Mac Allister Gets One over on Palacios as Liverpool Beat Ipswich

Liverpool finally secured their first Premier League victory of the season, defeating Ipswich Town 2-0 on Friday in the third round. Alexander Isak settled the match within the opening 10 minutes, scoring twice after Cody Gakpo supplied both assists.

Isak opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Gakpo found him on the right side of the penalty area, and the Swedish striker fired a powerful shot that struck goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen before entering the net. Three minutes later, Gakpo used the outside of his boot to send a long pass behind the defense. Isak changed feet before finishing one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Alexis Mac Allister started for Liverpool, while compatriot Exequiel Palacios began in midfield for newly promoted Ipswich. Palacios received a yellow card in the 10th minute for a foul on Julio Enciso. He was beaten by a Gakpo dribble during the move that produced Liverpool’s first goal and left the game in the 33rd minute of the second half, replaced by Ouattara.

Gakpo’s two assists strengthened his claim to the left-wing position, where he is expected to face competition from Bradley Barcola, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain during the week and made his debut as a second-half substitute. The French international had limited impact.

Liverpool entered the match after two consecutive draws and improved their overall performance, showing greater fluency, more coordinated pressing and sharper attacking and defensive play. The win lifted the team to five points, provisionally fifth, behind Manchester City, Arsenal, Hull and Chelsea, who had won their first two matches. Ipswich stayed 13th with three points from one win and two defeats.