Andoni Iraola got his first win as Liverpool head coach thanks to an early brace from Isak.The Athletic Live TeamSeptember 7, 2026 at 5:55 AM EDTLiverpool recorded their first win of the season at Portman Road after Alexander Isak's double. Getty ImagesIpswich 0-2 Liverpool — reactionLiverpool eased past Ipswich to begin the Premier League's third matchweek with their first win of the season.Alexander Isak scored two early goals, rifling in at the near post then sliding home after a brilliant Cody Gakpo pass.A drab second half saw £106million marquee summer signing Bradley Barcola make his club debut at Portman Road.The result sees Liverpool temporarily climb to fifth in the table ahead of the weekend's fixtures, with Ipswich 13th.Join the Discuss tab or email us your reaction: live@theathletic.comSKIP ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementAnd what next for Ipswich? Getty ImagesGood question.Ipswich travel to currently winless Crystal Palace next Saturday before hosting Arsenal in the third round of the EFL Cup three days later.What next for Liverpool? Getty ImagesNext up, Liverpool welcome Atletico Madrid to Anfield in the Champions League midweek.They then take on Fulham on Merseyside on Saturday, a week tomorrow, as they look to continue their unbeaten Premier League run under Andoni Iraola.The Briefing — Ipswich Town 0 Liverpool 2Is Alexander Isak finally up and running?Has Liverpool’s Gakpo stance already been justified?Ronald Araujo a possible right-back solution?Below, The Athletic’s Gregg Evans and Anantaajith Raghuraman assess the action from Portman Road…How Iraola is getting the best out of IsakSo far, the Iraola-Isak working relationship seems to be operating pretty nicely — and the Liverpool manager has been explaining his instructions to his striker in order to get the best out of him. Here's what he told Sky Sports:💬 “He’s a massive player for us. My demands will not be about the goals. He is fit and in good shape so he is probably going to get those. My fights with him are about other stuff, how to help the team, what to do in some situations but it’s good that he has already played two full games and got a very good amount of minutes and scored goals.“Today we were much better in our press. We want him to be in contact high and then we can find him in good positions. When he is lower, it is going to be more difficult to find him, there are less spaces. So it’s a matter of collective effort and getting our number nine in situations like he was in today.”Let's hear from Andoni IraolaThe Liverpool manager has been chatting about that first win of the season — here's what he had to say when speaking to Sky Sports:💬 “It’s nice. We needed this one, also the way it was with a clean sheet and controlling the game quite well. “We started really strong and then it was another kind of second half, not as good as the first one but we did not concede many chances.”SKIP ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementWill Ipswich have enough to stay up? Getty ImagesIpswich made 14 signings this summer including some canny acquisitions like Zian Flemming and Daizen Maeda, both of whom played today.Can they stay up this time around?They are going to be up against it and were ultimately outclassed by one of the big guns in this league. Against other teams, though, they might fancy their chances.A managerial subplot Getty ImagesAn interesting subplot in the dugout. This match pitted Iraola against O'Neil, the man he replaced at Bournemouth despite some fans being against it because O'Neil had kept them up.Bournemouth's decision to hire Iraola was more than justified in the years that followed — Liverpool will hope for the same.Isak: Iraola told Liverpool to play forwardThat was an important win for Liverpool, who made Ipswich pay in two quick attacking moves finished off by Isak. The striker explained the game plan set out by manager Andoni Iraola, as he explained to Sky Sports:💬 “We were talking about getting the ball forward as quickly as possible because that’s when it’s more open. And Cody found me twice. “He’s done amazingly, assisting and finding me in those situations in good positions with the ball. “We have so much threat up front. If we win the ball, play forward and try to attack, all of us will enjoy our game.”Isak: Quick start vital for LiverpoolAlexander Isak takes home the man of the match award after his lightning-quick double in the first half. He has been speaking to Sky Sports:💬 “We were waiting for the first win, we were talking about starting the game well which we haven’t done recently. It was good for us to get two quick goals. “With a normal pre-season, we are starting to get the way that we want to play and be offensive, attack the defence