Isak brace secures Iraola’s first victory as Liverpool manager
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Further detail has emerged on Liverpool's 2-0 win over Ipswich Town, with BBC Sport's player ratings confirming Cody Gakpo as the standout performer, earning a 9/10 for supplying both assists for Alexander Isak's early double, while Isak himself was rated 8/10 for his movement and finishing. The match, played at Portman Road on Friday night, gave Andoni Iraola his first win as Liverpool manager and the club's first Premier League victory of the season, following a shaky start from Ipswich goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, who was rated just 4/10.
Elsewhere, new signing Ronald Araujo impressed on his Premier League debut at right-back, rated 7/10 alongside centre-back partner Virgil van Dijk, while Jeremy Jacquet also drew praise in defence. Substitute Bradley Barcola showed flashes of pace after replacing Victor Munoz, and Julio Enciso was Ipswich's best performer despite the defeat, rated 7/10 for his tireless effort. Ipswich's Daizen Maeda and several defenders struggled throughout, reflecting the gulf exposed once Liverpool raced into an early two-goal lead.
- Gakpo rated 9/10 for setting up both of Isak's goals
- Araujo impresses on Liverpool debut at right-back
- Ipswich's Scherpen rated poorly after early error
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Liverpool's win over Ipswich Town marked a notable moment for the club: it was both Andoni Iraola's first victory since taking charge as manager and Liverpool's first Premier League win of the season. The match took place at Portman Road, with Liverpool winning 2-0 thanks to a double from striker Alexander Isak.
The result matters partly because of the pressure such milestones put on a new manager, with early performances often shaping perceptions of how a managerial reign might unfold. Key contributors on the night included winger Cody Gakpo, who set up both of Isak's goals, and new signing Ronald Araujo, who was making his Premier League debut for the club.
For Ipswich Town, the defeat continued a difficult period, with the team struggling defensively despite a battling display from midfielder Julio Enciso. The club and its supporters will be watching closely to see whether such performances affect their league position as the season progresses.
Full account
Andoni Iraola picked up his first win in charge of Liverpool on Friday night as a rapid early double from Alexander Isak took the sting out of a difficult trip to Portman Road against Ipswich Town. Isak, restored to the form that made him one of the Premier League's most feared forwards before an injury-hit first season at Anfield, scored twice inside the opening ten minutes, both created by Cody Gakpo, to put the visitors firmly in control and give Iraola's reign the start he had been chasing after an opening spell without a league win.
Isak's movement was the story of the night. His first goal exploited hesitant Ipswich defending and a mistake from goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, while the second followed more incisive work from Gakpo, who was in outstanding form throughout and finished the match with two assists to his name. Isak might have completed a hat-trick before half-time but had a third effort ruled out for offside, continuing the upturn in form he had already shown with a goal against Nottingham Forest. Ipswich, managed by Gary O'Neil and still smarting from a heavy 5-2 defeat at Manchester United in their previous outing, once again lost their footing in a chaotic spell defensively, though they steadied afterwards and, through a persistent Julio Enciso, offered periods of promise going forward.
The match also brought full debuts of sorts for two of Liverpool's summer arrivals. Bradley Barcola, whose transfer had dominated headlines and taken the entire window to complete, was introduced from the bench in the second half and immediately added further pace and directness to Liverpool's attack, while Ronald Araujo impressed at right-back on his first Premier League appearance. Florian Wirtz, another big-money addition still finding his feet in England, showed flashes of quality without dominating the game, and Virgil van Dijk and new centre-back partner Jeremy Jacquet were largely untroubled at the other end.
In the aftermath, the mood among Liverpool's camp was one of cautious optimism rather than triumphalism. Isak said the team was 'starting to get to the way we want to play', while Iraola backed his forward to keep delivering if fit, and Van Dijk singled out Gakpo's contribution for praise. For Ipswich, O'Neil accepted his side had again been punished for early lapses against elite opposition, describing the level as 'ruthless', but took some encouragement from his players' resolve once the game was seemingly beyond them.
Where outlets differ
The match-report source frames the win chiefly around Isak's revival after a difficult debut season, the intrigue surrounding Barcola's delayed introduction, and the broader promise of Iraola's attacking approach, including direct quotes from Isak, Iraola, Van Dijk and O'Neil.
The BBC Sport source is structured as individual player ratings rather than a narrative report, offering detailed marks and brief assessments for every Liverpool and Ipswich player (e.g. Araujo 7, Szoboszlai 7, Scherpen 4), which the match report does not cover in the same depth.
Neither source explicitly states the final scoreline, though both confirm Isak's two early goals were decisive in a Liverpool win at Portman Road.
The match report gives more context on transfer subplots (Barcola's £123m fee, Gakpo's rumoured interest from Manchester City and Tottenham, Richard Hughes as outgoing sporting director), while the BBC ratings focus purely on on-pitch performance across the full squad, including unused substitutes.
Coverage
- The Guardian — Isak’s rapid double sinks Ipswich to give Andoni Iraola first Liverpool win
- BBC Sport — Isak shines at last but Scherpen suffers – Ipswich v Liverpool player ratings