Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool: Isak stars as Reds see off Tractor Boys | OneFootball

Jack Buchanan, Chief EFL Editor

Liverpool cruised to a 2-0 victory at Portman Road this evening, with Alexander Isak the star of the show in East Anglia.

Isak gave Liverpool the lead after just five minutes, rifling the ball home for his second goal of the season. He netted asecond just a few minutes later, after latching on to a brilliant ball from Cody Gakpo.

The Reds remained in control for the vast majority of the match, which saw them pick up their first win of the new season and keep just their second Premier League clean sheet since February.

As it happened

Liverpool named just one change after their 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest last time out, with Ronald Araujo making his first start for the Reds, replacing Jeremie Frimpong at right back. Gary O’Neill also made a single change following his side’s defeat at Old Trafford last weekend, with Exequiel Palacios replacing Marcelino Nuñez in the middle of the park, after his fatal error allowed Bruno Fernandes to equalise for Manchester United with a rapid break.

The visitors’ quick start was rounded off in the sixth minute, when Isak’s blistering finish rifled past Kjell Scherpen to give Liverpool the lead. Just three minutes later, he found the net again, making an incisive run in behind the Tractor Boys’ defence before shifting the ball on to his left foot and slotting it past the keeper.

Alexis Mac Allister was shown the first yellow card of the night for a late challenge on Julio Enciso. Scherpen made his first save of the night in the 20th minute, making a strong stop to deny Dominik Szoboszlai’s effort from the edge of the area.

Isak had the ball in the net for a third time on the half-hour mark, but the goal was ruled out after the Swede was caught narrowly offside. Daizen Maeda looked to burst in behind and get a goal back for his side, but Alisson held on to his tame shot. Liverpool’s assistant manager, Tommy Elphick, was then shown a yellow card for his comments towards the referee.

A lovely turn from Enciso on the edge of the Liverpool box allowed him to get a strike away, but he failed to hit the target. Florian Wirtz was next to test Scherpen, catching his volley sweetly, but the Ipswich keeper was equal to it, meaning the score stayed at 2-0 going into the break.

An early Liverpool corner in the second half saw Mac Allister break free from his man for a header on goal, but it was a simple save for Scherpen. Jérémy Jacquet was shown a yellow card in the 52nd minute after a coming together with Emersonn, and he was perhaps lucky not to receive a second one for a similar incident just a minute later.

Fatawu looked to curl one in towards Leif Davis at the far post shortly after, but his cross was well wide of the mark. Milos Kerkez was next into the referee’s notebook after a lunging challenge on Fatawu.

Enciso continued to be the driving force behind Ipswich’s attacks, this time taking on a shot himself from outside the area, which Alisson palmed away. Liverpool’s marquee summer signing, Bradley Barcola, was introduced from the bench in the 63rd minute, replacing Isak. Ryan Gravenberch was also introduced, as Victor Muñoz made way. There was an Ipswich debutant as well moments later, with Zian Flemming replacing Emersonn; Maeda was also replaced by Jack Clarke.

Szoboszlai saw a huge penalty appeal waved away by the referee when he thought he was unfairly challenged by Davis; a VAR review followed, and it looked as if the spot kick was going to be awarded until it was discovered that Szoboszlai was offside in the build-up.

Two more Ipswich changes followed, as Fatawu and Palacios were replaced by Kasey McAteer and Abdoul Ouattara. Trey Nyoni was then introduced by Andoni Iraola, as Mac Allister was withdrawn.

Alisson was wrong-footed by a shot from Clarke, which deflected off his teammate, Issa Diop, before looping wide of the post. Liverpool’s final change saw Lewis Koumas replace Wirtz for the five minutes of additional time.

Ipswich continued to push to get themselves back into the game, but McAteer’s long-range shot was comfortably held by Alisson, confirming all three points for Liverpool.