Alan Shearer believes Alexander Isak's return from injury could offer a much-needed boost for Liverpool. The Reds are enduring a dismal season under Arne Slot, with a new low reached in Saturday's 4-0 thrashing at Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Erling Haaland's hat-trick and an Antoine Semenyo finish secured a comprehensive victory for Pep Guardiola's side, who have beaten Liverpool in all three matches they have played this season. It means the Champions League is now the Reds' only chance of silverware in 2025/26.
Slot's team face a daunting task in that competition, having drawn holders Paris Saint-Germain, with the first leg taking place on Wednesday night in Paris (8pm BST). The Reds also face a battle to secure a place in Europe's elite competition with Liverpool currently fifth, but just a point clear of Chelsea in sixth.
And Match of the Day pundit and former Newcastle United striker Shearer has told Betfair why Isak's return could change Liverpool's fortunes. The ex-Magpies frontman arrived at Anfield last summer for a British record transfer fee of £125million, but suffered a broken leg at Tottenham Hotspur on December 20 and only returned to first-team training on Thursday.
He said: "Depending on how fit Isak can be, or how good he can be in between now and the end of the season, he could be like a new player coming in, because we've seen hardly anything of him.
"Certainly, nowhere near the form that we've seen him in at Newcastle last season.
"Whether he can get up to speed that quickly remains to be seen, but it could be a great boost for Liverpool to have him back."
Slot provided positive noises around Isak's imminent return in his pre-match press conference on Friday, but also urged caution over the Swedish forward.
The former Feyenoord boss said: "It wasn’t only that he missed pre-season, he also missed the end of Newcastle’s season and didn’t go with the Sweden national team [last summer].
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"Our rehab staff did a great job, especially when I look at Alex now compared to where he was before he got injured. I see a player that is much stronger, physically in a much better place.
"But going from 100 days off to the intensity of the Premier League and the final phase of the Champions League where the opposition you face is even harder. But what's realistic? That's difficult to say.
"But I am really happy that I have at least a No.9 again available behind Hugo or together with Hugo so that is already a positive thing and what to expect?
"Next season after a proper pre-season we can expect more from him than now but the way he is now is always a big step forward for us compared to what we had."
