Arne Slot attempts to justify Alexander Isak decision vs PSG that floored Jamie Carragher

The striker was a shock inclusion in the starting line-up for the Champions League quarter-final and had little impact on the tie as the Reds were eliminated from Europe

Arne Slot justified his decision to start Alexander Isak against PSG

Arne Slot has justified his decision to start Alexander Isak against Paris Saint-Germain, a choice that “flabbergasted” ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher.

Isak returned last week from a nearly four-month layoff due to a broken leg and ankle injury that required surgery. He came off the bench in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Parc des Princes, and then again at home to Fulham on Saturday.

Most presumed Isak would again be named among the substitutes for the Champions League second leg at Anfield, but Slot made the shock call to name him in the starting line-up, partnering him alongside Hugo Ekitke, while Mohamed Salah was selected on the bench.

Even more surprisingly, Slot confirmed before the match that Isak would only last 45 minutes due to his ongoing recovery and lack of match fitness. That situation was exacerbated when Ekitike suffered an Achilles injury in the first half, forcing Slot into an early change.

Isak was eventually withdrawn at half-time having had just five touches, one of which included a header from an early corner, while he also tested PSG goalkeeper Matvei Safonov with an effort that proved to be offside.

Despite this lack of impact and with the striker clearly not yet at full speed, Slot defended his decision to hand Isak a first start since early December.

Isak struggled during his first start in over four months(Image: Getty Images)

“I said before the game, if you go to extra-time and he plays in the second half and plays 45 minutes, there is only two minutes in between before extra-time comes up for half an hour and I don't think that was realistic.

“But to play him 45 and let's see at half-time how he feels to add five to 10 minutes to that, that was a possibility for today.

“But because we already had to make the first substitution in the first half, I didn't want to make the second substitution five or 10 minutes after half-time – that's why I took him off at half-time.

“He was twice close to a goal and that's why you play a striker of his level. There was one header from a set-piece and there was one great run in behind [Willian] Pacho, which he was really close to scoring but eventually was offside.

Slot explained the decision to start Isak in the quarter-final second leg(Image: (Photo by Stuart Franklin - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images))

“It is good to see and to have him back. I think he was ready and if I thought he wasn't ready then I wouldn't have played him. I think if you compare us today to last week, I think it is fair to say he was completely ready to play, otherwise you can't play the first half as we did, although the second half was even better.”

Meanwhile, Carragher said before the game: “I can't believe it, that he [Salah] is not playing. I can't understand why. The manager will have his reasons, but Isak is nowhere near fit.

“Mo Salah didn't play in the first leg, so he's not like some of the players who played last week and then played at the weekend in the Premier League.

“He played in the Premier League, he scored a goal, he's still one of Liverpool, probably Liverpool's best goalscorer. He's used to this system; Isak's never really played at with Ekitike before.”