Alexander Isak double earns Liverpool first win under Andoni Iraola

Liverpool secured their first victory under manager Andoni Iraola as Alexander Isak scored twice in a 2-0 Premier League win over Ipswich Town.

Isak struck in the sixth and ninth minutes to settle the match early, giving Liverpool their first three points under the Spanish manager after draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest in their previous two games.

The result extended Liverpool’s unbeaten run against newly promoted Premier League sides to 21 matches. That sequence now stands at 16 wins and five draws.

For Ipswich Town, the defeat was a significant setback after their perfect start against Sunderland. It was their second consecutive loss.

Liverpool moved on to five points and climbed to fifth in the Premier League table, while Ipswich Town remained on three points in 13th place.

Liverpool made an immediate attempt to change their fortunes after failing to take the lead in either of their first two matches of the season. Their response came inside six minutes.

Cody Gakpo sent a precise through ball into Isak’s path, and the Sweden international finished powerfully into the near corner to put Liverpool ahead.

The same combination produced a second goal only three minutes later. Gakpo again found Isak, who moved past Jacob Greaves before calmly placing his shot beyond goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen.

Liverpool continued to threaten. Dominik Szoboszlai tested Scherpen with a powerful effort from the edge of the area, but the Ipswich goalkeeper made the save.

Ipswich had an opportunity to reduce the deficit when Leif Davis met a cross at the far post, although his header went wide of the target.

Isak appeared to have completed his hat-trick before half-time after meeting an excellent pass from Florian Wirtz. However, the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside.

Liverpool created another opportunity soon after the interval. Szoboszlai’s corner found Alexis Mac Allister, but his header lacked power and was comfortably collected by Scherpen.

Isak’s afternoon ended in the 60th minute when he was replaced by new signing Bradley Barcola, who joined Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool were later awarded a penalty after Szoboszlai went down inside the Ipswich area. The decision was reviewed by the video assistant referee, however, and overturned.

Ipswich continued searching for a way back into the contest, but Jack Clarke’s effort, which deflected off a Liverpool defender and changed direction, did not have enough power to beat the visitors’ goalkeeper.

Liverpool held on to claim a result that lifted them to fifth in the early Premier League standings, while Iraola recorded his first win since taking charge.