Alexander Isak was hauled off at half-time during Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain
Alexander Isak of Liverpool looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield on April 14, 2026 in Liverpool, England
Alexander Isak had a difficult evening against Paris Saint-Germain(Image: 2026 UEFA)
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Alan Shearer has laid into Alexander Isak's performance after Liverpool's record signing was hauled off at the break against Paris Saint-Germain. The £125million man was paired alongside Hugo Ekitike in attack against the French giants.
Isak has been sidelined for much of the season with a broken leg, but he had a golden chance to impress against the reigning Champions League holders. He appeared to have a clear run on goal at one point, only to be flagged offside .
Beyond that, it was a night where he barely got a look-in at Anfield. Following the final whistle, Newcastle United legend and former Isak admirer, Shearer, tore into the Swedish striker's showing.
Speaking on Amazon's Champions League coverage, 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."
In opting to start Isak, Slot also left Mohamed Salah out of his starting line-up. This would have raised plenty of eyebrows given Salah had netted in the 2-0 victory over Fulham.
The Liverpool manager subsequently brought Salah on in place of Hugo Ekitike after the latter picked up an injury in the first half. Prior to the Egyptian's introduction, Jamie Carragher admitted he was stunned that Slot had dropped him 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. 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.
Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) tries to go around Paris Saint-Germain's Russian goalkeeper #39 Matvey Safonov
(L) during the UEFA Champions League quarter final, second-leg football match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 14, 2026
Isak had one chance, but was flagged for offside(Image: AFP or licensors)
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"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.' 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?
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield on April 14, 2026 in Liverpool, England
Salah was benched for Ekitike(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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"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."
Ahead of the match, Slot outlined his thinking behind his team selection, saying: "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."
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