Isak brace and Barcola debut give Iraola first Liverpool Premier League win

Isak brace and Barcola debut give Iraola first Liverpool Premier League win

Friday night delivered the first Premier League win of the Andoni Iraola era at Liverpool. Ipswich Town 0-2 Liverpool was settled almost immediately: Alexander Isak scored in the sixth minute and again in the ninth.

That brace equalled Isak's entire Premier League tally from last season in a single opening burst. Cody Gakpo provided two assists inside the first nine minutes. Bradley Barcola, signed in the summer, then made his Liverpool debut from the bench.

Isak addressed his own reset after the match. “This year finally I had a normal pre-season. Last year was not easy. It was a long injury, a difficult season in general,” he said. “I was thinking just to have a good World Cup, and have a pre season. Last season now behind me, and it's good.” Gakpo, asked about the new era under Iraola, said he hoped they would do many beautiful things together.

The result ends a slow start for Iraola's side and gives Saturday's Premier League list a different Liverpool context. Saturday's fixtures in England include Newcastle United vs Bournemouth, Brentford vs Sunderland, Brighton vs Leeds United, Fulham vs Crystal Palace, Manchester City vs Coventry City and Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur. Liverpool's game is done, and the talking points are clear: Isak is finishing again, Barcola is in the matchday group, and Iraola has a first league win on the board.

Reporting after the match noted that this version of Isak suits Iraola's early style, where clinical finishing has been decisive. Gakpo, who had been linked with a move to Manchester City before the window closed, started the game at a high tempo and created both goals.

Friday is closed business; Saturday brings the rest of the Premier League weekend, and the Reds will be discussed on every panel. Isak has three Premier League goals for the season already. Barcola has minutes. Iraola has a first win.