Alexander Isak, Liverpool's most expensive signing under former sporting director Richard Hughes, finally began to demonstrate his worth, silencing critics who had questioned the club's transfer strategy. Following a goal in the 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest in the second round, Isak netted a quick brace within the first 10 minutes of the match, securing an early lead for Liverpool at Portman Road on 4/9.

Alexander Isak (left) celebrates with Milos Kerkez during Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town in the third round of the Premier League at Portman Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, England on 4/9/2026. Photo: AP

The breakthrough came in the 6th minute. Milos Kerkez intercepted the ball, allowing Cody Gakpo to dribble centrally before delivering a precise through ball. Isak, breaking free slightly to the right of the penalty area, unleashed a powerful shot from a tight angle. Despite goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen getting a hand to the ball, he could not prevent it from finding the back of the net.

Just three minutes later, Liverpool doubled their lead with a similar attacking move. Gakpo executed an improvised outside-of-the-foot pass, sending Isak clear of the offside trap, this time on the left side of the box. The 26-year-old striker displayed his skill with two feints, bypassing the home team's center-back, and then slotted the ball home with his left foot to complete his brace.

This marked Isak's first Premier League brace for Liverpool, elevating his season tally to three goals in three matches – matching his entire goal count from the previous season. Isak also achieved the quickest brace for a Liverpool player in the Premier League (9 minutes) since Maxi Rodriguez accomplished the feat in the first seven minutes against Fulham in May 2011.

Isak nearly completed a first-half hat-trick, but his third goal was disallowed for offside. The 26-year-old consistently made the intelligent runs that initially brought him recognition and prompted Liverpool to invest a club-record 175,5 million USD to acquire him from Newcastle. This performance stood in stark contrast to his subdued debut season, which saw him sidelined for five months.

Alexander Isak (red shirt) finishes to extend the lead to 2-0. Photo: Reuters

Similar to their 2-5 defeat against Man Utd, Ipswich once again conceded two quick goals in a short span. The home players appeared unsettled and vulnerable against Liverpool's rapid ball movement.

Victor Munoz embarked on a long sprint, only to be halted by Issa Diop's last-man challenge. Julio Enciso then controlled the ball, momentarily pausing as if to urge his teammates to regain composure. Florian Wirtz also started to impress with his technical prowess, offering positive indications that Liverpool's significant summer investments might not be the misstep they appeared to be under Arne Slot.

After halftime, fueled by continuous encouragement from manager Gary O'Neil on the sidelines, Ipswich adopted a more aggressive approach. The home side engaged in strong challenges, embracing physical play rather than simply accepting Liverpool's technical dominance.

Consequently, manager Andoni Iraola made two swift substitutions. Ryan Gravenberch replaced Isak to enhance midfield control, while 167 million USD new signing Bradley Barcola came on for Victor Munoz.

Gakpo shifted to a central striker role, while Barcola debuted in his preferred left-wing position for Liverpool. His initial touches immediately excited Liverpool fans, particularly a shoulder drop that left Dara O'Shea behind. Barcola subsequently demonstrated impressive bursts of speed on multiple occasions, including a dribble from the left wing that created an opportunity for Gakpo.

Bradley Barcola (red shirt) dribbles after coming on in the second half. Photo: AP

In the 68th minute, Liverpool appeared poised to score a third goal. Leif Davis pulled Dominik Szoboszlai and then made contact with his leg, causing the Liverpool midfielder to fall inside the penalty area, seemingly warranting a penalty. However, VAR intervention determined that Szoboszlai was offside in the build-up, sparing the Ipswich defender a penalty kick.

This VAR decision elicited the loudest cheers from the home supporters during the match, as Ipswich had few other moments to celebrate, apart from their late efforts to push forward in search of a goal.

Liverpool secured their first victory under Iraola, and Barcola enjoyed a promising debut. However, the most significant positive remains the resurgence of Isak – a striker who had faced considerable skepticism but is now decisively proving why Liverpool placed their trust and a record investment in him.

Hong Duy