Cody Gakpo set up a pair of early Alexander Isak goals as Liverpool gave Andoni Iraola his first win with the club, a 2-0 win over Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Friday.
The Reds had a pair of comeback draws on their season slate, and now add a win to move onto five points.
MORE — Andoni Iraola reacts to win, Isak brace, Barcola debut
Gary O’Neil’s newly-promoted Ipswich have now won one and lost two.
The bosses share a link in Premier League history as Iraola replaced O’Neil as Bournemouth boss in 2023.
Liverpool’s attackers grab headlines but new back Araujo deserves shine
Liverpool spent a lot of money on Alexander Isak and did well to keep Cody Gakpo in town, so the obvious storyline of Friday’s win was two big-name attackers giving the Reds an early lead that would become Andoni Iraola’s first PL win with the Reds. Something else might’ve been more important, though, as the right side of Ronald Araujo and Jeremy Jacquet leapt off the pitch as the Reds kept their first clean sheet of the season. Araujo was both bigger and better than Jeremie Frimpong had been in Weeks 1 and 2, and his performance came on a day that Ipswich looked tricky on his side. Gary O’Neil clearly had a plan to target Liverpool’s right flank. Araujo and Jacquet did so well under that spotlight and pressure. Araujo’s seven clearances tied with Ipswich’s Issa Diop for the game-high, and Jacquet was imperfect but impressive for the third-straight week (Remember: He’s just 21 years old). With Milos Kerkez looking more comfortable next to Virgil van Dijk, the Reds may just have a good back line again.
Ipswich Town vs Liverpool final score: 0-2
Alexander Isak 6', 9'
What’s next?
Liverpool host Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday before returning to PL action at home to Fulham on Saturday, September 12.
That’s the same day Ipswich next take the pitch. They’ll be away to Crystal Palace
Andoni Iraola has spoken from Portman Road and has stressed that the strong start to the game stood out for him more than the goals.
“Feels good,” Iraola said. “We needed this one. We were close on the other two and couldn’t do it. We started really strong today and I think that was the key.”
He also was asked about Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola, and more. Read more here.
It’s mostly been a possession exercise for Ipswich, and Araujo and Jacquet have been the stars for Liverpool thanks to the Tractor Boys’ preference of their left side.
The Tractor Boys plugged four players into the fold in a bid to pull back a goal, but there have only been mere flashes of danger.
McAteer, Ouattara, Flemming, and Clarke replaced Palacios, Emersonn, Fatawu, and Maeda.
Szoboszlai was offside in the build-up, so there can be no penalty.
Leif Davis looked to have made a great tackle on Dominik Szoboszlai but VAR is having a look.
There was a shirt pull outside the box. Furthermore, did Davis get Szonboszlai before the ball?
Liverpool’s Barcola will make his debut, replacing Victor Munoz in the 64th minute.
He’s not the only sub, as Isak won’t get a hat trick. Ryan Gravenberch enters the game.
We’re back underway, and Liverpool have already won a corner with a robust move down the left wing.
Ipswich won a corner late and continue to fight for yards but this game has essentially gone to a neutral’s expectation.
Shot attempts and xG are basically even but sometimes stats don’t tell the story. Liverpool could be up 4-1 on another day.
Gary O’Neil would welcome halftime as soon as humanly possible.
Liverpool are living in the Ipswich end, and Alexis Mac Allister has a go from 20 yards that just sails over the bar.
Still 2-0 into the 32nd minute.
That’s two for the slick Swede.
Abdul Fatawu keeps Isak onside for Gakpo’s through ball to Isak.
He cuts Jacob Greaves right and left, passing the ball around the keeper Kjell Sherpen.
Cody Gakpo gets the ball off an Ipswich turnover and stops on a dime to meg Exequiel Palacios.
He then hits an incisive, seeing-eye pass to Alexander Isak, who slots home with composure.
Victor Munoz races down the right side and is stopped from clipping a cross toward the penalty spot by a sliding Leif Davis.
It’s a corner for Liverpool, partially cleared by Ipswich as the Reds reload.
Looking around the odds markets, and an Ipswich win would obviously not be the biggest upset of the weekend considering Coventry are away to Man City.
In fact, it’s a bit down the list. Sunderland winning at Brentford would be a slightly bigger surprise, according to the bookmakers, while a Chelsea win over Arsenal is nearly the same odds.
Zian Flemming is not in the Starting XI, though fellow new signings Exequiel Palacious, Daizen Maeda, and Emersonn all start for Gary O’Neil.
Starting XI
Scherpen
O’Shea
Diop
Greaves
Davis
Lukic
Palacios
Fatawu
Enciso
Maeda
Emersonn
Subs: Walton, Furlong, Kipre, Ouattara, Florentino, Nunez, McAteer, Clarke, Flemming
The Reds are making some changes with Champions League action next week, and big addition Bradley Barcola is on the bench ahead of a potential Liverpool debut.
Alisson is still between the sticks, but there’s a change in defense as Ronald Araujo comes in for Jeremie Frimpong to play with Virgil van Dijk, Jeremy Jacquet, and Milos Kerkez along the back four.
Ryan Gravenberch exits the midfielder as Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz, Victor Munoz, and Cody Gakpo join Alexander Isak in the XI.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Tsimikas, Barcola, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Nyoni, Koumas, Ngumoha.
Liverpool’s huge purchase of Bradley Barcola has Reds fans anxious to see their new star on the pitch, but will he play versus Ipswich?
Barcola turned 24 on Wednesday and had yet to play for PSG this season, so Iraola could start the winger on the bench. He is expected to be part of the team for this Week 3 game at Portman Road.
Liverpool swept the most recent season series in 2024-25 and have won five-straight against the Tractor Boys dating back to February 2002.
Ipswich’s last win over Liverpool came on December 10, 2000. They are 14W-21D-39L all-time against the Reds.
O’Neil led Bournemouth to Premier League safety during the 2022-23 season only to see himself become one of that summer’s wildest surprises when the Cherries parted ways with him in order to appoint Iraola.
That risky decision worked out quite well for Bournemouth and Iraola, even if O’Neil had the first laugh with a 2-1 win for new club Wolves at the Vitality Stadium on October 21, 2023.
Iraola would then lead Bournemouth to a pair of wins over O’Neil’s Wolves the Molineux. O’Neil would late lead Ligue 1 side Strasbourg before moving to Ipswich.
Kick off time: 3pm ET Friday, September 4
Venue: Portman Road — Ipswich, Suffolk
TV Channel: USA
Stream link: Watch on USA
