Liverpool Secures First League Win Under Iraola with 2-0 Victory
IPSWICH, England — Liverpool didn’t creep to its first league win under Andoni Iraola. It stormed to it.
Alexander Isak struck twice inside the opening nine minutes on Friday night, Cody Gakpo carved Ipswich open with two ruthless assists, and a record signing made his first appearance as Liverpool eased to a 2-0 victory at Portman Road.
After back-to-back 2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, Iraola needed a performance with edge. He got one almost from the first whistle.
Isak lit the fuse in the sixth minute. Drifting into space on the right side of the box, the Sweden international took a sharp pass from Gakpo, set himself, and drilled a fierce shot that crashed off goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen and bounced into the net. It wasn’t pretty, but it was emphatic, and it instantly quietened a home crowd eager to celebrate Ipswich’s Premier League return.
The second goal was pure artistry. Just three minutes later, Gakpo spotted Isak’s run early and, with the outside of his boot, curled a long, teasing ball in behind the Ipswich back line. Isak surged through, shifted the ball smoothly from one foot to the other, and buried his finish. Two chances, two goals, and Liverpool were in complete control before Ipswich had even settled.
From there, the visitors managed the game with authority. The urgency that had seen points slip away in Iraola’s first two matches was replaced by a calmer, more measured tempo, built on the early cushion Isak had provided.
The night also marked the first glimpse of Liverpool’s latest big-money addition. Bradley Barcola, signed from Paris Saint-Germain on Monday in a deal worth 123 million pounds ($166 million), came on in the 63rd minute for his debut in a Liverpool shirt. The cameo was brief, but the symbolism was clear: Iraola now has another elite attacking option as he reshapes this side.
Ipswich, promoted at the end of last season, never folded but rarely threatened to haul themselves back into the contest. They leave with two defeats and one win from their opening three games in the top flight, a reminder of how unforgiving this level can be.
Liverpool, though, leave with something more valuable than just three points: a first league win under their new coach, a striker in Isak already in sharp form, and a record signing now on the pitch rather than just on the balance sheet.
