Isak brace against Ipswich earns Iraola first Liverpool win
Liverpool's Alexander Isak scores their side's second goal of the game against Ipswich. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire.
Alexander Isak loves playing at Portman Road and Liverpool fans love that Cody Gakpo is still playing for Liverpool.
Two goals from the Sweden striker in the first nine minutes ensured that, after two entertaining false starts, manager Andoni Iraola now has a first win as Liverpool's new head coach under his belt.
Isak's previous visit to Ipswich saw him leave Suffolk with the match-ball after netting three of Newcastle's goals in a 4-0 romp in December 2024.
A correctly raised flag in this one denied him another to add to his collection before the game was 33 minutes old but Gakpo had also already made his mark in setting up the first two.
Manchester City had wanted to sign the Dutchman just a few days ago but the Anfield hierarchy held firm when it became clear that no replacement of a similar quality was available, a decision that paid instant dividends. Gakpo's passing was of the highest quality for both goals.
Bradley Barcola, the €124m signing from Paris Saint-Germain, came on for his Liverpool debut midway through the second half.
The Iraola era had begun with a brace of 2-2 draws, at Newcastle on the opening weekend and against perennial Anfield irritants Nottingham Forest last week.
The Spaniard brought in Ronald Araujo, the Barcelona loanee, to replace Jeremie Frimpong at right-back in the only change from the Forest game.
It was a similar story with the hosts despite a 5-2 spanking at Manchester United on Sunday, with Argentina midfielder Exequiel Palacios coming in for Marcelino Nunez, whose slip had led to an equaliser at Old Trafford.
Liverpool pinned Ipswich on from the start, with right winger Victor Munoz, the new recruit from Osasuna, especially tricky - and not six minutes were on the clock when Isak fired the former champions ahead.
Town surrendered possession inside their own half too cheaply to allow Gakpo to play Isak with a pass that took out defenders Leif Davis and Jacob Greaves. Isak's first touch on the half turn to get behind the Ipswich pair was so good it gave the impression that he was offside. He wasn't, although goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen should not have allowed the Swede's shot to go in off an arm at his near post.
Worse was to come for the hosts in the ninth minute when Isak returned for another, this time the result of an even better Gakpo pass. This one, delivered from inside his own half, used the outside of a boot to allow Isak to run in behind, turn Greaves as he came across to challenge and slot past Scherpen.
At 6ft 9ins the Dutch goalkeeper is the Premier League's tallest player. He was too slow to get down though having come off his line and got his angles awry.
Scherpen did well to turn Dominik Szoboszlai's drive round a post after Ipswich had given the ball away cheaply in their own half yet again. It wasn't long before another calamity in possession gave the Hungarian another go, which the giant Dutchman parried.
Ipswich looked like a team that had never met each other before, with pass after pass going from blue shirt to red shirt. A run at goal from Julio Enciso almost broke for Daizen Maeda in front of goal however, with Davis then heading a decent chance from the resulting corner off target.
Isak had the ball in the net at the other end in the 33rd minute from Florian Wirtz's ball across the box from the left but this time the Swede was offside, as VAR confirmed.
Ipswich hadn't given up though and nor had their fans, who appreciated a Maeda effort that lacked the power to beat Alisson and an Enciso potshot from distance. But even Palacios had picked up their poor passing habit, winning the ball and striding upfield he spoiled all the good work by fluffing a simple pass.
Liverpool began the second period with a Wirtz shot deflected behind for a corner that saw Alexis Mac Allister, unmarked from eight yards, head at Scherpen.
Jérémy Jacquet was booked for felling Emersonn but escaped a second yellow a minute later for felling the Brazilian once again, to home annoyance.
Liverpool were happy to pick up cautions, with Milos Kerkez next for sliding in on Abdul Fatawu. It raised decibel levels but Town could not raise their game sufficiently, with no-one there to anticipate Alisson's spilling of another Enciso effort.
The away section began to sing Barcola's name and was rewarded by the Frenchman's 64th-minute arrival, along with Ryan Gravenberch as Isak's replacement.
Straight away there was added drama when Szoboszlai went down in the penalty area under Davis' challenge. Referee England was not interested in awarding a penalty but VAR was - but when the official reached his monitor an offside call on the Hungarian made it immaterial.
Ipswich sent on their own debutant attacker in Zian Flemming, the €25m capture from Burnley, but Liverpool were in no mood to grant him or his colleagues a route back into the match.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1): Scherpen 5; O'Shea 5, Diop 6, Greaves 5, Davis 5; Lukic 4, Palacios 6 (Ouattara 78); Fatawu 5 (McAteer 79), Enciso 7, Maeda 6 (Clarke 66, 5); Emersonn 6 (Flemming 66, 5).
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson 6; Araujo 5, Jacquet 5, van Dijk 6, Kerkez 6; Mac Allister 6 (Nyoni 84), Szoboszlai 7; Munoz 7 (Barcola 64, 6), Wirtz 7 (Koumas 90), Gakpo 8; Isak 8 (Gravenberch 64, 5).
Referee: Darren England 6
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