Alexander Isak has hit back at Alan Shearer after the Newcastle United legend questioned his penalty-taking during a recent match. The 27-year-old, now at Liverpool, dismissed Shearer's comments as "irrelevant" while on international duty with Sweden.
Isak's sharp response
Speaking to local media this week, Isak addressed Shearer's remarks about the penalty in the 2-2 draw between Newcastle and Liverpool in August. "Szoboszlai was the penalty taker for that match," Isak said. "It's a bit irrelevant (Shearer's take). It's not for the media or the supporters to decide who should take a penalty."
Shearer had earlier admitted he would have liked to see Isak step up for the decisive spot-kick, to "see what he's got."
Early relationship
The pair's relationship has not always been so strained. Their first documented meeting took place in January 2024, when Shearer interviewed Isak at Darsley Park. Isak described the encounter positively, telling the club's website: "It was good – it was fun, it was nice to meet him as well."
He added: "We went through some clips, some of my actions and goals. We had a good chat to be fair, it was nice. It was a good moment. It was nice to speak to a club legend, a legend in the country as well."
Second interview and admiration
They sat down again in January 2025, and Shearer later recounted the chat to the BBC, praising Isak's personality. "He lives a quiet life and doesn't really like going out - he just loves walking his dog," Shearer said. "But while Isak is very unassuming as far as superstar footballers go, he is also friendly and very much a team player."
Shearer added: "I am told he loves a laugh and a joke in the dressing room, and he was all smiles when he spoke to me. I ended our chat by telling him to keep doing what he is doing, and joked that nine-year contracts seem to be in fashion for strikers at the moment."
Transfer and fallout
Isak left Newcastle in 2025 after going on strike and refusing to train, sealing an English record £125million move to Liverpool. He returned to Tyneside in August to boos, and claimed on social media that promises had been broken before his departure.
Before the transfer was sealed, Shearer spoke on The Rest Is Football podcast, saying: "I sat down with him five or six months ago and I didn't see this in him, to be honest. I thought he was a manager's dream the way he spoke about his life and was talking about the club. So obviously, something has massively upset him and we don't know what."
Shearer added: "I'm not angry at all towards him. I understand how football works. I know what happens in and around the game. I probably understand his mentality. Do I like it? Do I understand it? Probably two different things, but I know what football is about and how it works."
