Neil Atkinson’s post-match review for The Anfield Wrap after Ipswich Town 0 Liverpool 2 in the 2026-2027 Premier League at Portman Road…
When The Reds Win We All Win and suddenly there is a second-half where you can have a chat.
That has felt an age since it has been the case on the road.
In a number of ways this is the ultimate compliment of a football team – you got to the point where you just needed to keep an eye on it and could find out what everyone has been up to.
This is almost entirely because Alexander Isak kicks it in the goal twice. It is a remarkably positive thing and both goals are pleasing. His first one is pleasing because it reminds you of him doing it for Newcastle. Just getting off the shoulder, finding a square metre of space, and hammering it home.
The second though is your Liverpool goal. He wants it and it doesn’t come and then it does through a gorgeous ball from Cody Gakpo and the movement and poise is exceptional. The world swirls around him but there he is in the eye of the storm and then that goes in there and then it’s over.
It’s over. Liverpool should have had a penalty when Gakpo is scythed down. Liverpool are the likelier scorers from the second until the break but, ultimately, it is over.
That it is over is because a lot of other players play reasonably well and are reasonably big. Ronald Araujo is big. And the bigness helps massively. Ipswich Town planned to get in at our backpost but suddenly that became a whole lot harder. Had Liverpool – had Isak – not scored two in the first ten minutes then perhaps you want more from the right-back but the way the world worked was that Liverpool had scored the goals and having a centre-back at right-back suddenly feels great.
Everywhere suddenly matters were virtuous. Alexis Mac Allister looked the most himself he has been able to in a while. Victor Munoz helped push a flank back because of the threat. And Cody Gakpo was splendid in everything he did, tucked in and alternating in and out of the second striker position. It didn’t work for him up front when it came because it just isn’t him, but put options ahead of him and he gets so much right.
First-half the shape was excellent and Liverpool benefited from it over and over. The manager had a good day against Nottingham Forest but has clearly had a good week before this one. He has some time before Atletico Madrid and if The Reds make a similar leap forward we could well be in for something worth seeing.
I suspect the manager would like more from the second-half. Florian Wirtz should have been better from 65 onwards – the game opened for him. Liverpool do focus on just sailing the ship into port. That second-half is a great video though in the context of having won – all notes land better from a position of positivity. Maybe he began working on it with his team at around 80.
Because it was a second-half where you can have a chat, Ben Johnson wrote some ratings. They are below. A pleasure to have them.
When The Reds Win We All Win
Alisson – 7
He’s cool, isn’t he. Some gig really. Flinging about in his, barbecuing various cows and that, and slugging red wine, and still being the best in the world. He’s doing something right. Gets Christmas off every year as well with some red meat related gout of the hamstring. Might give it go. Didn’t have much to do except save some routine efforts. No snapped hamstring. Lovely.
Araujo – 8
When the team dropped I felt like fucking Gandalf had just come legging down the hill with his army of wizards or whatever the fuck they were to kick some little orc’s heads off. Is right lad. We were about to get twatted then down this right-wing Helms Deep. Just really like his presence and attitude. Feels much nicer having three big lads and one Frodo.
Virgil – 8
That bit when he went down holding his knee and then his head and screaming was a nice touch. Jesus fucking christ. Still the best to ever do it.
Jacquet – 7
Good again, nice and composed but got himself into mild bother a few times.
Kerkez – 7
Now I’m not one to be too harsh here with our fullbacks, and bear in mind I am writing this bit before kick-off, But, I have been listening to and am obsessed with Getdown Services who are probably the greatest band to ever live. Give them a pop and if anyone has got spares for the Manchester gig in November give me a shout. Anyway, they have got a song called James Bays Hat which I’ve just been listening to, and I don’t know, but I can’t stop to think that the lyrics remind me of someone, maybe a left-back, maybe a wally of a left-back. Let me know if it’s just me. For those not pressing play on the track as we speak, The opening line goes as follows:
‘I’m like a Gannet in an oil slick’
‘Wrong’
‘But get used to it’.
‘Skin, like Gortex’
‘Hair like four months bed rest’
There’s then a line about two rats fucking in a car park looking weird and sounding weird and that tracks as well, certainly in my head. I’ve got flashes of him eating chicken wings in comparison to that. Slop, all angles and horrible hairs jutting about.
Anyway, to the actual game. Does really well for the first. Likes to run really, really fast in straight lines. Doesn’t do much wrong which feels like some kind of break through.
Szoboszlai – 7
His pressing is really interesting in that he does loads of it but not much of it ends in him actually getting anywhere near the ball or sometimes even the fucker who has the ball. Are we happy with that? I can’t see it. Needs to learn to not dive in or at least be a bit fucking more subtle. Like a bull chasing a rabbit, any change in direction and it’s ‘Laters dickhead’. Had some shots. Obvs.
Mac Allister – 8
Just nice to have him back and in some kind of sensible shape with people around him, meaning he hasn’t got to do a 5 minute mile every time we lose the fucking ball. Got some bollocks about him and a brain which goes a long way. Much better balance in there today.
Gakpo – 8
I heard people were slagging him all last year. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. I called him every fucking donkey under the sun. Great today, like fucking King Kenny for both goals. Who wanted to sell him? Bellends.
Wirtz – 7
I think he has been broadly great for the Reds really. Involved today but not at his best. But great workrate, wins the ball back much more than you think. He will be a player for us, no bother – just a matter of time.
Munoz – 7
Really like him. His workrate, his directness. His ability to drop his shoulder and beat a man. Made a few poor decisions tonight, maybe when he could have passed, but he is sound.
Isak. – 8
So watched it in town. Ended up sharing a table with a lovely older Scouse couple. I’m saying 70-80 year range. You know, basically your nan. The only interaction we have had with them is the query as to whether they can sit at our table and then whether they were in my way of the screen. Lovely. Isak scores, we go mad, get in, our nan leans in, grabs my arm and says ‘I think he is shite’. First words. ‘He doesn’t do anything’.
Ha ha ha ha. Now if she had asked me 10 seconds earlier I would have agreed.
‘He has nothing about him either, you know, to look at’ she continues.
‘He’s no Steven Gerrard, is he? What a fella.’
Or, you know, Bruce Grobbelaar back in the day, before your time’.
Then she licked her lips.
Now, as interactions go, that is right up there with the best of my life. A sprinkling of gold dust. I don’t know about you but I’ve never ever thought about Brucie in a sexual capacity. More a goalie capacity. But when you think about it. A maverick, plucked from the obscurity of Canada, straight from the army, a Zimbabwean jungle man, good with his hands. Cheeky, a hunter and a trained killer. Good job I wasn’t flinging about in my prime in the 80’s mate, I tell yer.
Anyway, two good goals. Two great goals and looks every inch the player we thought we were buying for the first time. Tremendous.
Subs
Barcola – 7
Nice little cameo. Showed great pace and awareness. Really looking forward to him getting settled in.
Gravenberch – 7
Come on didn’t he. Not sure he should start but that’s ok. We have loads of games.
Nyoni – 7
Our best midfielder.
Subscribe for immediate post-match reaction from around the ground…
