Liverpool brought both Hugo Ekitike and Alexander isak to the club last summer
Alexander Isak.
Alexander Isak is hoping for a better season next year(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
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Former midfielder Don Hutchison has accused Liverpool of arrogance in their pursuit of both Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak last summer.
And Hutchison, who played for the Reds for three years between 1991 and 1994, says he would have "broken the bank" for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez last summer rather than spend a British-record £125m to bring Isak in from Newcastle United.
Liverpool beat Newcastle to the signing of Ekitike when they paid £79m to sign him from Eintracht Frankfurt in July before Isak was then added to the squad from the Magpies themselves on September 1.
Isak, who arrived unfit after his acrimonious departure from Newcastle, was then sidelined for four months with a leg break he suffered in December and sat out Sunday's 3-2 loss at Manchester United with what has been described as a minor groin strain.
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Speaking to BestBettingSites, Hutchison blasted the decision to bring in Sweden international Isak, saying: "Can Isak score 20 goals next season? Twenty appearances. That’s more likely.
"I mean, it's not just the Isak thing, in my opinion. I think Premier League footballers now need to toughen up a lot because I'm seeing far too many players pull out with things like niggles.
"'Oh, he's got a niggle. He won't be fit this week; he'll be fit next week.' Take an injection, man. Get yourself fit.
"If I'm Alexander Isak, the first question I'm asking my physios and the doctors for a game against Manchester United with a groin injury is: 'Can I get an injection so I can play against Man United?' 'Yes, you can.' 'Right, give me it then.'
"It goes back to when Liverpool signed Ekitike. I wouldn't have signed Alexander Isak; I would have broken the bank for Julian Alvarez.
"I don't know in what world, really, you sign two Harry Kanes, you sign two Erling Haalands - you signed two Isaks in him and Ekitike.
"They're both the same player. So again, it goes back to the board and what they thought. Maybe the board were arrogant and thought: 'Yeah, we'll get Ekitike. Yeah, we'll get Wirtz. Yeah, we'll get Isak. We're going to be amazing.'
"Sometimes you've got to buy the right players for the team."
Hutchison, who made 60 appearances during his time with the Reds, added: "And the elephant in the room as well is we haven't seen the best of Jeremie Frimpong and we haven't seen the best of Florian Wirtz.
"Xabi Alonso managed these two guys at Leverkusen last season. So, it screams to me: bring him in to get the best out of those two and to add more style and substance to what Liverpool have got."
Liverpool return to action when they host Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime.