Disliked Liverpool striker begins to flourish under Andoni Iraola

The disliked Liverpool striker Alexander Isak finally appears to be exploding under Andoni Iraola after the Reds' 2‑0 win at Portman Road on Friday, where he netted both goals in the sixth and ninth minutes, taking his tally to three in three Premier League games. Alan Shearer Micah Richards have raved about his performance.

Early strike and quick start

Liverpool secured a 2‑0 victory over Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Friday, with Alexander Isak finding the net twice in the sixth and ninth minutes. Cody Gakpo supplied the assists for both strikes, giving the Sweden international striker a perfect start.

The early goals underscored Isak’s ability to exploit space behind the defence, a tactic that had been missing from Liverpool’s play earlier in the season.

Season trajectory and transfer background

Isak’s brace lifted his season tally to three goals in three Premier League appearances under Andoni Iraola, a stark improvement on last season when the 26‑year‑old managed three goals from 14 league outings and battled injury problems.

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The striker arrived from Newcastle United in the summer of 2025 for a reported £125 million after staging a strike to force the move, bringing his Swedish pedigree to Anfield.

Former greats applaud his resurgence

Alan Shearer Micah Richards have raved about the performance.

“Did you see what happened? I said it, didn’t I, last week? If you are going to get the best out of Isak, you have to play early balls in behind, and Liverpool haven’t been doing that. And they did it this weekend. I mean, his two goals were brilliant. Say what you want about the goalkeeper, but the way he shifted his feet, the way the pass is in behind from Gakpo, wasn’t it? Early balls, quick balls, running in behind, into his path – that’s how you will get the best out of Alexander Isak. Playing balls like that, playing balls from in, from out wide I should say. And he’s brilliant at doing that. There’s not many better, once he gets you liked up one‑v‑one, the way he shifts his feet, but you have to play those quick balls into his feet and in behind to get the best. And his finishes were superb.”

Richards added his view:

“He has come from a bad injury, hasn’t he? I think you guys (Shearer and Gary Lineker) have had injuries as well. And it takes a while to get back to your best, doesn’t it? First, you have got to deal with that, and then you have got to deal with being at a massive club where everyone expects you to do well because of what you have done at Newcastle, equally as big a club. But then if you come into a team, where the guy who’s sort of brought in as second fiddle, Ekitike, is scoring goals, and then your confidence is shot because of the transfer fee being brought for as well, then you have not had a pre‑season on top of that, he’s not superhuman. There was going to be a period in the season where he wasn’t going to be at his best. Now he has had a proper pre‑season. He did okay at the World Cup. Now you are probably going to see the real Isak. But it needs to, because he is a top‑quality player. When you are at a club like Liverpool and you are getting scrutinised every single week, he needs to step up, but I was exactly right. If you give him that service, he will score goals. I think it was just been a recovery from injury and now a confidence thing. And it looks like he has got his confidence back.”

Shearer later reflected on the striker’s reputation:

“I think also the dislike from, not just from Newcastle fans but fans in general, because of what he did and how he got out of Newcastle, I think mentally, clearly he had to deal with that. With him not playing and not training and not turning up, whatever, I think that doesn’t go well with fans, does it? So, that would have been tough for him as well. I have no sympathy for that. But when you are seeing those balls played like that, then there’s not many better than him once he gets you lined up. Remember when he got Van Dijk lined up at St. James’? That’s the balls you need to play into him because he’s brilliant at that.”