Liverpool duo Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo came to life to punish a wide-open Ipswich. This is what we spotted as Andoni Iraola won competitively for the first time.
Alexanander Isak celebrates with Victor Munoz and Ronald Araujo after scoring for Liverpool against Ipswich.
Alexanander Isak celebrates with Victor Munoz and Ronald Araujo after scoring for Liverpool against Ipswich.(Image: Henry NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty Images)
PORTMAN ROAD, IPSWICH // Liverpool won for the first time under Andoni Iraola, with Alexander Isak's early brace setting the Reds on their way.
Only six minutes in, good play from Cody Gakpo — and a superb pass into Isak — led to the Swede hammering home the opening goal of the game past Kjell Scherpen. Shortly after, an even better combination between the duo doubled Liverpool's advantage.
Isak was narrowly pulled back for an offside when he was on a hat-trick, and Dominik Szoboszlai could have won a penalty had he not been offside a few seconds earlier. Here are the five things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded.
Liverpool attack comes to life
The lack of a proper right wing profile in the Liverpool was kind of masked heading into the final days of the summer transfer window. At that point, for one thing, there was still time for someone to come in.
Last week, too, Gakpo and Victor Munoz both filled in there successfully enough, getting a goal and an assist respectively, and here, the wide duo were excellent again.
With Isak looking sharp, Gakpo in top form, Florian Wirtz finding space and Munoz rapid both with and without the ball, the Liverpool attack burst to life. And that was even before Bradley Barcola was introduced.
For Isak, in particular, this could be lift-off. He only found the back of the net twice in the whole of the Premier League season in his debut campaign. Here, he could have had a hatful more.
Meanwhile, the decision to keep Gakpo rather than cash in — even with Manchester City prepared to offer so much for him — was instantly proven to be a masterstroke. He was sensational, especially in the first half.
Cody Gakpo of Liverpool dribbles with the ball against Ipswich.
Cody Gakpo starred for Liverpool against Ipswich.(Image: Henry NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty Images)
Bradley Barcola's welcome
Even before Barcola entered the field, the sense of excitement from the stands was palpable, at least in the Liverpool end. Seeing him preparing to come on, the Reds' support began singing his name.
Because it was Isak who was replaced, this was not the first time in history that a team has had three players who have been bought for more than £100M on the field at the same time (Isak and Wirtz, of course, being the others). That will have to wait.
Nonetheless, it was an exciting glimpse of what the $166 million (£123 milllion) former PSG man can offer. Barcola has not played a competitive minute since the World Cup, but he looked sharp straight away.
His pace helped drag Liverpool up the pitch a couple of times, and his physique is stronger than many might have assumed. There is more to come, but this was a decent start.
Midfield question half-answered
With Ronald Araujo brought in to shore up the Liverpool defense, Ryan Gravenberch found himself on the bench once again. Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were the trusted pair in the midfield, with the balance up for debate.
The attacking line-up worked well here, but that was more down to two factors than anything else. Firstly, the game state: Liverpool moved a couple of goals ahead early on, and wasn't having to come from behind.
Secondly, Ipswich was more limited than most opponents and was much more error-prone in gifting back possession or making the wrong decisions on the counter-attack.
When it works, Liverpool will look sensational, as it did for large periods here, especially first half. The question is whether such a performance is repeatable in different circumstances and in every fixture it faces. On that, we will soon see.
Ronald Araujo solid
At right-back, Araujo, the Barcelona loanee, was more defensively stable than Jeremie Frimpong. With all the chatter being about Dominik Szoboszlai potentially dropping back there, the Uruguayan had kind of been overlooked.
Araujo, though, was a decent option there. Limited he might be in terms of going forward and joining the attack, but that is no bad thing. Arguably, it is exactly what such an attack-minded team needs.
When those ahead of Araujo are in such free-flowing form, there is no need for everyone to bomb forward. Milos Kerkez, at left-back, did not need to find himself ahead of the ball often either.
Liverpool has looked wide open in the early games of the season. Of course, this comes with the caveat of being against one of the favorites to get relegated, but it certainly looked like Iraola has learned some lessons.
Andoni Iraola's next question
With the decision taken to spend big on Barcola, as mentioned, rather than spread that money around the team more evenly, the Liverpool strategy is clear: quality over quantity.
Over the coming weeks, with next midweek marking the start of the manic period in which there will be fixtures left, right and center, that will really be tested. On this evidence, though, it will at least be exciting to watch.
When it clicks, as Liverpool showed here, it can really work. The bigger question of what this Liverpool side looks like when there are inevitable injuries, though, remains to be seen.
That, however, is a conversation for another day. For now, Liverpool can take plenty of confidence from an attacking display that looked a lot closer to what Iraola — and sporting director Richard Hughes — have envisaged. Now, to ensure more wins follow this one.