By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 22:09 BST, 4 September 2026 | Updated: 22:09 BST, 4 September 2026
IPSWICH, England (AP) - Alexander Isak scored twice and Bradley Barcola debuted as Liverpool got its first win in the Premier League under its new coach after beating Ipswich 2-0 away on Friday.
Liverpool had been held to a pair of 2-2s against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest in Andoni Iraola´s first games in charge.
But Liverpool got clicking right from kickoff at Ipswich as Isak struck twice in the opening minutes from a pair of assists by Cody Gakpo.
Barcola went on for his first action in a Liverpool shirt as a 63rd-minute substitution. He [joined from Paris Saint-Germain](https://apnews.com/article/liverpool-barcola-psg-e9185d8f55e0ef6424c31ed25146bc7a) on Monday in a deal worth 123 million pounds ($166 million).
Isak got going in the sixth when the Sweden international took a Gakpo pass on the right side of the box and struck a powerful shot that hit goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen before finding the net.
Gakpo set up Isak again just three minutes later. He used the outside edge of his boot to bend a long forward pass behind the defense to meet his teammate´s run. Isak did the rest by switching foot before firing home.
Liverpool's Alexander Isak celebrates with Liverpool's Milos Kerkez, right, after scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Liverpool in Ipswich, England, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Ipswich, promoted at the end of last season, has two losses and one win in its return to the top flight.
\_\_\_
[See AP´s full soccer coverage here](https://apnews.com/hub/soccer)
Ipswich Town's Dara O'Shea, left, challenges for the ball with Liverpool's Cody Gakpo during the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Liverpool in Ipswich, England, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Ipswich Town's Dara O'Shea, left, kicks the ball ahead of Liverpool's Bradley Barcola during the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Liverpool in Ipswich, England, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Ipswich Town's goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, left, makes a save ahead of Liverpool's Bradley Barcola during the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Liverpool in Ipswich, England, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Liverpool's Bradley Barcola, centre, controls the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Liverpool in Ipswich, England, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)