Alexander Isak just reminded everyone why Liverpool shelled out that insane $170 million for him, because the man dropped a clinical early double against Ipswich Town, securing a 2-0 win on Friday night at Portman Road. After a year, Isak finally looked completely comfortable with that massive price tag, unleashing the kind of firepower that Liverpool fans have been waiting for. This was a crucial win, especially with manager Andoni Iraola still trying to stamp his authority on the squad.
The Cody Gakpo Comeback and Isak’s Unstoppable Start
Let’s talk about that Gakpo-Isak connection for a second, because holy cow, it was unreal. Cody Gakpo, the guy who’s been out of favor with the Anfield faithful and Liverpool was even flirting with selling to Tottenham or Manchester City, put on a passing clinic. He weighed in with two superb assists, setting up both of Isak’s goals. Get this: Gakpo has now set up all three of Isak’s goals this term. You gotta love that kind of chemistry, especially when Gakpo was playing in Barcola’s preferred left-wing spot before shifting to centre-forward later. Liverpool’s purposeful passing was evident, with Opta data showing they made 48 more forward passes than their opponents. Isak himself told Sky Sports, “We were talking about, when we got the ball, getting it forward as quickly as possible,” and boy, did they get that message.
Iraola’s Vision Takes Shape Amidst Costly Moves
This win was a huge step for Andoni Iraola. His first two games in charge weren’t much fun, with his team salvaging 2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest after twice coming from behind. They showed spirit, sure, but they also wandered into danger haphazardly. This Ipswich game showed a glimpse of the intense, vertical style Iraola found success with at Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth. The squad he inherited is described as “uneven and imbalanced,” and issues at right-back have been a concern, though Ronald Araujo’s important defensive interventions in this match eased some of those worries. Oh, and speaking of costs, the substitution that brought Bradley Barcola, the second-most expensive player at $163 million, on for Isak was the most collectively pricey substitution in English football history. Barcola, fresh off his $163 million move from PSG, instantly showed those sprightly, purposeful touches. He’s going to be a blast to watch.
This Ipswich victory is exactly what Iraola needed to build momentum and get his system firing. With Isak and Gakpo clicking like that, and Barcola waiting in the wings, the season ahead for Liverpool is looking a whole lot more exciting than those first two draws. We’ll be watching closely to see if they can maintain this form.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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