{"id":352812,"date":"2025-08-17T23:41:18","date_gmt":"2025-08-17T23:41:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/352812\/"},"modified":"2025-08-17T23:41:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T23:41:18","slug":"jamie-carragher-says-liverpool-may-already-have-a-special-alternative-to-newcastles-alexander-isak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/352812\/","title":{"rendered":"Jamie Carragher says Liverpool may already have a ‘special’ alternative to Newcastle’s Alexander Isak"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jamie Carragher has suggested Hugo Ekitike could step up if Liverpool cannot sign Newcastle United star Alexander Isak this summer. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Liverpool hijacked Newcastle\u2019s move for Ekitike<\/a> and are now trying to sign Isak<\/a> too. <\/p>\n

Newcastle<\/a> had tracked Ekitike<\/a> for years but could do nothing as he moved to the Premier League<\/a> champions. <\/p>\n

The Frenchman scored on his competitive debut for the Reds on Friday night and will no doubt be one of the main talking points when Liverpool come to St James\u2019 Park<\/a> on Monday night. <\/p>\n

Isak will be too. It\u2019s hard to imagine him playing in the fixture of course but the Sweden star will be frequently discussed before, during and after the game. <\/p>\n

Still, Newcastle insist that Isak is not for sale<\/a> and the closer the transfer deadline draws to a close, seemingly the more likely it is that he stays. <\/p>\n

Carragher<\/a> thinks Ekitike could be enough to cover for Liverpool if they cannot land their man.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"HugoPhoto by Liverpool FC\/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesJamie Carragher feels \u201csorry\u201d for Hugo Ekitike amid Alexander Isak debate <\/p>\n

The Liverpool legend was speaking on Sky Sports after Arne Slot\u2019s side beat Bournemouth 4-2 on Friday night to kick off the 2025\/26 Premier League season. <\/p>\n

He expressed sympathy for Ekitike, given he\u2019s only just arrived at Anfield but the club are already trying to sign a new forward. <\/p>\n

While the Sky Sports pundit said Isak was a better player right now and that Liverpool did need signings, he suggested the former PSG youngster could make people forget about Isak if the Reds really do miss out on him. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve actually felt a little bit sorry for him with all the talk around Isak,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s easy to just say \u2018oh, go and get Isak\u2019 but what does it mean for him? There\u2019s talk about him playing on the left but he looks like that\u2019s his position, he\u2019s a centre-forward. <\/p>\n

\n

“He’s made a brilliant start!”<\/p>\n

Jamie Carragher praises Hugo Ekitike after his player of the match performance in his Premier League debut pic.twitter.com\/T8BbUpq9Y6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

\u201cHe likes to drop deep, he likes to get on the ball. He\u2019s probably not going to be a centre-forward who is going to be backing into defenders and going up against them. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got a slight frame, so he needs to sort of get away from them and take them into wide areas. For me, he\u2019s made a brilliant start. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not as good as Isak, of course he\u2019s not, he\u2019s four or five years younger [he\u2019s only two] than him. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure Liverpool \u2013 when they bought him \u2013 were thinking this fella could grow into one of the top strikers in world football.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSo yeah, I think it\u2019s just really interesting now to see what Liverpool do in terms of the attacking players that they bring in because they have to bring attacking players in. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut that will do him [Ekitike] the world of good and also give players confidence and maybe even supporters confidence that it\u2019s not all about Isak and if you don\u2019t get him it\u2019s the end of the world. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou might have someone pretty special up front already.\u201d <\/p>\n

Hugo Ekitike has already sent a \u201cmessage\u201d to Alexander Isak <\/p>\n

BBC Sport pundit Glenn Murray thought Ekitike sent a message to Isak with his goal celebration for Liverpool in the Community Shield<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The Reds forward used his hands to mimic people talking after he opened the scoring in the opening exchanges at Wembley. <\/p>\n

Murray suggested Ekitike was blocking out all the noise about the Newcastle striker. <\/p>\n

Liverpool, of course, went on to lose the game on penalties. <\/p>\n

Ekitike, like Isak, will no doubt be a point of focus when Liverpool head to Newcastle on Monday night. <\/p>\n