Alexander Isak is finding his rhythm at Anfield, delivering a standout performance in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Brighton on Sunday. This win marked the first Premier League success for manager Andoni Iraola since his move to Merseyside, providing a much-needed boost after a difficult start to his domestic campaign. Iraola opted for Bradley Barcola and Gakpo on the flanks despite Rio Ngumoha’s virtuoso performance in the midweek win against Villarreal.
Isak has been instrumental in the Reds’ recent turnaround, netting six times in seven league outings.
His effort against Brighton ensured he has scored in three consecutive league matches for the first time since his days with Newcastle in early 2025. Following a challenging debut season defined by his record-breaking £125 million transfer fee, the Swedish striker is finally demonstrating the value that prompted his arrival. The Sweden striker is finally beginning to repay his £125 million ($167 million) fee, after a turbulent debut season following his acrimonious move from Newcastle.
For Iraola, the victory was a significant milestone. Although he had previously enjoyed success in the Champions League and League Cup, he had struggled to secure a win in his opening three league games. The team has now rattled off four consecutive wins across all competitions, effectively recovering from a demoralizing 3-0 home loss to Manchester City, which keeps them six points behind the league leaders.
The match against Brighton saw Liverpool capitalize on their momentum following an early scare. Brighton, the league’s top scorers entering the fixture, missed a golden opportunity when Yasin Ayari fired over after a defensive lapse. Liverpool responded in the 17th minute when Ronald Araujo’s surge forward led to a powerful strike from Florian Wirtz, which deflected off Pascal Gross for an own goal. Who fired wastefully over with the goal at his mercy, brighton should have taken an early lead when Diego Gomez’s pass caught out Virgil van Dijk and Gross crossed to Yasin Ayari. Rampant Reds: Liverpool took full advantage of that escape to open the scoring in the 17th minute. He was denied a fourth by Lewis Dunk’s last-ditch block after the Sweden striker took aim from Wirtz’s pass.
Just four minutes later, Isak doubled the advantage. Alisson Becker launched a long ball to Bradley Barcola, whose precise cross set up the striker for a clinical finish. While Brighton pushed to get back into the contest, Liverpool remained composed, with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen forced into a series of saves to prevent a more lopsided result. Liverpool kept pushing and Araujo’s blast forced a superb save from Verbruggen just before half-time.
Meanwhile, at Old Trafford, the atmosphere turned toxic for Manchester United manager Michael Carrick. A comprehensive 3-0 loss to Bournemouth, featuring goals from Rayan, Marcus Tavernier, and Evanilson, has left the club sitting in 16th place—only one point above the relegation zone. This result marks eight winless games in the league for United.
Carrick’s decision to bench captain Bruno Fernandes became a major talking point after the game. The United boss maintained the choice was purely tactical, despite Fernandes previously criticizing the team’s setup following a 4-1 loss to Como. The captain remained sidelined for the entire duration of the match, fueling speculation regarding his standing at the club. Fernandes was critical of Carrick’s tactics in a 4-1 thrashing by Champions League debutants Como on Wednesday.
As Bournemouth fans taunted Carrick with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning,” the manager faced further scrutiny regarding his ability to lead the squad. The defeat—the third time in four seasons United have lost 3-0 to the Cherries at home—underscores the deep-seated issues at the club, which has struggled to maintain its status since the departure of Alex Ferguson thirteen years ago. Dismissing another manager is far from a quick fix for a club that has fallen dramatically from grace since Alex Ferguson’s retirement 13 years ago, but on this evidence.
