Isak’s Early Double Secures Liverpool’s First Win Under Iraola
Liverpool needed less than ten minutes to rip the game away from Ipswich Town. By the ninth minute, it was effectively done.
Alexander Isak struck twice in a blistering start as Liverpool claimed a 2–0 Premier League win in Ipswich, securing Andoni Iraola’s first victory in charge and nudging the club up the early-season table.
Lightning start, ruthless finish
Ipswich barely had time to settle before Liverpool carved them open. Isak, sharp and ruthless, finished both early chances, each created by Cody Gakpo, whose future has been under the spotlight after a transfer offer from Manchester City this week.
The visitors came out with intent, pressed high, and hit hard. The first goal arrived almost before the home crowd found its voice; the second silenced it. From there, Liverpool managed the game, protected their lead and never allowed Ipswich a way back.
The hosts tried to respond, but the damage was done. Liverpool’s structure held, their back line largely untroubled, and the early blitz proved enough.
Gakpo shines amid transfer noise
All eyes were on Gakpo after City’s bid, and he answered in the most direct way possible: two assists inside nine minutes.
His movement between the lines and timing of the final pass unlocked Ipswich twice, giving Isak the kind of service strikers crave. The speculation around his future will not ease after this, but his influence on Iraola’s Liverpool already looks decisive.
Bradley Barcola also featured for the visitors, making his debut off the bench and adding fresh legs as Liverpool saw out the contest.
First win, first clean sheet, and a platform
After back-to-back 2–2 draws with Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, Liverpool finally produced the defensive control Iraola has been chasing. This was their first clean sheet of the campaign, and it came with a maturity that had been missing in those chaotic opening games.
The result lifts Liverpool to fifth in the table, with five points from three matches and a sense that Iraola’s ideas are beginning to bed in.
Ipswich, who sit 13th with three points from their first three fixtures, were outgunned early but not overwhelmed across the full 90 minutes. They stayed in the fight, just without the cutting edge Liverpool showed in those decisive opening moments.
For Iraola, though, the story is clear: first win, first shutout, and a front line that can tear teams apart in minutes. The question now is how far, and how fast, this Liverpool side can turn that into a sustained challenge.
