Alexander Isak finally produced the kind of performance Liverpool had hoped for when they paid a British-record £125 million to bring him from Newcastle United, scoring twice in the opening nine minutes to inspire a comfortable 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town.
The result gave Liverpool their first Premier League win of the season and also marked Andoni Iraola’s first victory as manager following the dismissal of Arne Slot.
On paper, Liverpool’s victory came against newly promoted Ipswich, who showed plenty of determination but had already conceded five goals against Manchester United the previous week. Their defensive vulnerability provided Liverpool’s attacking players with an opportunity to make an impact.
The bigger story, however, was Isak’s transformation. After a disappointing first season at Anfield, the Swedish striker finally looked like the prolific forward Liverpool believed they were signing when they secured his controversial transfer from Newcastle last summer.
Isak endured a difficult debut campaign, arriving out of shape after pushing for his move away from Tyneside and subsequently struggling with injuries. His performances led many to question whether Liverpool had made an expensive mistake.
He was also overshadowed by fellow striker Hugo Ekitike, while Liverpool endured a dramatic decline during a disappointing title defence that ultimately resulted in Slot losing his job only a year after guiding the club to the Premier League title.
Last season, Isak featured in 22 matches, playing 1,033 minutes and scoring just four goals a goal every 258 minutes. In the Premier League, he appeared 14 times for 703 minutes, scoring three goals at a rate of one every 234 minutes.
He has already matched that league goal tally this season, but it was not just his finishing that impressed. His movement, confidence and overall attitude suggested that Liverpool may finally have discovered how to get the best out of their expensive forward.
Isak was deployed in the role that has traditionally brought out his greatest qualities making powerful runs behind defenders and using his pace to press opponents. Those attributes were central to his success at Newcastle and made his struggles at Liverpool last season all the more puzzling.
He also benefited from a strong partnership with Cody Gakpo, whose outstanding display provided another major positive for Liverpool. Gakpo could have been preparing for Manchester City’s meeting with Coventry City at the Etihad Stadium had his proposed move not fallen through.
Liverpool also enjoyed a promising debut from Bradley Barcola, who arrived from Paris Saint-Germain for £123 million and showed glimpses of his explosive pace during his 26-minute appearance.
Despite Barcola’s encouraging introduction, though, the night belonged to Isak. His early goals and improved performance provided Iraola and Liverpool with plenty of reasons for optimism as the season progresses.
