Alexander Isak scored twice in the opening nine minutes to give Liverpool a 2-0 victory against Ipswich Town at Portman Road on 4 September 2026, delivering Andoni Iraola his first win as Reds manager and offering an early glimpse of the £125m striker’s explosive potential.
Alexander Isak finally looked like the player Liverpool broke the British transfer record to acquire last summer by tormenting Ipswich Town at Portman Road. The Sweden striker netted twice within the span of four first-half minutes on 4 September 2026, securing Liverpool’s first victory of the season. The comfortable result also handed Andoni Iraola his first win since succeeding the sacked Arne Slot.
The goals provided instant relief for a club that endured an astonishing decline during a dismal title defence. Last season, Isak managed just four goals across all competitions while making 22 appearances encompassing 1,033 minutes, scoring at a rate of one every 258 minutes. He played 14 games in the Premier League totalling 703 minutes, scoring only three goals at a rate of one every 234 minutes. His initial arrival followed an acrimonious departure from Newcastle United where he downed tools to force a move, leaving him out of condition and troubled by injuries as he gave the impression of being the most expensive vanity purchase in British football history. He was outshone by fellow striker Hugo Ekitike, suffering along with many others in an astonishing decline that led to Slot’s sacking only a year after he lifted the Premier League trophy.
Andoni Iraola at Anfield
Iraola arrived at Anfield aiming to resolve the enigma surrounding the club’s record signing without dwelling on the past. The manager has tried to avoid preconceptions about Isak’s failure last year. As he explained: “You have to be open-minded when you come to a new place and don’t be too affected by the things they tell you about what happened before. You have to try to understand the picture but I think everyone is willing to improve. I haven’t spent too much time thinking: ‘Ok, this didn’t work last season’. I have seen the games and I have my ideas but I prefer to start with a clean slate rather than try to solve the things that didn’t work last season.”
The sacked Slot long argued the lack of a pre-season hampered Isak last year, without ever admitting it was the Swede’s fault he did not have one. Now he has, scoring against Monaco. Twelve months ago, a false start to the season led to a year when he was more discussed than seen, a constant in the conversation but an infrequent presence on the pitch. But this was Isak back to his electrifying best, illuminating Portman Road with his blistering pace, intelligent movement, and exquisite finishing, while utilizing Isak at his best—running in behind defenders and pressing with pace.
Ipswich Town at Portman Road
The fixture at Portman Road offered Liverpool a much-needed early boost following a hectic transfer window that included intense speculation surrounding Cody Gakpo, who came close to joining fierce rivals Manchester City in the closing days of the window. Liverpool’s win must be placed in the context of being against a newly promoted Ipswich Town who were game, but who shipped five goals at Manchester United last week and look ripe for the picking against attacking quality. Instead of departing, Gakpo played a pivotal role in unlocking the Ipswich defence alongside Isak, giving him plenty to prove to manager Andoni Iraola after Liverpool were prepared to offload Gakpo but ultimately failed to land their primary transfer targets.
It took the visitors just six minutes to break the deadlock. Gakpo’s pass released Isak, and the Liverpool striker’s effort was struck with such ferocity that it broke the deadlock. Just three minutes later, Isak struck again to complete his double within the span of four first-half minutes, leaving Ipswich behind and sealing the 2-0 win.
Bradley Barcola from Paris St-Germain
The night also featured a brief debut for Bradley Barcola following his £123m arrival from Paris St-Germain. Introduced for a 26-minute appearance after being considered insufficiently match-fit to start and named among the substitutes, the winger displayed flashes of devastating pace that energized the Liverpool support, though even Barcola’s bow was overshadowed by Isak.
St James’ Park
Attention now turns to an August trip to St James’ Park for Liverpool and an occasion that threatened to revolve around Alexander Isak, promising a hostile first return. A year ago, the reigning champions’ trip to Tyneside came when the Swede was the on-strike striker, subject of a tug of war that arguably both Liverpool and Newcastle lost, with Newcastle squandering the record proceeds on Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.
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