After Alexander Isak endured a difficult evening against Paris Saint-Germain, Alan Shearer offered his verdict on Liverpool’s record signing
21:48, 14 Apr 2026Updated 23:50, 14 Apr 2026
Alexander Isak had a difficult evening against Paris Saint-Germain(Image: 2026 UEFA)
Alan Shearer has blasted Alexander Isak’s display after Liverpool’s record signing was taken off at half time against Paris Saint-Germain. The £125million man was deployed alongside Hugo Ekitike against the Parisians.
Isak has missed the majority of the campaign with a broken leg, but he had a huge opportunity against the reigning Champions League holders. He looked to have a chance when he was played through on goal, but he was flagged offside.
Other than that, it was an evening where he did not receive too many touches of the ball at Anfield. After the match, Newcastle United hero and Isak fan, Shearer, blasted the performance of the Swedish forward.
Speaking on Amazon’s coverage of the Champions League, Shearer said: “He wasn’t hardly involved at all was he, Isak? Only five touches in that half, didn’t really do enough, didn’t look fit. And I think Arne Slot said before the game didn’t he? That he didn’t see him doing too many more minutes than 45 and that’s exactly what happened.”
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In deciding to pick Isak, Slot also dropped Mohamed Salah from his starting XI. This would have taken many by surprise considering Salah found the net in the 2-0 triumph over Fulham.
The Liverpool boss went on to bring Salah on for Hugo Ekitike when the latter went down with an injury in the first half. Before the Egyptian was introduced, Jamie Carragher admitted he was shocked Slot dropped the Egyptian for Isak.
Carragher said: “I can’t believe it, that he [Salah] is not playing. I can’t understand why. The manager will have his reasons, but Isak is nowhere near fit.
Isak had one chance, but was flagged for offside(Image: AFP or licensors)
“Mo Salah didn’t play in the first leg, so he’s not like some of the players who played last week and then played at the weekend in the Premier League.
“He played in the Premier League, he scored a goal, he’s still one of Liverpool, probably Liverpool’s best goalscorer. He’s used to this system; Isak’s never really played at with Ekitike before.
“Now I don’t think Arne Slot’s the type of manager who would almost be thinking: ‘I remember what you did to me a few months ago when you called me out publicly.’
Salah was benched for Ekitike(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
“Certain managers in the past, I can think of maybe Alex Ferguson… I don’t think Arne Slot would, but is it because he’s already announced he’s leaving?
“And it’s something like: ‘I’m almost going with the players who are going to be here in the next year.’ I don’t know, it’s the only thing I can think of, but even that doesn’t make sense, because it’s about the here and now, so I’m flabbergasted Mo Salah’s not playing.”
Speaking about his team selection before the match, Slot said: “The thinking is that, as we all know, we need to score goals, and there are goals in these players. They are two target men, two players we can play into.”