Alexander Isak has dismissed Alan Shearer's criticism of his failure to take a late penalty for Liverpool against Newcastle United as 'irrelevant', and revealed he was prepared for the hostile reception he received from the home fans.
The £125million striker returned to St James' Park in August as Liverpool drew 2-2 with Newcastle. Isak was booed and jeered from the moment he stepped off the team bus at the team hotel until he left the city after the match.
Shearer criticism dismissed
After the game, Newcastle's all-time leading scorer Alan Shearer questioned why Isak had not stepped up to take the last-gasp penalty that rescued a point for Liverpool. Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer 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."
Instead, Dominik Szoboszlai converted the penalty to earn Liverpool a draw in front of the Leazes End. Asked about the incident while on Sweden duty ahead of the autumn internationals, Isak said: "Szoboszlai was the penalty taker for that match."
"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."
Reception and form
When asked about the amount of verbal abuse he received, Isak said: "It was special. I was prepared for the atmosphere, so it was a special match."
Isak endured a difficult first season after his move from Newcastle to Liverpool and was branded a flop at times. He then suffered a broken leg after an away win at Spurs, which left the second half of his campaign in tatters and created a fitness battle to be fit for the World Cup, which he managed.
Asked whether he needed to redeem himself this term, Isak said: "I’ve been focused on having a good season, considering last year. It’s not about redemption, but about having normal ambitions to do well. I’ve had a good start, but it’s still very early. I shouldn’t talk too much about it."
"It's not about making amends, but having the usual ambitions to do well. Compared to last year, I feel like I'm in a much better place now, physically and everything."
Isak has scored four goals already this season, bettering his tally from last term. He scored the winner against Bournemouth at the weekend and is second in the Premier League scoring charts, behind Erling Haaland.
