Arne Slot is facing a growing form crisis at Liverpool after a fourth successive defeat in all competitions.
Harry Maguire's late header sealed a 2-1 win for Manchester United at Anfield as the Red Devils secured a Premier League victory at the home of their arch rivals for the first time since 2016.
Slot's charges look disjointed and unclear over the Dutchman's game plan so far this season after a flood of new arrivals over the summer.
The defending champions twice broke the Premier League transfer record to bring in Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak but the duo have struggled to ignite on Merseyside.
Neither player has scored a goal in EPL or UEFA Champions League action after 10 games combined, and Isak was replaced by Federico Chiesa on 72 minutes against United.
The Sweden international also struggled on international duty, with no goals in two games, as Sweden's hopes of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification took a major blow.
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Isak's struggles in front of goal come in contrast to fellow new signing Hugo Ekitike who already has four goals to his name as a Liverpool player.
Wayne Rooney was the last player to score a Red Devils league winner at Anfield before Maguire and he believes Slot needs to make a bold call and drop his No.9.
"I wouldn't play Isak, he hasn't looked ready since coming from Newcastle," he said on The Wayne Rooney Show.
"He hasn't trained or had a preseason. It's so important. While Newcastle were training he was probably sat at home on the phone to his agent for six hours a day trying to get a move.
"It's so difficult when you don't have preseason. He might've done stuff by himself, but he's paying the price of it.
"On performances, he doesn't deserve to be playing ahead of Ekitike."
Alexander Isak's 2025/26 Liverpool stats
Since joining on September 1, Slot has looked to ease Isak into the demands of the campaign, with the former Feyenoord boss also hinting at concerns over his physical condition.
However, Slot has predicted the latest international break was the final time he would not expect the 26-year-old to be at peak level.
Despite not scoring in league or European action, Isak does have an assist in the EPL, and a goal in the EFL Cup.
Across three league starts, and one substitute appearance, he's only completed 253 minutes plus 86 in the Champions League.
No 90 minutes completed across any competition is an eye-catching stat, and he averages just one shot on target per 43 minutes in Europe, with his sole effort on goal against United a first in league action for Slot.
In comparison, Ekitike has a shot on target every 102 minutes in the EPL, and three of his four shots on target have ended in a goal.
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