Liverpool hopeful of Alexander Isak return for PSG clash after injury
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that striker Alexander Isak is in contention to return from injury for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. The Swedish international, who has been sidelined since fracturing his fibula on December 20, resumed training last Thursday and could provide a crucial attacking option as Liverpool seeks to overturn a first-leg deficit.
Isak was not risked in Saturday's Premier League defeat to Manchester City, with the medical and technical staff agreeing he needed additional training sessions rather than an immediate return in such a high-intensity match. Speaking to TNT Sports, Slot explained the cautious approach. "I hoped he would be on the bench against City, but it was concluded it was better for him to do a few extra sessions rather than throw him straight into a match like that, with potential extra time," the coach said. "Now, I hope – again, I hope – that he will be available for Wednesday, but today it was too early for him."
The potential return of the 24-year-old forward would be a significant boost for a Liverpool side that struggled for cutting edge in the 3-0 loss at the Etihad. Isak has a proven record against PSG, having scored in a 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes for Newcastle United in the 2023-24 Champions League group stage. In the corresponding home fixture that season, Newcastle thrashed the French champions 4-1, with Isak playing a key role in that famous victory.
Since his £63 million move from Real Sociedad to Newcastle in the summer of 2022, Isak has established himself as one of the Premier League's most clinical forwards, combining pace, technical skill, and a reliable finishing instinct. His season at Liverpool, following a high-profile transfer last summer, had been progressing well until the December injury disrupted his momentum. His absence has been felt acutely, with Slot's side sometimes lacking a focal point in attack during his recovery period.
Liverpool's need for goals in Paris is urgent, having failed to score at home in the first leg. Isak's potential inclusion, even from the bench, offers a different tactical dimension and a player with confidence from previous encounters against their upcoming opponents. His fitness will be closely monitored in the final training sessions before the squad travels to France, with the decision likely to be made just before kick-off. A return would not only bolster Liverpool's options but also introduce a psychological element, given his past success against the Ligue 1 title holders.
