Isak strikes twice as Liverpool get Iraola off the mark

Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over Ipswich, marking new manager Andoni Iraola's first win, as Alexander Isak scored twice in the early stages of the match.

The Swede, who had a challenging previous season, is beginning to show his value with three goals in three games this campaign, supported by Cody Gakpo's decisive assists.

The win elevates Liverpool to fifth in the Premier League standings, maintaining their unbeaten start under Iraola despite ongoing concerns about their defense.

Additionally, Liverpool's recent £100 million signing, Bradley Barcola, made his debut as a substitute, adding depth to their forward line.

IPSWICH, Sept 5 — Alexander Isak struck twice in the opening 10 minutes as Liverpool delivered a first win for new manager Andoni Iraola with a 2-0 victory at Ipswich on Friday.

Isak’s Premier League record £125 million (RM683 million) move from Newcastle was matched this week by Manchester City’s signing of Enzo Fernandez, but 12 months on the Swede is finally beginning to deliver on his price tag.

Ipswich never recovered from a disastrous start as Liverpool cruised to victory at Portman Road with their latest £100 million (RM546 million) signing Bradley Barcola making his debut as a second-half substitute.

Victory lifts the Reds to fifth in the table and maintains an unbeaten start for Iraola.

A pair of 2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest did not lack in entertainment for the Basque coach’s opening two games in charge, but did little to ease doubts over their ability to challenge at the top end of the table this season.

“We needed it. Definitely needed this one. Also the way it has been, I think, with a clean sheet,” said Iraola.

Barcola added to Liverpool’s expensively assembled forward line this week but at a cost of reinforcing other areas of the field.

A huge investment in Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike failed to pay off last year as Liverpool finished fifth in a disappointing season that cost Arne Slot his job just a year after winning the league.

But after a miserable first season at Anfield dogged by fitness problems, Isak is showing signs of why he was so sought after at Newcastle with three goals in three games in the new campaign, albeit aided by Ipswich goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen.

Cody Gakpo could have left Liverpool for City this week had the 20-time English champions been able to source a replacement.

Instead the Dutchman played a major role in kickstarting their season with assists for both Isak goals.

Gakpo’s pass picked out Isak on the edge of the area and while his shot had plenty of power, the giant frame of Scherpen should have done better than to parry it into the net.

Moments later Isak raced onto Gakpo’s through ball and slotted in at the near post with Scherpen caught in no man’s land.

“He’s a massive player for us,” added Iraola on Isak’s revival.

“I know that he’s fit, he’s in a good shape, he’s going to produce the numbers. My fights with him are more about other stuff, about how to help the team in all the situations.”

Isak scored a hat-trick at Portman Road for Newcastle two seasons ago and nearly had a first treble in Liverpool colours to celebrate.

He stroked in Wirtz’s cross to the back post but had strayed just offside.

Scherpen made some amends with two smart saves from Dominik Szoboszlai to keep the score down before half-time.

Barcola made his Premier League introduction just after the hour mark with Isak making way.

Liverpool did not possess the same attacking force in the second half but Iraola will be delighted with a clean sheet after much criticism of his side’s defending in the opening weeks of the season.

Ipswich made a winning start to their return to the top flight against Sunderland a fortnight ago, but the Tractor Boys have since been dealt a reality check with a 5-2 thrashing at Manchester United followed by a lesson from Liverpool. — AFP

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利物浦以 2-0 战胜伊普斯维奇，这是新任主教练安多尼·伊劳拉执教以来的首场胜利，亚历山大·伊萨克在比赛初期梅开二度。

