Alexander Isak's Early Brace Sparks Liverpool’s First Premier League Win Under Andoni Iraola

It was a brisk Saturday at Portman Road, and the atmosphere was buzzing with anticipation – Liverpool had yet to taste league triumph under their fresh‑face manager, Andoni Iraola. The Reds finally found the back of the net early, thanks to a blistering brace from Alexander Isak.

From the kickoff, Liverpool pressed forward, eager to shed the shadow of two opening‑game draws against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest. Within six minutes, Cody Gakpo slipped a perfectly timed pass into the path of the Swedish forward. Isak, showing no hesitation, unleashed a powerful strike that sailed past Ipswich goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen.

Just three minutes later, the pattern repeated. Gakpo, once again the creative spark, threaded a clever ball into Isak’s stride. The striker calmly slotted it home, doubling Liverpool’s lead and sending the travelling fans into a roar.

There was a fleeting moment of drama when Isak appeared to complete a first‑half hat‑trick, tapping in Florian Wirtz’s cross. However, the referee ruled it offside, leaving the Swede with a brace but a missed third.

Ipswich tried to rally as the game unfolded, but clear-cut chances were hard to come by. Scherpen made several important saves, including thwarting two long‑range efforts from Dominik Szoboszlai. Early in the second half, Alexis Mac Allister’s header rattled the post, only to be denied by Scherpen once more, while Julio Enciso’s curling effort forced Liverpool’s Alisson into action.

In the 64th minute, Liverpool gave former Paris Saint‑Germain winger Bradley Barcola his Premier League debut, replacing Victor Munoz. The substitution added fresh legs, but the Reds were already in comfortable control.

The final whistle confirmed a 2‑0 win, moving Liverpool up to fifth place with five points, while Ipswich lingered in 13th with three. It was a night of relief and optimism for a Liverpool side still adjusting to Iraola’s ideas, and a clear sign that the team can find the net when it matters most.