9/10 duels won: New Liverpool signing shines in Ipswich Town victory
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Liverpool Beat Ipswich 2-0 as Isak and Araujo Set Tone for Iraola’s First Win
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Andoni Iraola has his first win as Liverpool head coach. It came without fuss, and largely inside the first 10 minutes.
Alexander Isak scored twice away at Ipswich on Friday night, both created by Cody Gakpo, and that was enough for a 2-0 victory. Simple on paper, deserved in practice. Liverpool were clinical early, then organised when they needed to be. That has been missing too often.
Isak will take the attention because goals decide games and centre-forwards live off moments like these. Gakpo deserves plenty of credit too. Two assists here, after teeing up the Swede against Nottingham Forest last weekend, tells its own story. Liverpool found combinations in the final third and used them ruthlessly.
Araujo justified selection at right-back
The more interesting call came in defence. Iraola changed one player from the side that faced Forest, bringing Ronald Araujo in for Jeremie Frimpong at right-back. It looked a practical decision before kick-off and an obvious one by full time.
Araujo gave Liverpool more defensive certainty. He made a vital interception to stop what looked a certain tap-in, won his duels, competed in the air and helped deliver a first clean sheet since the 2-0 win over Fulham at Anfield in April. For a team that has looked open too often, that matters. 9/10 duels won speaks volumes of his dominant display.
It was not flawless. There was a sliced clearance that handed Ipswich a corner, and a sluggish throw-in that was reversed under the new rules. Fine. Full-backs make mistakes. The point is whether they recover and whether the overall contribution lifts the side. His did.
Photo: IMAGO
Defensive control mattered as much as Isak goals
Liverpool looked steadier with Araujo there. He blocked, intercepted and read danger well late on when Ipswich tried to force a way back into the contest. He also drove forward a couple of times, carrying the ball with purpose and showing more composure than many would expect from a defender used in a wide role.
Iraola now has a selection decision
That leaves Iraola with a straightforward dilemma before Atletico Madrid visit next Wednesday in the Champions League. Does he go back to Frimpong, or does he keep the player who made Liverpool harder to play against?
On this evidence, Araujo has earned another start. Isak won the match early. Araujo helped make sure it stayed won.