Alexander Isak was booed and jeered on his return to Newcastle United on the opening day of the season, with Alan Shearer urging the Liverpool striker to step up and take the late penalty
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - AUGUST 23: Alexander Isak of Liverpool during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC at St James' Park on August 23, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Alexander Isak was booed throughout his first return to Newcastle United following his £125m move to Liverpool(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Alexander Isak has dismissed Alan Shearer's suggestions that he should have taken Liverpool's stoppage-time penalty on his first return to Newcastle United as 'irrelevant'.
On the opening day of the campaign, Isak was back at St James' Park for the first time since his contentious, British transfer-record $165.4 million move from Newcastle to Liverpool in September 2025. The Sweden forward endured a hostile reception from the moment he alighted from the Reds' team coach at their hotel until his departure following the thrilling 2-2 stalemate.
The Magpies appeared destined to secure all three points until Liverpool were granted a spot-kick deep into added time after Victor Munoz was brought down in the area by Lewis Hall. Dominik Szoboszlai took on the responsibility from the spot, coolly converting into the top corner to secure a point for the visitors, reports the Liverpool Echo.
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However, speaking on The Rest of Football podcast following the match, Newcastle icon Shearer argued that Isak ought to have seized the opportunity to silence the home supporters by stepping up to take the kick himself.
He said: "I was thinking: 'Go on, come and take the penalty! What have you got? Go and grab the ball and take the penalty Isak'. I wanted him to go and take it. I was thinking: 'Come on, you've been absolutely battered. Lets see what you've got. Go and grab the ball and take the penalty'."
Yet when those remarks were relayed to Isak, who is presently on international duty with Sweden, he nonchalantly dismissed them. "Szoboszlai was the penalty taker for that match," the striker, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Monday, told Swedish publication Fotbollskanalen.
Alexander Isak of Liverpool celebrating after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match at Bournemouth on September 20 2026
Alexander Isak seems to have hit the ground running this season(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"It's a bit irrelevant (Shearer's verdict). Those are team matters, and it's not for the media or the supporters to decide who should take a penalty. I'm always hungry." When questioned about the level of hostility he faced from supporters who previously idolised him, Isak responded: "It was special. I was prepared for the atmosphere, so it was a special match."
The Swedish international endured a difficult outing during that fixture, but has since netted four goals across four Premier League appearances, positioning him just one strike behind the division's top scorer Erling Haaland. This achievement means he has already equalled his entire goal contribution from last campaign, when injuries and fitness concerns significantly hindered his performances.
However, Isak featured in five of Sweden's six summer fixtures, including all four World Cup matches, where they exited at the last-32 stage following defeat to France.
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Having already accumulated six starts this term - completing the full 90 minutes on three separate occasions - the ex-Real Sociedad forward is now being prepared for consistent involvement in Sweden's upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Romania home and away, Poland at home and Bosnia and Herzegovina away.
Liverpool cannot afford to be without Isak considering he remains their sole senior fit and available centre-forward with Hugo Ekitike unavailable through injury. However, he confirmed that the Reds have not contacted Sweden manager Graham Potter regarding his playing time during the international break.
"No, nothing," said Isak. "Graham is free to use me, but it's four matches in a short period, so we'll need to look at playing time for the sake of the team. If you play four lots of 90 minutes, maybe you don't give your best, but I feel good and there shouldn't be any problems."