the emergence of a balanced and unpredictable forward pairing is a major positive.
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