Liverpool secured a comfortable 2-0 victory against Ipswich Town at Portman Road in the Premier League, earning their first league win under manager Andoni Iraola.
The visitors made a dream start to the match as Alexander Isak scored twice inside the opening 10 minutes to put the reds firmly in control as they carried on forward.
The game started at a high tempo, with Liverpool looking determined to end their winless run after drawing two of their opening Premier League games of the new season.
Their positive approach paid off in the sixth minute when Cody Gakpo drove forward and delivered a perfect pass for Isak who was exceptional with his finishing.
The Swedish striker timed his run well before firing past Ipswich goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen to give Liverpool an early lead 1-0 as play continued.
Just three minutes later, the Reds doubled their advantage after another brilliant play. Once again, Gakpo was the creator as he burst through the Ipswich defense and found Alexander Isak in space.
The striker finished confidently for his second goal of the evening, leaving the home side stunned. It was 2-0 with the game barely going anywhere as the visitors continued pressing.
The quickfire double gave all the advantage needed to make sure the home side were unable to do anything much than chase all through 90 minutes which was mainly one sided.
Ipswich struggled to recover from the poor start. Gary O’Neil’s side found it difficult to cope with Liverpool’s movement, pace, and everything their opponent threw at them.
The Reds continued to create chances throughout the first half, with Isak even having another goal ruled out for offside. Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, and Victor Muñoz also caused problems whenever they attacked.
Despite being under pressure, Ipswich did have a few moments going forward. Julio Enciso tried to influence the game in midfield, while Leif Davis and Abdul Fatawu combined to create one of the home side’s better chances.
However, Liverpool’s defense remained solid and prevented Ipswich from finding a way back into the match. The second half followed a similar pattern with barely much to do.
Andoni’s side controlled possession and looked dangerous whenever they moved forward. Alexis Mac Allister came close with a header, while Dominik Szoboszlai tested the home team defense with his movement and passing.
The visitors were also denied a penalty after a VAR review showed an offside in the build-up. One of the biggest talking points after the break was the debut of new signing, Bradley Barcola.
The new addition from Paris Saint-Germain came off the bench and immediately showed his pace and attacking quality. His direct running excited the away supporters and gave a glimpse of what he could offer Liverpool during the season.
Barcola nearly created another goal with a brilliant run and cross late in the game, but it wasn’t meant to be as the match came to an end with the 2-0 result which confirmed Andoni first three points.
The newly promoted side showed plenty of effort but lacked the quality needed to break down Liverpool’s organized defense. Their defensive mistakes in the opening minutes ultimately decided the match, and they were unable to recover from the early setback.
The victory moves the reds up the Premier League table with five points and gives Iraola his first win as Liverpool manager after opening the campaign with two draws.
Just as important, the Reds recorded their first clean sheet of the season, providing confidence ahead of upcoming fixtures. Alexander Isak was undoubtedly the star of the match, scoring both goals and showing the sharp finishing ability that Liverpool invested heavily on.
