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Isak finally arrives as Gakpo proves value to Liverpool - Published Alexander Isak was the £125m striker who finally arrived at Liverpool by tormenting Ipswich Town - while Cody Gakpo's virtuoso performance had them giving thanks he never left. The nuts and bolts of a comfortable Friday in Suffolk were that Liverpool won 2-0 - thanks to two Isak goals in the first nine minutes, giving them their first Premier League victory of the season and new manager Andoni Iraola's first since succeeding the sacked Arne Slot. 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. The wider significance, however, was that Isak finally looked like the player Liverpool broke, at that time, the British transfer record to seal an acrimonious transfer from Newcastle United last summer. Throw in the added bonus that Bradley Barcola showed flashes of devastating pace in a 26-minute debut display after his £123m arrival from Paris St-Germain, and this was a night that ticked every box for Iraola and Liverpool. Even Barcola's bow, however, was overshadowed by Isak. The Sweden striker looked a lost soul in his first season at Liverpool, arriving out of condition after downing tools to secure his move from Tyneside, then 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, his statistics stark as he suffered along with many others in an astonishing decline amid Liverpool's dismal title defence that led to Slot's sacking only a year after he lifted the Premier League trophy. Isak played 22 games encompassing 1,033 minutes, scoring four goals 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. He has already equalled that league tally this season, but it was his demeanour as well as his lethal finishing that will have given Liverpool and Iraola confidence that the Isak code has finally been cracked. And it was done by utilising Isak at his best - running in behind defenders and pressing with pace. It was what made him such a hot property at Newcastle United, and made everything about his every miserable moment on the pitch with Liverpool last term such a mystery. It was also done in tandem with Gakpo, who could easily have been back in the north west preparing for Manchester City's game against Coventry City at Etihad Stadium had the move not collapsed. - Isak shines at last but Scherpen suffers - Ipswich v Liverpool player ratings - Published5 hours ago Gakpo was happy to join Enzo Maresca's Manchester City transition, but Liverpool's failure to sign Yankuba Minteh from Brighton or Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr meant he stayed at Anfield. And it might just be one of those twists of fate football can throw up as Gakpo delivered a masterclass of creation that meant this game was effectively over after nine minutes. Isak was the spearhead who delivered the defining moments, starting in the sixth minute when he took Gakpo's clever pass between Leif Davis and Jacob Greaves before thrashing a right-foot shot that carried too much power for Ipswich Town keeper Kjell Scherpen, although he had to do much, much better than divert the striker's effort into the net. The second, three minutes later, was stamped right through with class, bringing a beaming smile to the face of Iraola. Gakpo delivered a delicious pass with the outside of his right foot from inside his own half. Isak used a left-foot flick to move inside Greaves as Scherpen came out, before a touch with his right foot sent the Ipswich keeper the wrong way before rolling in a cool finish with his left. Perfection from Gakpo's start to Isak's finish. Game over. Isak had a desperately poor return to Tyneside on the opening day of the season, questions even coming about his performance after he scored in Liverpool's 2-2 draw at home to Nottingham Forest in their second game. This, however, was Isak played right - and playing right. Iraola said: "He's a massive player for us. My demands will probably not be about the goals. I know he is fit and in good shape. He's going to produce the numbers. "My fight with him will be more about other stuff, how to help the team in other situations - but it is good he has already played two full games, scoring the goals, so I am very happy to have him." And Isak added: "We were waiting for the first win. We talked about starting the game good, which we haven't done recently, so it was perfect for us to get two good quick goals. "With a normal pre-season, I think we are starting to get to the way we want to play. To be offensive and attack the defence. I think we did that. We scored two, and we could have scored more." Reflecting on his poor first season at Liverpool, Isak said: "It was not easy. It was obviously a long injury and a difficult season in general. I was thinking to have a good World Cup, and then to start off the season well, which I think I have done now. It's kind of behind me, but it wasn't easy." Portman Road is certainly a happy hunting ground for Isak. Since the start of the 2024-25 season, his five Premier League goals there are the joint most by any player at an away ground, equalling Erling Haaland's haul against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Gakpo also struggled for his best form in the last campaign, but he has started this season in outstanding style. This was the elegant Netherlands forward at his best, not just by making two goals, but with his all-round performance. Liverpool captain and compatriot Virgil van Dijk is certainly delighted to still be lining up alongside his team-mate for club and country, saying: "It's massive. I said it before the transfer window had closed. "He's important for us, and he will be important this season. He showed it here. He showed it last week as well, and over the last couple of years. He needs to just keep going." The same challenge now applies to Isak. Iraola will not want this to be a false dawn for such an exceptional talent that had lost his way. Follow Liverpool on BBC Sounds Pre-match, post-match and topical Reds content Subscribe and listen for everything you love about Liverpool
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