这位瑞典球员上赛季表现挣扎，但本赛季他开始展现出自己的价值，在三场比赛中攻入三球，科迪·加克波的关键助攻也功不可没。

这场胜利使利物浦在英超积分榜上升至第五位，尽管人们对他们的防守持续感到担忧，但他们在伊劳拉的带领下仍然保持不败战绩。

此外，利物浦最近花费 1 亿英镑签下的布拉德利·巴科拉替补登场，完成了他的首秀，增强了球队的锋线实力。

伊普斯维奇，9 月 5 日——亚历山大·伊萨克在开场 10 分钟内梅开二度，帮助利物浦在周五客场 2-0 战胜伊普斯维奇，取得了新任主教练安多尼·伊劳拉的首场胜利。

伊萨克以 1.25 亿英镑（6.83 亿令吉）的英超转会费从纽卡斯尔加盟曼城，创下了英超转会费纪录。本周，曼城签下了恩佐·费尔南德斯，价格也与之持平。但 12 个月过去了，这位瑞典球员终于开始展现出与其身价相符的表现。

伊普斯维奇开局不利，始终未能恢复元气，利物浦在波特曼路球场轻松取胜，他们最新签下的1亿英镑（5.46亿令吉）球员布拉德利·巴科拉在下半场替补登场，完成了他的首秀。

这场胜利使红队排名升至积分榜第五位，并保持了伊拉奥拉的不败开局。

巴斯克教练执教的前两场比赛，球队分别以 2-2 战平纽卡斯尔和诺丁汉森林，虽然比赛精彩纷呈，但这并没有消除人们对他们本赛季能否在积分榜上名列前茅的疑虑。

“我们需要这场胜利。绝对需要这场胜利。而且我认为，保持零失球的状态也很重要，”伊拉奥拉说道。

巴萨本周为利物浦精心打造的锋线增添了新援，但代价是其他位置的实力有所削弱。

去年，利物浦对伊萨克、弗洛里安·维尔茨和雨果·埃基蒂克的大量投资未能取得回报，最终排名第五，这是一个令人失望的赛季，也导致主教练阿内·斯洛特在赢得联赛冠军仅仅一年后就丢掉了工作。

但在安菲尔德度过了一个糟糕的赛季，饱受伤病困扰之后，伊萨克在新赛季的三场比赛中打入三球，展现出了他为何在纽卡斯尔如此受追捧的迹象，尽管这其中也少不了伊普斯维奇门将谢尔·舍尔彭的帮助。

如果利物浦能够找到替代者，科迪·加克波本周本可以离开利物浦加盟曼城。

相反，这位荷兰球员在球队赛季开局阶段发挥了重要作用，助攻伊萨克打入两球。

加克波的传球找到了禁区边缘的伊萨克，虽然他的射门很有力，但谢尔彭的身材高大，却没能将球扑出底线。

片刻之后，伊萨克接到加克波的直塞球，在近门柱附近将球打入球门，而舍尔彭则陷入了无人盯防的境地。

“他对我们来说是一位非常重要的球员，”伊拉奥拉在谈到伊萨克的复苏时补充道。

“我知道他身体状态很好，体能也不错，肯定能打出好成绩。我和他之间的争论更多是关于其他方面，是关于如何在各种情况下帮助球队。”

两年前，伊萨克在波特曼路球场为纽卡斯尔联队上演帽子戏法，而身披利物浦球衣的他几乎就要迎来自己的第一个帽子戏法了。

他接应维尔茨的传中，将球轻巧地推射到后点，但可惜越位了。

上半场结束前，舍尔彭两次精彩扑救多米尼克·索博斯莱的射门，力保比分不落后，弥补了之前的失误。

巴科拉在比赛进行到一小时后替补伊萨克出场，完成了他的英超首秀。

利物浦在下半场进攻火力不如上半场，但伊劳拉对球队零封对手感到高兴，此前球队在赛季初几周的防守受到了很多批评。

两周前，伊普斯维奇在重返英超的首场比赛中战胜桑德兰，取得了开门红。但此后，这支“拖拉机男孩”遭遇了当头棒喝，先是在曼联以2-5惨败，随后又被利物浦狠狠地教训了一顿。——法新社

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