Alan Shearer sends Alexander Isak tongue-in-cheek message after Hugo Ekitike strike

Alan Shearer has warned Alexander Isak that he wouldn’t be a guaranteed starter at Liverpool after Hugo Ekitike made an impact on debut. The Reds opened their Premier League campaign with a dramatic 4-2 win over Bournemouth on Friday night, with Ekitike the star.

The French striker, who arrived in a deal worth £69million plus £10m in add-ons from Eintracht Frankfurt, hit the ground running at Anfield. He opened the scoring by coolly slotting into the net before half-time and he then turned provider, teeing up Cody Gakpo to make it 2-0.

Bournemouth fought back admirably with a double from Antoine Semenyo, but were undone late on. Federico Chiesa volleyed in before Mohamed Salah got in on the act by rifling into the bottom corner.

While there were worrying signs for Liverpool’s defence, their new-look attack was impressive, with Ekitike taking home the Man of the Match award. With Isak refusing to play for Newcastle in an effort to force through a move to Liverpool, Ekitike’s performance wasn’t lost on Shearer.

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“Surely any forward thinking of going to Liverpool, will be having second thoughts now having to play second fiddle to the brilliant Ekitike all season?” he wrote on X alongside a few emojis. Liverpool have seen one bid of £110m plus £10m in add-ons rejected by Newcastle for Isak and are yet to return with another offer.

The Swede has burnt his bridges with the Magpies and is desperate to move to Anfield, where there is a space in the side. Liverpool sold Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz this summer after the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and Arne Slot has made it clear he wants another attacker brought in.

Slot told Sky Sports before the Bournemouth game: "I see Hugo mainly as a No.9 that could also play from the left or together with another No.9. We need to have one more attacker at least."

Isak has not been training with Newcastle and still has two weeks left before the transfer window closes to get his move. But Eddie Howe insists there is a way back for the 25-year-old at St James’ Park.

“I want him to play. I want him to train," he said on Friday. "I've had those conversations [with Isak] but the details of those will remain private.

"There is no change to the situation. All my focus has been on the training, Aston Villa and the transfer front in terms of getting players in – that is all-consuming for me. Alex's situation has been unchanged for a while and that will continue to be the case."

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