Isak has to EARN it

FEE ALONE WON'T GUARANTEE YOUR PLACE, WARNS SMICER

- By IAN DOYLE Chief LFC Writer

ALEXANDER Isak has been told his club record transfer fee will not be enough to guarantee leading Liverpool's attack ahead of Hugo Ekitike.

Isak became the most expensive player in British history when he switched from Newcastle United for £125million at the start of last month, six weeks after Ekitike made a £79m move from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.

Having been banished from training with the Newcastle first team throughout the summer, Isak has subsequently been seeking to regain full fitness and featured for Sweden in their World Cup qualifier against Switzerland on Friday evening.

The 26-year-old has started Liverpool's last two Premier League games - the defeats at Crystal Palace and Chelsea - with Ekitike having been the central striker for the first five topflight encounters, all of which were won.