Iraola Hails Isak After Double Fires Liverpool to First Win at Ipswich
The win moves Liverpool past their slow opening weeks and gives Iraola a much-needed platform to build on.
Swedish striker Alexander Isak. Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
Andoni Iraola has praised the impact of Alexander Isak after the Swedish striker’s clinical first-half double guided Liverpool to a 2-0 victory away at Ipswich Town, earning the Spaniard his first three points since taking charge at Anfield.
Liverpool arrived at Portman Road under pressure after a stuttering start to the new Premier League campaign, but Isak settled any nerves within ten minutes. The British-record £125 million signing from Newcastle United struck twice in quick succession to put the contest out of reach for the hosts and demonstrate exactly why Liverpool pushed so hard to bring him to Merseyside.
The win moves Liverpool past their slow opening weeks and gives Iraola a much-needed platform to build on.
Isak the star as Liverpool strike early
Isak was the undisputed star of the show in Suffolk. The 26-year-old opened the scoring with a composed finish after latching onto a through ball, before doubling the lead just minutes later with a clinical effort from inside the box to make it 2-0 before the tenth minute had passed.
It was the kind of ruthless finishing that convinced Liverpool to break the British transfer record for him this summer, and Iraola believes there is far more to come if the forward can stay fit.
Speaking after the final whistle, the Liverpool manager was full of praise for his striker, but stressed that his demands go beyond goals alone.
“Yes, with Alex, if he’s fit, if he’s available, if he’s in good shape, I think he will produce the numbers,” Iraola told reporters.
“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.”
Relief for Iraola after first Anfield win
For Iraola, the result brought a clear sense of relief. The former Bournemouth and Rayo Vallecano boss endured a difficult start to life in England during his first Premier League job, and he was keen to avoid a repeat narrative at Liverpool.
The Spaniard, who replaced Jurgen Klopp’s successor in a surprise appointment this summer, admitted his side could not afford to drop more points after taking just two points from their opening two games.
“Definitely. That couldn’t happen today because I think two points also don’t reflect our two first games, but it was the points we had. So, definitely we couldn’t lose any more today and I’m happy because I believe we controlled quite well the game,” he said.
Iraola also pointed to lessons learned from Liverpool’s early defensive lapses, where conceding first had put them on the back foot.
“Yes, very pleased with the win, obviously. We needed this win and as well with the performance – especially first half we have been a very good team,” he said.
“We put a lot of pressure to the opposition and I think we started really strong in the game. I think that we learned, probably, 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. In the second half also, I think in a different way.”
After their explosive start, Liverpool managed the second half professionally against a spirited Ipswich side backed by a vocal home crowd. Kieran McKenna’s men pushed for a way back into the game but were kept at arm’s length by a more disciplined Liverpool defensive display.
The victory will ease the pressure on Iraola and shift focus onto Isak, whose double takes him off the mark in a Liverpool shirt in emphatic fashion and offers a glimpse of the firepower that could define the Reds’ season.
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