Alexander Isak’s Portman Road double signals Liverpool revival

Alexander Isak scored twice inside the opening nine minutes as Liverpool beat Ipswich Town 2-0 at Portman Road on Friday, giving the Sweden striker three Premier League goals this season and matching his entire league tally from the previous campaign.

Isak struck in the sixth and ninth minutes to settle the third-round contest before Ipswich Town could establish a foothold in the match. Both goals were created by Netherlands international Cody Gakpo, who supplied the decisive final passes for the Liverpool forward.

The result continued a fast start to the season for Isak, whose early goals provided Liverpool with the platform for an important away victory. His double also drew attention because it equalled the number of Premier League goals he managed throughout the whole of the previous campaign.

That earlier season was a difficult one for Isak. His form dipped and he was also affected by a serious injury that kept him out of action for a significant period. By comparison, his current campaign has begun with a much more productive return in front of goal.

Isak had already scored once in the second round of this season’s Premier League. That goal came during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest, meaning his two finishes at Portman Road took him to three goals in the competition.

The striker joined Liverpool from Newcastle United in the summer of 2025. During his time with the Magpies, he scored 54 goals in 86 Premier League appearances, establishing himself as one of the division’s most effective forwards.

His record against Ipswich Town is particularly notable. Friday’s match was not the first time Isak had found the net against them. While playing for Newcastle United during the 2024-25 Premier League season, he scored four goals in two meetings with Ipswich Town.

Three of those goals came in a single match at Portman Road, making the stadium a familiar and productive venue for the Sweden international. His latest performance strengthened that connection, with another two-goal display helping Liverpool claim all three points.

The victory also gave Isak an early opportunity to put the disappointment of last season behind him. Having needed an entire campaign to score three Premier League goals previously, he reached the same figure after only three rounds this time.

Liverpool’s opening goal arrived after six minutes, and the second followed just three minutes later. With Gakpo involved in both finishes and Isak converting each chance, the visitors had established a decisive advantage before the game had reached its early stages.

The result at Portman Road therefore carried significance beyond the scoreline. It marked another successful outing for Liverpool and offered clear evidence of Isak’s improved start, while his personal record showed how quickly his fortunes have changed since the previous campaign.