Liverpool Secures First Premier League Win with Isak's Double
Liverpool’s first Premier League win of the season came with two early goals, three precious points – and one major refereeing controversy.
Isak at the double, Liverpool off the mark
At Portman Road on Friday night, Alexander Isak needed barely 10 minutes to rip through Ipswich Town. Two sharp finishes, two ruthless reminders of what he brings when fully fit, and Liverpool finally had lift-off for their league campaign.
Andoni Iraola’s side flew out of the blocks. The intensity that had been missing in their sluggish starts to the previous two games suddenly returned. Liverpool pressed high, pinned Ipswich back and struck twice before the home side could settle.
“We needed this win,” Iraola said afterwards, visibly relieved as much as satisfied. “Especially in the first half we have been a very good team. We put a lot of pressure to the opposition and I think we started really strong in the game.
“I think that we learned the lessons from the last two games where we conceded early goals and today we didn't want this to happen, and we were really strong in the first half.”
Isak, the match-winner on the scoresheet, echoed that sense of intent.
“Obviously we were waiting for the first win and we were talking about starting the game good, which we haven't done recently,” he said. “That was perfect for us to get two quick goals.”
Liverpool could have had more. And, according to a former refereeing chief, they should also have had a penalty.
The ‘nailed-on’ penalty that never came
Midway through the first half, with Liverpool firmly on top, Cody Gakpo drove into the Ipswich box. Abdul Fatawu came across, mistimed his challenge and wiped the forward out.
Play went on. No whistle. No trip to the monitor.
From the touchline, Iraola raged. In the stands, the away end howled. In the VAR booth, silence.
For Keith Hackett, the former head of PGMOL, it was as clear as it gets.
“This is a nailed-on penalty kick decision,” he told Football Insider. “The Ipswich player is so late with his foul challenge that I cannot believe that the referee has not pointed to the penalty mark.
“I understand that the PROref organisation want to see less interference by VAR. However, this non-award of a penalty kick by the referee meets the criteria for a clear and obvious error. VAR should have intervened.”
The incident will only fuel the debate around the new, lighter-touch approach to VAR. Liverpool won the game, but the sense of injustice over that moment will linger, especially if similar calls go against them in tighter contests.
Iraola’s demands for Isak go beyond goals
On a night that could have been overshadowed by officiating, Isak made sure the scoreboard told a simpler story.
Two chances, two goals, and the kind of clinical edge Iraola insists is just one part of the striker’s job.
“With Alex, if he's fit, if he's available, if he's in good shape, I think he will produce the numbers,” the Liverpool boss said. “My demands with Alex will not be about the goals, probably.
“It will be about other things, I will demand other things so we can play well and if we play well, we are in good positions, the goals will come. I think he has to contribute to the collective and when everyone helps, I think after the goals and the other stuff will come.”
Isak himself sounded like a player who believes this performance is only the start.
“I think we're starting to get the way that we want to play and be offensive and attack the defence,” he said. “I think we showed that today. We scored two and we could have scored more.
“It's still early. I think we still have a lot to learn and it's game by game at this point.”
Liverpool finally have their first win, their main striker firing, and a blueprint for the aggressive starts Iraola wants. The question now is simple: can they turn one ruthless night at Portman Road into a habit that defines their season, rather than a brief glimpse of what might be?
