Alexander Isak scored a brace and Cody Gakpo provided both assists to help Liverpool extend their unbeaten run against newly-promoted sides to 21 games
Alexander Isak scored a brace and Cody Gakpo provided both assists to help Liverpool extend their unbeaten run against newly-promoted sides to 21 games(Image: Joe Toth/Shutterstock)
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Andoni Iraola secured his first win as Liverpool head coach as the Reds beat Ipswich Town 2-0 at Portman Road, with Alexander Isak putting in a performance to remember to stretch his impressive record against the Tractor Boys to six goals in three matches.
Isak's first-half brace - both goals scored in the first ten minutes of the game - proved to be enough for all three points as Liverpool saw out the win with an unfussy defensive performance in the second half.
The ECHO was at hand as ever to run the rule over proceedings. From our player ratings, on-the-whistle reaction, big-match verdict, and considered analysis, we left no stone unturned in our comprehensive match-day coverage. You can also read what Iraola made of it all too and see how it shook out in our live blog.
READ MORE: Jamie Carragher fires Bradley Barcola warning over Liverpool team-mate 'on fire'
Our colleagues from the national media were also on hand to give their analysis. Here's what they are saying after a first win for the new head coach and hopefully a turning point for the Reds and their Swedish striker.
Writing for The Independent, Kieran Jackson was optimistic for the season: "What a morale-boosting evening this was for Alexander Isak at Portman Road.
"Loitering tantalisingly on the shoulder of a beleaguered Ipswich defence, the Sweden international notched two goals in three first-half minutes here – his first brace for Liverpool and just his fifth and sixth Premier League goals since that £125m move from Newcastle – to set Andoni Iraola on his way to a comfortable first Premier League victory in the Reds dugout.
"There is precedent for such a tenure-starter. It was at Ipswich two years ago where Arne Slot earned his first win as Liverpool manager on day one. And that was a 2-0 victory too.
"We didn't know it then, but that was the start of a title-winning campaign, only Liverpool's second in 35 years. Nobody is suggesting that such success is in the offing this time around – Slot’s side opened that season with 11 wins from 13 – but Iraola will hope that this can be a line in the sand after a disorderly first two games."
The Daily Mail's Lewis Steele focused on Cody Gakpo, who bagged both of the assists for Isak's goals: "Tougher tests than newly-promoted Ipswich await ahead and Liverpool were far from perfect, either – as the home team created problems at the other end – but this evidence sent a warning to Premier League rivals: do not write off Liverpool.
"With £125m man Isak firing with two instinctive finishes, £116m Florian Wirtz causing issues and Gakpo looking like a new man, Liverpool’s attack is frightening.
"Gakpo, of course, is well worth a mention. Had the last seven days gone ever so slightly differently, the winger would have been a Manchester City player. The two clubs were in advanced discussions over sanctioning that move.
"Some Reds fans might not have lost too much sleep over Gakpo leaving, given his form was inconsistent and frustrating last term. Maybe, too, they would have happily seen him depart given it would have meant the club signed a replacement.
"But the grass is not always greener on the other side and Gakpo is now resembling the flying Dutchman everyone knows he can be. A thunderous goal against Newcastle, setting one up against Nottingham Forest last week and now two exquisite assists here."
John Cross also heaped praise on Gakpo and Isak for the Mirror but was left disappointed by Liverpool's opponents: "Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville branded Isak and Florian Wirtz 'the biggest disappointments' after their draw at Newcastle on the opening weekend.
"Frankly, it was also a reflection of their time at Anfield so far. Both of last summer's big-money buys have been underwhelming. But this was more like the Isak Liverpool thought they were signing.
"And Liverpool also looked more like an Iraola team. They were high energy, they pressed and were playing with high intensity. It took them just six minutes to go ahead. It was Gakpo's pass who released Isak and the Liverpool striker's shot was so fierce that Ipswich keeper Kjell Scherpen could not keep it out.
"Liverpool's travelling fans began singing: 'Isak again, ole, ole.' That seemed a bit rich has he has hardly been prolific. But he did score in the draw with Nottingham Forest last weekend and quickly had them singing again.
"This time, Gakpo's pass was really special. From the left, through the eye of a needle, Gakpo's through ball released Isak who tied Ipswich defender Jacob Greaves up in knots before slotting past Scherpen.
"Liverpool were in cruise control. Ipswich were in disarray. We should not forget that Ipswich spent £189m which was more than Spanish giants Barcelona. Yes, no-one expected anything other than another fight for survival. But there was little evidence of any fight."
Dominic King reflected on how the win eased pressure on both Isak and Iraola for The Telegraph. "Taking the headlines from Bradley Barcola on a big night at Portman Road was going to take some doing, but Isak did just that with a double salvo in the opening nine minutes, a flurry so potent it was like a boxer charging out of their corner and seeing the first blows land flush on their opponent’s jaw.
"Poor Ipswich. There is universal recognition that Liverpool are a team – and a club – in transition but they had four players in Isak, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo and Victor Munoz who had the potential to dismantle them if they clicked and that is precisely what happened.
"So for all the noisy backing they received from the stands and for all the effort Gary O'Neil's side put into a contest that TV companies had chosen to broadcast because there was a potential for drama, Isak blew a hole in Ipswich's hull in the sixth minute and they were submerging from there on in.
"How Isak, who had scored against Nottingham Forest last weekend, needed a night like this when he made a genuine difference. But the same was true, too, for Iraola. We live in an era where someone has to be in the eye of a storm and the Basque will know what comes with his new territory."
The Times' Tom Allnutt was effusive about Gakpo, too, but pondered where he might fit in Iraola's best XI: "Gakpo more than played his part with two assists and on this evidence, Liverpool will be counting their lucky stars they were unable to find a replacement for him before the end of the transfer window, when Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City were both in pursuit.
"Iraola said he was in constant communication with Gakpo through all the uncertainty over his future, which has come on the back of a traumatic summer for Gakpo personally, after his unborn son died during pregnancy while the 27-year-old was with the Netherlands at the World Cup.
"Isak's wonderful finishing aside, Gakpo was the best player on the pitch in the first half — but can he play on the right? Assuming Barcola gets to play in his favoured position, the conundrum is where Gakpo fits into a team so stacked with talent on the left but with fewer options on the opposite side.
"He finished the game as the central striker and Iraola said afterwards the Dutchman's versatility will be valuable. Gakpo now has three assists and a goal in Liverpool's first three games."
And, last but not least, the ECHO's verdict: "Isak's night came to an end in the 64th minute as Barcola was given his debut, sent on alongside Ryan Gravenberch. Before the France international had even entered the field, the travelling Kop were chanting how 'he runs down the wing for me,' dusting off an old fan-favourite chant previously reserved for Maxi Rodriguez.
"In truth though, Barcola's debut was quiet. With this his first performance since France's World Cup third-place play-off defeat to England back in July, clearly a little more patience is required.
"Understandably, it was thought that this night would belong to Barcola. But Isak had other ideas. While the Frenchman would be serenaded once more after the final whistle, the loudest cheers were reserved for Isak as he was pushed forward by Van Dijk to take in the acclaim.
"Iraola's Liverpool are still finding their feet. But on this evidence, 'Isak's a Red!' will become a regular soundtrack during the season ahead. In this instance, patience has been a virtue. While overseeing this work in progress, the Reds head coach will hope it continues to pay off across the board."
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