Alexander Isak's Brace Leads Liverpool to Iraola's First Win

Alexander Isak says the darkest stretch of his Liverpool career is finally in the rear-view mirror after a ruthless nine-minute brace lit up a 2-0 victory at Ipswich on Friday night.

The Sweden striker, who arrived for a British-record £125 million from Newcastle United, walked into Anfield under a blinding spotlight and then disappeared into the treatment room. His first season was wrecked by injury: four goals in 22 games, frustration at every turn, and constant questions over whether the fee would crush him.

At Portman Road, he answered some of them.

“It was not easy. It was a long injury, a difficult season in general,” Isak told Sky Sports. “I was thinking: I want to have a good World Cup firstly and then to start the season well, which I feel like I’ve done now. That season is kind of behind me, but it wasn’t easy.”

Three games into this Premier League campaign, he already has three goals. The numbers are starting to look like those of a £125m striker, not a medical report.

Iraola’s first Liverpool win — powered by Isak

For Andoni Iraola, this was a landmark night too. After two false starts, the new Liverpool head coach finally collected his first win in charge, and he did it with the kind of sharp, vertical football that has defined his coaching career.

Isak was the finisher, but he wasn’t alone in shaping the result.

Twice in those opening exchanges, Cody Gakpo sliced Ipswich open. First with a precise through-ball that released Isak for the opener. Then, even better, with an outrageous outside-of-the-foot pass that carved the defence apart again for the second inside nine minutes.

Isak took the headlines. Gakpo wrote the script.

Iraola, though, sounded as if he expected nothing less from his No. 9.

“Yes, with Alex, if he is fit, if he is available, if he is in good shape, I think he will produce the numbers,” the Spaniard said. “My demands with Alex will not be about the goals, probably will be about other things. I will demand other things so we can play well, because if we play well we are in good positions and the goals will come.

“He has to contribute towards the collective and knowing when everyone helps, after the goals and assists will come.”

The message is clear: the goals are a consequence, not the job description. Iraola wants a complete forward, not just a poacher.

Gakpo stays — and shows exactly why

Gakpo’s display came with a twist. He could easily have been lining up somewhere else.

Tottenham and Manchester City both pushed to prise him away from Anfield before the transfer deadline. Liverpool refused. On this evidence, they knew exactly what they were doing.

“I had no doubt with Cody. He has been very good all the preseason, has started very well the season, producing numbers,” Iraola said. “After the two assists, he finished as a number nine to help us close the game and I think it’s good to have Cody because he can play in the three positions up top. To have him in this place, for the beginning of the season, it’s good.

“I think Cody knows how much we value him, I think there is no doubt. I rate him very highly.”

Two assists, tactical flexibility, and a calm shift up front to see out the game: Gakpo looked less like a player on the market and more like a cornerstone.

Barcola’s first glimpse

This was also the first sighting of Liverpool’s other blockbuster signing. France winger Bradley Barcola, signed this week from Paris Saint-Germain for £123m, started on the bench and entered the game in the 64th minute to make his debut.

There was no need for him to rescue anything; the damage had already been done by Isak and Gakpo. But his introduction hinted at what’s coming: Iraola now has a frontline built on staggering investment and frightening versatility.

Isak is scoring. Gakpo is creating and adapting. Barcola is just stepping in.

For a forward line that has already absorbed the weight of two record-breaking fees, the question now is no longer about price tags. It’s how far this attack can drag Liverpool back into the fight at the top of English football.