Alexander Isak was sent off at half-time of Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
Alexander Isak had a difficult night against Paris Saint-Germain (Image: 2026 UEFA)
Alan Shearer reflected on Alexander Isak’s performance after Liverpool were stripped of their record break at half-time against Paris Saint-Germain. The £125 million man was paired with Hugo Ekitike in the attack against the French giants.
Isak had been sidelined for much of the season with a broken foot, but had a golden chance to impress against the reigning Champions League holders. At one point it looked like he had a clear shot at goal, but he was flagged for offside.
More than that, it was a night when he could barely see Anfield. After the final whistle, Newcastle United legend and former Issac fan Shearer weighed in on the Swedish striker’s performance.
read more: Liverpool player review: Alexander Isak fails, Reds eliminated from Champions Leagueread more: Liverpool say VAR error made when penalty overturned against PSG amid ‘obvious’ confusion
Speaking on Amazon’s Champions League broadcast, Shearer said: “He was barely involved, Isak? Only five touches in the first half. It wasn’t really good enough, he wasn’t doing well. And Arne Slott was saying before the game, right? I didn’t see him play more than 45 minutes, and that’s exactly what happened.”
Coach Slott opted to start Isak and removed Mohamed Salah from the starting lineup. This would have raised many eyebrows considering Salah had scored in the 2-0 win against Fulham.
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The Liverpool manager then brought on Salah in his place after Hugo Ekitike was injured in the first half. Before the Egyptian was introduced, Jamie Carragher admitted he was stunned that Slott dropped him for Isak.
Carragher said: “I can’t believe he (Salah) isn’t playing. I don’t understand why. I’m sure the manager has his reasons, but Isak is far from fit. Mo Salah didn’t play in the first leg, so he’s different from some of the players who played last week and played in the Premier League at the weekend.”
Isak had one chance but was flagged for offside (Image: AFP or licensors)
“He played in the Premier League, he scored goals, he’s still part of Liverpool and he’s probably Liverpool’s best goalscorer. He’s used to the system, but Isak has never really played for Ekitike before.”
“I don’t think Arne Slott is the type of manager who thinks, ‘I remember what you did to me when you publicly called me out a few months ago.’ Alex Ferguson comes to mind as a manager from the past…I don’t think Arne Slott would think that, but is that because he’s already announced his departure?
Salah is on the bench at Ekitike (Image: 2026 Getty Images)
“And it’s like, ‘Here we go with the players who will be here next year.'” I don’t know, that’s all I can think of, but it still doesn’t make sense because it’s here and now and I’m appalled that Mo Salah isn’t playing.
Ahead of the game, coach Slott explained the thinking behind his team selection, saying, “The idea, as everyone knows, is that we need to score goals, and they have goals. They’re two target men, two guys that we can play with.”
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