and we showed that today with the way we scored two and we could have scored more. “It was not easy, it was a long injury and a difficult (2025-26) season in general. I was thinking to have a good World Cup firstly and then to start off the season well. “I feel like I have done that now. That is behind me but it was tough.” Getty ImagesApplause from new signing Bradley Barcola for the away fans at full time.The first of many outings to come for their star man.SKIP ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementIsak's memorable double Getty ImagesTwo goals in the opening nine minutes for Alexander Isak set the tone in what was a dominant display from Liverpool.Their last player to score twice so soon after kick-off in the Premier League? According to Opta, that was Maxi Rodriguez, who netted a double inside seven minutes against Fulham in May 2011.We'll hear from man-of-the-moment Isak shortly. Getty ImagesAmid plenty of new faces and change at Liverpool, two of the old guard remain: Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson.They know a thing or two about how to keep a clean sheet — their first of the season is in the bag.Van Dijk: Isak's quality never in doubt Getty ImagesAlexander Isak has shown signs of his true potential for Liverpool since the start of the season — and according to his captain Virgil van Dijk, his ability to hit those heights despite a tough first season was never a question for his team-mates. Here's what the defender told Sky Sports:💬 “I don’t think the quality is anything that we doubt. Last season he had an unfortunate bad injury and it’s down to him and the hard work that he put in each and every day to get back as quickly as possible. “I have said it before many times that he is going to be important, he had a very good World Cup, a great pre-season and he is getting up to speed now. “We have seen how good he is, playing against him, and now he is going to show the world with a Liverpool shirt as well.”Van Dijk pleased with win, clean sheetLiverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is one happy man now that his team are on the board with a win in the new season. He praised Cody Gakpo's contribution tonight while speaking to Sky Sports:💬 “It was a good performance. We were more direct at the beginning which was what we wanted, we wanted to keep the danger in their half and create a bit of chaos. “With the quality that we have, great goals, Cody outstanding. A good win and onto the next. I said before the transfer window was closed that (Gakpo) is important for us. “He will be important this season as well and he showed it today again. Last week, too, with the assist and over the last couple of years as well, just keep going. “It felt like forever (since a clean sheet) so I am very pleased about that.”A first outing for Barcola Getty ImagesAs cameo debuts go, that was a nice glimpse of what Bradley Barcola can offer Liverpool.Speed, direct running and plenty of energy caused some problems for Ipswich later in the game.Plenty more to come from the France international.SKIP ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementGakpo: Isak ‘owes me a few assists’Let's hear from Cody Gakpo, who had two assists for Alexander Isak tonight to go with his assist for the striker last week. He's been speaking to Sky Sports.💬 “It was a great game today from our side. Obviously, there are things we have to improve still but it was a much-needed win for us. “I'm very happy we got the three points and very happy with the performance.”On his partnership with Isak:💬 “Obviously as attackers we train together, we try to get to know each other even better every time. Hopefully we can assist each other many times. He owes me a few assists now.”Player of the match: Alexander Isak Getty ImagesThree Premier League matches and three goals for Alexander Isak.He is yet to start four league games in a row for Liverpool so should he achieve that feat in their next game, it will be another welcome milestone for the Sweden international. If he can replicate the form that earned him his move to Anfield, this could be the start of something special. How many wins now Andoni? Getty ImagesThat's the all-important first win of the new Premier League season for Liverpool under Andoni Iraola. They are still a work in progress but that was a comprehensive performance with no emergency bail-out goals or drama.Tidy.Liverpool much-improved Getty ImagesWell, that was a big improvement on the opening weeks for Liverpool. They did well to handle the atmosphere and remain resolute and well-organised during the times they were under pressure. I really liked the back three of Van Dijk, Jacquet and Araujo when out of possession and that surely is the way forward from now.