Liverpool beat Ipswich as Isak goals hand Iraola first Premier League win

Published On 4 Sep 20264 Sep 2026.

Key points

• With his side in cruise control in the second period, Iraola was able to look to the bench to hand a 64th minute debut to Bradley Barcola.
• "We were more direct, which we wanted, in the start and we scored two great goals, " Liverpool captain and central defender Virgil van Dijk informed Sky Sports.
• It was perfect for us to obtain those two quick goals, Isak informed Sky Sports.
• This person was sacked after on season in charge as the Reds' title defence fell apart in the last campaign.
• "The second half was not as good as the first, but we didn't concede any chances."

Alexander Isak scored twice for Liverpool in their 2-0 Premier League win at Ipswich Town, handing Reds manager Andoni Iraola his first win since taking over in the summer.

Sweden international Isak pounced in the sixth and ninth minutes of Friday's match at Portman Road to ease Liverpool nerves that a third successive winless match may be in the offing.

With his side in cruise control in the second period, Iraola was able to look to the bench to hand a 64th minute debut to Bradley Barcola. This person became the club's record signing with his summer move from Paris Saint-Germain.

We needed this win, Iraola informed Sky Sports. It was additionally nice to secure a clean sheet and control the match.

Isak's first came courtesy of a drilled finish from within the area, having been picked out by Cody Gakpo, that even the glove of Kjell Scherpen in the Ipswich goal could not stop.

Meanwhile, the Reds, who drew their first two games of the season, sliced through the home side's defence with an outside of the foot through ball from Gakpo that set Isak on his way to dribble past Jacob Greaves before slotting home.

"We were talking regarding starting the game well. It was perfect for us to obtain those two quick goals, " Isak informed Sky Sports.

"We are starting to obtain to the way we want to play. We want to be offensive. We could have scored more."

Iraola replaced Arne Slot. This person was sacked after on season in charge as the Reds' title defence fell apart in the last campaign. The former Brighton manager saw his side stumble in their opening games at Newcastle United and at home to Nottingham Forest.

Ipswich, therefore, represented a serious trip hazard as a promoted side that won their first league game, and took the lead in a bright start to their defeat at Old Trafford last week.

It was a dominant display from the Reds throughout, though, with a deserved clean sheet kept at the other end.

While Dominik Szoboszlai thought he had won a penalty to growth the lead in the second period – after a challenge from Leif Davis – but the Liverpool midfielder was ruled offside by VAR, isak had a goal, that would have marked his hat-trick, ruled out in the first half.

Taken together, the developments around liverpool beat Ipswich as Isak goals hand Iraola first Premier League win point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.