Liverpool picked up their first win of the Premier League season as Alexander Isak’s early double set the Reds on track to a comfortable night against Ipswich
Liverpool picked up their first three points of the season at the third time of asking against Ipswich Town following Alexander Isak’s first brace for the Reds.
Andoni Iraola’s side emphatically raced out of the traps against the newly promoted side as Isak scored twice in the same game for the Reds for the first time since his British record £125million move from Newcastle last summer.
The Reds, and especially Isak, had a point to prove following their lacklustre opening two draws of the season and Iraola’s side came out firing. Victor Munoz was his busy self and the side pressed high to dampen the atmosphere inside Portman Road.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
And after just six minutes, that fast start proved as Isak fired in his second goal in as many games, albeit through Kjell Scherpen, who was far from convincing as the power on Isak’s shot flashed through his arms at his near post.
After being criticised for his poor form from last season continuing into the new campaign, Milos Kerkez was tenacious in the tackle to win the ball back and found Cody Gakpo on the inside left channel he loves to operate in.
Gakpo fired the ball into Isak’s feet and the Swede cushioned the ball perfectly into his path before firing the shot at, and subsequently through Scherpen.
The Dutch stopper was left red-faced again just three minutes later when he found himself in no man’s land as Isak doubled up for the night and looked to truly make his mark with Liverpool.
Gakpo produced another brilliant through ball to the British record striker, who again took the ball brilliantly under his spell. Isak raced onto the ball and was met with Scherpen 15 yards off his line. Shifting the ball right and then left after squaring up Jacob Greaves, Isak rolled the ball under Scherpen to complete his early double.
Isak was denied a hat-trick on the half-hour mark after he had gone too early before tapping Florian Wirtz’s drilled cross into the bottom corner.
For how terrible Scherpen and Ipswich looked while trying to play out, Liverpool’s high press and positioning to smother any attempts Ipswich defenders tried to find with the ball at their feet was a complete contrast to how they had opened their season.
Liverpool also looked more assured defensively with Ronald Araujo chosen to star at right-back over Jeremie Frimpong, whose poor attacking output leaves no upside from his defensive vulnerability.
However, it was a very messy, and lucky evening for Jeremy Jacquet. The 19-year-old failed to handle Emersonn and controversially avoided a second booking just moments after clattering into the striker.
Referee Darren England awarded a throw despite the obvious foul. VAR could not step in after the laws were changed to allow the technology to overturn incorrect second yellow cards, but not award them.
Liverpool fans got their first sight of Bradley Barcola when he replaced Munoz shortly after the hour mark, Isak was also withdrawn for Ryan Gravenberch, seeing a complete change of shape with Cody Gakpo deployed as the highest player, Barcola appearing on the left and Dominik Szoboszlai off the right.
Szoboszlai looked to make an immediate impact in his attacking position as he broke clear and appeared to be fouled by Leif Davis in the box after latching onto the end of Araujo’s clipped pass, another positive from the on-loan Barcelona defender. England at first waved play on before VAR recommended an on-field penalty review, but the Hungarian was then spotted to be offside in the build-up, making the potential foul redundant.
Isak’s early double meant Liverpool didn’t have to get out of second gear and they cruised across the line with Ipswich never looking likely to score despite seeing plenty of the ball and getting more shots off, but the quality on the night came from Liverpool.