Alexander Isak brace earns Liverpool 2-0 win over Ipswich

Alexander Isak opened his Liverpool account in emphatic fashion, scoring twice inside the first 10 minutes as the Reds defeated Ipswich Town 2-0 at Portman Road.

Liverpool made a fast start to life under head coach Andoni Iraola, with Isak converting two chances created by Cody Gakpo to settle a game the visitors controlled for long periods.

The victory takes Liverpool to five points from their opening three Premier League matches, while Ipswich were left searching for answers after struggling to cope with Liverpool's early attacking pressure. The match also marked the Liverpool debut of Bradley Barcola, who came on in the second half following his summer move.

Isak makes immediate impact

Liverpool needed only a few minutes to find their breakthrough. Gakpo moved inside before threading a pass into Isak's path. The Swedish striker took one touch before firing a powerful finish beyond Ipswich goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen.

The combination worked again soon afterwards. This time, Gakpo used the outside of his boot to pick out Isak, who produced clever footwork to create space before calmly finishing with his left foot. Two goals in the opening 10 minutes gave Liverpool a platform to control the contest.

Isak appeared to have completed his hat-trick later in the first half after converting a pass from Florian Wirtz, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Gakpo shines as Liverpool control game

While Isak claimed the headlines, Gakpo was arguably Liverpool's most influential attacking player. The Netherlands international supplied both assists and repeatedly found spaces between Ipswich's defensive and midfield lines.

He was subsequently rated 9/10, while Isak received 8/10 for his decisive display. Dominik Szoboszlai also impressed from midfield, testing Scherpen on multiple occasions as Liverpool looked to extend their advantage.

At the other end, Ipswich struggled to generate sustained pressure. Julio Enciso was their brightest attacking outlet and earned the hosts' highest rating at 7/10, but Liverpool's defence largely kept their opponents away from clear-cut opportunities.

Araujo makes encouraging Liverpool debut

Ronald Araujo also made his first Premier League start at right-back and delivered a composed performance. The defender was particularly effective in the air and made several well-timed interventions, earning a 7/10 rating.

Virgil van Dijk provided his usual calm presence at the heart of the defence, while Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson was called upon only sporadically. Ipswich did threaten more after the interval, but Liverpool managed the game effectively and protected their clean sheet.

Barcola gets first Liverpool minutes

One of the notable moments of the second half was the introduction of Barcola. The £123m signing replaced Victor Munoz in the 64th minute and operated from the left side of Liverpool's attack.

The France international showed glimpses of his pace but had limited opportunities to make a decisive contribution as Liverpool prioritised control after establishing their two-goal advantage.

Ipswich's best late opportunity came through Jack Clarke, whose effort took a significant deflection before going narrowly wide. Liverpool ultimately held on comfortably to secure their first victory of the season under Iraola.

Liverpool ratings: Gakpo and Isak lead the way

Cody Gakpo – 9: Two outstanding assists and a constant threat between the lines. Liverpool's most creative player.

Alexander Isak – 8: Two excellent finishes and dangerous movement throughout. The striker finally delivered the kind of performance Liverpool hoped for when signing him.

Ronald Araujo – 7: Assured Premier League debut, combining strength with intelligent positioning.

Dominik Szoboszlai – 7: Energetic and aggressive from midfield, repeatedly testing the Ipswich defence.

Virgil van Dijk – 7: Composed and authoritative at the back.

Florian Wirtz – 6: Showed flashes of quality but was unable to dominate the game.

Ipswich ratings: Enciso stands out despite defeat

Julio Enciso – 7: Ipswich's most dangerous attacker and continued to compete despite his side's difficult start.

Issa Diop – 6: Battled physically but was exposed by Liverpool's movement early on.

Exequiel Palacios – 6: Tried to provide control in midfield but was overwhelmed by Liverpool's intensity.

Leif Davis – 6: Worked hard defensively while attempting to provide width going forward.

Kjell Scherpen – 4: Made some saves but should have done better with Isak's first goal.

SportsLigue