Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool: Isak & Gakpo Star as Andoni Iraola Secures First Win as Liverpool Head Coach

Liverpool took the long trip over to Suffolk this evening as they took on Ipswich Town away from home. Andoni Iraola's side were looking for their first win of the new season, following successive 2-2 draws in the opening two games, and went into this fixture hoping that it could be the match to kick-start their campaign.

Just one change was made to the starting X after the draw against Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday, with the heavily criticised and out-of-form Jeremie Frimpong being dropped to the bench in favour of summer recruit Ronald Araujo.

The rest of the starting XI was unchanged, meaning that despite the number of different options available on the wing, Cody Gakpo and Victor Munoz would retain their spots in the side, hoping to continue their red-hot form at the start of this season.

New star signing Bradley Barcola would make the squad for this game, but would begin the game on the bench, with Iraola confirming before the game that Barcola was likely to make his debut and feature in the second half.

Liverpool's Starting XI:

Ipswich also made just one change from their 5-2 defeat to Manchester United last weekend, with World Cup winner Exequiel Palacios coming into the side for Marcelino Nunez, as their new £20 million signing Zian Flemming starting on the bench for the home side.

Andoni Iraola had spoken about wanting a fast start from his side going into this game, after conceding first in the last two games, and his players responded in this game and took the lead within 6 minutes.

Cody Gakpo drove with the ball on the left-hand side, played the pass into Alexander Isak's feet, who unleashed a powerful strike low towards the goalkeeper's near post, and the speed of the strike beat the Ipswich shot-stopper, and the Reds led 1-0. 

Liverpool's record signing then doubled the lead after a defence-splitting ball, with the outside of his foot, from Gakpo to Isak, who was just inside the penalty area. The number nine then shifted the ball onto his left foot and rolled it past Kjell Scherpen, and Iraola's side had a 2-0 lead after just 10 minutes.

The game then started to settle down, and LFC continued to dominate proceedings, with Dominik Szoboszlai testing the goalkeeper twice from the edge of the box, but both shots were parried away.

But Ipswich did eventually have their first sight of goal, with a ball into the box, headed down by Leif Davis, and Jeremy Jacquet was forced to block an Emersonn shot. 

Enciso then ventured forward for Ipswich, put a ball across the six-yard box, which was cleared quickly by right-back Ronald Araujo. A cross was then redelivered by the home side, but a Leif Davis header found the side netting.

And the travelling Reds fans thought they had seen an Alexander Isak hat-trick after Wirtz played a perfectly weighted pass across the box, which Isak tapped in, but the £125 million man was fractionally offside. And the half would end with Iraola's side 2-0 up and good value for their advantage. 

No changes were made by the Merseyside club at the break, as they looked to continue their first-half brilliance in the second half. The half wouldn't start as quickly as the first, and it was Ipswich who looked the brighter side in the opening 10-15 minutes.

Both Milos Kerkez and Jeremy Jacquet picked up yellow cards; the latter of the two, Jacquet, was slightly fortunate not to see a second yellow for a challenge on Emersonn. 

Then came the highly anticipated introduction of Bradley Barcola from the bench, as he came on for Alexander Isak, with Iraola likely ensuring Isak can play on Wednesday against Atletico Madrid. Ryan Gravenberch was also brought on in place of Victor Munoz, with Gakpo now operating up front and Szoboszlai playing on the right wing. 

It was then the Hungarian international who would win a foot race against Leif Davis and was subsequently fouled in the box, but Szoboszlai began his run slightly too soon and was judged offside after a VAR review, so no penalty was given. 

What followed was a professional performance from Liverpool, as they remained solid and compact, while also posing the occasional threat on the counterattack, and were rewarded with a clean sheet and a 2-0 win, Andoni Iraola's first as Reds boss.