Three-minute spell from Gakpo and Isak gives Liverpool victory

Liverpool needed only three minutes of attacking brilliance from Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak to secure a 2-0 away win over Premier League newcomers Ipswich on Friday night.

Gakpo created both goals, while Isak scored in the sixth and ninth minutes. The first came after Gakpo broke forward from the left and drove a hard pass toward the near post. Isak’s powerful effort was not handled by Ipswich goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, whose save sent the ball into his own net.

A few minutes later, Gakpo released Isak with an excellent outside-of-the-foot pass. The Swedish striker used a couple of clever dribbles before calmly placing the ball into the net.

Those three minutes proved enough for Liverpool. Ipswich, still finding its footing in England’s top division, struggled to create a threat as the visitors defended their advantage without difficulty.

The victory was the first for Liverpool’s new head coach, Andoni Iraola. He had collected two points from his first two matches, but he had already helped bring Gakpo and Isak into the spotlight. Gakpo had scored and assisted in Liverpool’s first two Premier League games, while Isak had scored against Nottingham Forest the previous weekend.