Match reportAlexander Isak scores twice to secure Liverpool win at Ipswich

The No.9 produced a pair of stunning early finishes that settled Friday night’s Premier League game at Portman Road and secured a first victory for Andoni Iraola.

Cody Gakpo assisted both of Isak’s goals, with the result moving the unbeaten Reds onto five points from three outings this season, while Bradley Barcola made his debut for the club as a second-half substitute.

Team

Ronald Araujo came in for Jeremie Frimpong to make his first start since joining on loan in the summer as Iraola opted for one change from the draw with Nottingham Forest.

Barcola was straight into the matchday squad, with the new signing named among the substitutes.

Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez, Wirtz (Koumas, 90), Szoboszlai, Isak (Gravenberch, 64), Mac Allister (Nyoni, 84), Gakpo, Munoz (Barcola, 64), Araujo.

Unused subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Tsimikas, Frimpong, Ngumoha.

First half

Liverpool were in the ascendancy from the off, moving the ball quickly as the game took place almost exclusively in the Ipswich half – and their first moment of incision resulted in the opening goal.

Gakpo drifted infield, punched a pass into Isak and the striker took one touch before hammering a near-post finish past goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, who was beaten by the power of the strike despite getting a hand on it.

And the same duo, Gakpo and Isak, combined to devastating again just a few minutes later to make it 2-0.

There was more finesse to Gakpo’s assist this time, as he delivered to Isak with the outside of his boot.

From there, the No.9’s deft footwork confounded his marker and Scherpen and he nonchalantly rolled the ball home with his left foot.

Confidence was oozing through the Reds and Dominik Szoboszlai twice called Scherpen into action after Iraola’s team had regained possession high up the pitch.

Alert defending from Araujo at the back post was required to quell a rare Ipswich attack and soon after, it appeared that Isak had completed his hat-trick only for the offside flag to be raised after he had slotted in a Florian Wirtz pass.

Second half

Alexis Mac Allister, with a free header from a corner, missed a good chance to increase the advantage in the opening minutes of the second half.

A comfortable save by Alisson Becker denied Julio Enciso on the hour and it was then time for Barcola, who ran on while being serenaded by the away end with a reworked version of Maxi Rodriguez’s song.

Barcola was stationed on the left of Liverpool’s attack but the next threat on Ipswich’s goal came down the opposite flank. Szoboszlai strode in behind, latching onto Araujo’s lofted pass, and appeared to be fouled.

A VAR review appeared to confirm that was the case, but the No.8 had earlier strayed narrowly offside.

Ipswich threw caution to the wind in an attempt to claw their way back into the contest late on, with a Jack Clarke shot going narrowly wide having wrong-footing Alisson due to a heavy deflection off Issa Diop.

But Liverpool largely kept the hosts at arm's length to claim all three points and a clean sheet to boot.