Online Reporter
LIVERPOOL risked their Champions League title credentials by gambling Alexander Isak against Paris Saint-Germain.
The Swede was handed his first start since his leg-breaking injury in December.
Isak, 26, started the match at Anfield as the Reds looked to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg in Paris.
Manager Arne Slot gave the former Newcastle man a partner in Hugo Ekitike in an attacking system.
However, Isak was left by himself as the French forward was forced off on a stretcher with an injury in the first-half.
This led to a dropped Mohamed Salah being recalled by Slot in an attempt to reinforce the attack.
Premier League record signing Isak was unable to stamp his mark on the game before he was taken off at half-time – which Slot said was pre-planned – after a listless performance,
In his 45 minutes on the pitch, he touched the ball just FIVE times and could only muster one shot. It could have been more had he been able to stay onside as he saw the flag go up against him twice.
His heat map from his outing leaves a lot to be desired as he only briefly pops up across the pitch.
Slot admitted before the game that Isak would only play 45 minutes as he tries to ease him back into action.
Cody Gakpo took his place at the break and made a much more telling contribution.
The Dutchman touched the ball 20 more times than Isak and made 19 passes as the Reds’ attack looked a lot more dangerous.
The improvement was not enough as a second-half brace from Ousmane Dembele ended the tie as a competition.
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer insisted that Isak did not look fit enough to be on the pitch.
Speaking on Amazon Prime, he 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.”
Liverpool’s last chance of getting on the scoresheet was wrecked after VAR overturned a penalty for a foul on Alexis Mac Allister in the box.
Liverpool will be hoping Isak can improve for the final games of the Premier League season.
The Reds face Everton in their first trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for a Merseyside derby.
Slot’s side will be hoping to return to winning ways to make sure they qualify for the Champions League next season.
Liverpool’s last win in their last five outings has come in the league as they beat Fulham 2-0 on Saturday. But their recent horror run has included the two defeats to PSG as well as a FA Cup semi-final exit to Manchester City.
Isak made the move to Anfield from Newcastle in the summer for a record £130MILLION.
Due to a lack of pre-season while out in the cold at St James’ Park and a long injury layoff, he has been limited to 19 appearances.
In this time, he has only scored three times for the club despite his prolific season of 27 goals in the 2024-25 season with the Magpies – Sun.
