The Swedish striker, who endured a challenging debut season at Anfield marred by fitness issues, has now found the back of the net three times in his first three appearances this term. His early brace effectively settled the contest before the hosts could find their rhythm, lifting Liverpool to fifth place in the
Gakpo and Isak Combine to Silence Portman Road
Cody Gakpo proved instrumental in the victory, providing the creative spark for both of Isak’s goals. The first arrived when Gakpo located the striker on the edge of the penalty area; while Isak’s strike carried significant power, Ipswich goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen was unable to keep the ball out of the net. The hosts were left reeling just moments later when Gakpo threaded a precise through ball into the path of Isak, who calmly slotted his finish in at the near post to double the advantage.
Isak, who previously netted a hat-trick at this venue while playing for Newcastle two seasons ago, nearly added a third goal when he converted a Florian Wirtz cross at the back post, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside. Despite the early onslaught, Scherpen managed to prevent further damage before the interval, producing two notable saves to deny Dominik Szoboszlai.
Defensive Stability and New Arrivals
The second half saw a more controlled display from the visitors, with Iraola opting to introduce recent £100 million signing Bradley Barcola for his Premier League debut shortly after the hour mark, replacing the two-goal hero Isak. While the attacking intensity dipped, the manager will be encouraged by a clean sheet, a welcome development following scrutiny regarding the team's defensive vulnerabilities in their opening fixtures.
For Ipswich, the defeat serves as a stark reality check following their successful return to the top flight against Sunderland earlier this month. Having suffered a 5-2 loss to Manchester United in their previous outing, the Tractor Boys struggled to contain a Liverpool side that is beginning to find its stride under new leadership. The victory marks a positive shift for Liverpool, who are looking to move past the disappointment of last season’s fifth-place finish and the subsequent departure of Arne Slot.
