Andoni Iraola finally broke his winless streak as Liverpool head coach when Alexander Isak found the back of the net twice within a nine‑minute spell, delivering a 2‑0 triumph over Ipswich Town. The win was a relief for the Reds, who had been held to draws in Iraola's opening two fixtures – a pattern that reminded many of his early days at Bournemouth in 2023, when it took ten matches to register his first victory.
Isak, who had previously dazzled at Portman Road by netting a hat‑trick for Newcastle, seized the moment and capitalised on a sub‑par performance from Ipswich keeper Kjell Scherpen. The Swedish striker's opening goal arrived in the sixth minute when a long ball slipped through Scherpen's outstretched palms, allowing Isak to slot the ball home with ease. Just three minutes later, the keeper ventured far from his line, and Isak, exploiting the space, finished low and calmly past the bewildered goalkeeper.
Both strikes were set up by Cody Gakpo, whose early-season form under Iraola continues to impress. Gakpo's incisive passes and intelligent movement have become a hallmark of Liverpool's attacking play, providing the creative spark that the team has needed since the managerial change. In the second half, Liverpool introduced the highly‑rated French winger Bradley Barcola, who arrived from Paris Saint‑Germain for a reported £123 million. Barcola made his Premier League debut off the bench, adding fresh energy to Liverpool's forward line.
His presence helped the team maintain pressure and close out the game with a disciplined, organized performance that earned them their first clean sheet of Iraola's tenure. The match was not without controversy. Ipswich supporters argued that midfielder Jérémy Jacquet should have received a second yellow card for a challenge on Emersonn that the referee did not deem a foul.
The decision sparked a heated reaction from the home crowd, who felt the referee had been overly lenient. Despite the loss, Ipswich managed to keep the scoreline respectable. After a disastrous start to the season, Gary O'Neil's side showed resilience and competitiveness, earning applause from the packed Portman Road stadium as they left the field. Key moments of the game included: - 6': Isak receives a perfect pass from Gakpo and fires a low shot past a helpless Scherpen.
- 9': With Ipswich still reeling, Isak makes a run down the left, receives another pinpoint pass from Gakpo and slots the ball neatly beyond the keeper's reach. - 30': Leif Davis attempts a header from a right‑wing cross but mis‑hits, exposing Liverpool's occasional defensive lapses.
- 33': Isak's potential third‑minute goal is ruled out for off‑side after a brilliant cross from Florian Wirtz. - 53': Jacquet, already booked for a challenge on Emersonn, makes a sliding tackle from behind. No foul is called, inflaming the Ipswich fans. - 66': Barcola makes his Premier League debut, adding a fresh spark to Liverpool's attack.
- 70': VAR intervenes on a potential penalty after Davis appears to foul Dominik Szoboszlai. However, the referee is advised that Szoboszlai was off‑side in the build‑up, and the penalty is overturned.
After the match, Liverpool striker Alexander Isak spoke to Sky Sports about the win: "We were desperate for that first victory and we wanted to start the game strongly, something we haven't managed lately. Scoring two goals was the perfect answer.
With a normal pre‑season, I think we're beginning to show the style we want – attacking, pressing, and breaking down defences. We could have added more, but the result speaks for itself. It's been a tough season with injuries, and I wanted to finish the World Cup on a high and start the club season well. That feeling is finally here." Iraola, in his post‑match interview, expressed satisfaction with the team's performance: "It's a great feeling, we needed this win.
Keeping a clean sheet and controlling the game for most of the 90 minutes is exactly what we want. The first half was excellent; the second half wasn't as sharp, but we still prevented any clear chances." He also praised Isak's contribution: "Isak is a massive asset for us. My expectations aren't just about goals – he's fit, in great shape, and will deliver the numbers. My focus is on how he can help the team in different situations.
It's good that he's played two full games and added minutes and goals today. Our press was much better; we recovered high and could feed him in good positions. If we win the ball lower, it becomes harder to create space for our No 9, so we need more quality effort to put him in those scoring positions." Ipswich manager Gary O'Neil commented on Liverpool's tactics, particularly their time‑wasting approach: "We've been criticised for time‑wasting a lot.
Our keeper was rushed at Old Trafford when we weren't even set, and Liverpool were able to kill the game more easily here. That annoyed me. They could have been rushed too.
The officials did a good job overall, and VAR got the penalty decision right." Sky Sports analyst Lewis Jones offered a broader perspective on Ipswich's goalkeeping woes: "There seems to be a curse on Ipswich's goalkeepers. When they were promoted, Arijanet Murić arrived from Burnley as the trusted No 1, only to make costly errors at crucial moments. This season they switched to Kjell Scherpen from Union Saint‑Gilloise, hoping for stability, but his debut against Liverpool was disastrous.
He was directly responsible for both first‑half goals, allowing Isak to profit. Goalkeeping mistakes are magnified at this level because the margins are razor‑thin. A team can dominate for 45 minutes, execute its game plan perfectly, and then a single lapse undoes all that work.
That's exactly what happened today. Ipswich must get Scherpen settled quickly. They cannot afford to fight two battles – one against the opposition and another against their own keeper. After Murić's struggles and now Scherpen's shaky start, it's understandable that supporters wonder if the No 1 shirt carries a curse at Portman Road." The match concluded with Liverpool earning three points, a clean sheet, and a much‑needed boost in confidence for Iraola's side, while Ipswich were left to regroup and address their defensive frailties as the season progresses.