Isak's two-goal blitz inside 10 minutes seals Liverpool's first win of the season at Ipswich

Alexander Isak answered his critics in emphatic fashion on Saturday, scoring twice inside the opening ten minutes as Liverpool beat newly-promoted Ipswich Town 2-0 at Portman Road to record their first Premier League victory of the season under Andoni Iraola.

The £125m summer signing had drawn sharp criticism after a slow start to the campaign — Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville had labelled Isak and Florian Wirtz “the biggest disappointments” following Liverpool’s opening-weekend draw at Newcastle. But this was the Isak Liverpool believed they were buying: electric pace, intelligent movement, and two composed finishes that left Ipswich with nothing to play for before the game had barely begun.

Both goals owed much to Cody Gakpo, who delivered a pair of incisive through balls to release Isak in behind the Ipswich defence. The first, in the sixth minute, was driven so fiercely past goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen that the keeper could only palm it in. The second, moments later, saw Gakpo thread a needle-perfect pass from the left that allowed Isak to tie defender Jacob Greaves in knots before slotting home.

Gakpo’s influence was particularly notable given the turbulence surrounding him during the transfer window. Liverpool had been willing to sell the Dutch winger, and he came close to joining Manchester City in the final days of the window before the move fell through. The uncertainty appeared to sharpen rather than unsettle him.

New £106m signing Bradley Barcola was deemed not yet fit enough to start and was named among the substitutes, meaning the pressure fell on last season’s arrivals to deliver — and Isak duly obliged. His only previous return of four goals across all competitions in an injury-disrupted debut season had left questions hanging over him heading into this campaign.

Ipswich, who spent £189m in the summer — more than Barcelona — offered little resistance. They were overrun in midfield and disorganised in defence, with Liverpool’s high-energy, high-press approach under Iraola proving far too much for a side still finding their feet back in the top flight.

With the win secured early, Liverpool were able to manage the remainder of the match comfortably, and the result will provide Iraola with considerable relief after a stuttering start to his tenure at Anfield.