The £125m man is finding his rhythm

Alexander Isak's first season at Liverpool was supposed to be the beginning of something special. Instead, a serious injury reduced it to a frustrating footnote, three Premier League goals from a man signed for a record £125m. But three matches into the new campaign and he's already matched that total, his brace in Friday's 2-0 victory at Ipswich Town lifting him to joint-top of the Premier League scoring charts. Nobody at Liverpool will be surprised if he stays there for some time.

Facing Ipswich has clearly brought the best out of him. The source material notes he had scored four times in his previous two meetings against the Tractor Boys before Friday, including a hat-trick at Portman Road. Only a marginal offside call denied him a second Suffolk treble on the night. Add to that his seventh career goal against Nottingham Forest last weekend, more than he has managed against any other opponent, and a picture is forming of a striker who is very much hitting his stride.

Virgil van Dijk, speaking at Portman Road after the final whistle, was in no doubt about what his teammate has been through and where he is headed. "I think he had a terrible injury," the Dutchman said. "Anyone would take loads of time in order to come back from it, and that was very unfortunate. So I think he worked so hard behind the scenes. We know there's obviously pressure with him coming to the club for a big amount, and obviously everyone wants him to perform. I think he had a great World Cup, had a great pre-season in my opinion, and I think he had a good start of the season. So I think he's going to get only better."

Gakpo's reality is known only to those closest to him

While Isak took the headlines with his double, Cody Gakpo's two assists were every bit as important to the result. It makes for striking reading that a player who tops the Premier League's playmaker charts this early in the season, a goal and three assists already to his name, came within touching distance of lining up for a title rival instead.

Liverpool had been open to Gakpo departing during the summer, particularly as they pursued Bradley Barcola, and an £80m approach from Manchester City was on the table before the Reds rejected it in the final days of the transfer window. Having pushed through that turbulent period, Gakpo is now repaying that faith in emphatic fashion. But Van Dijk was keen to remind anyone inclined to judge his compatriot purely on football that there is considerably more weight on the man's shoulders than a poor run of form or a disputed transfer saga.

"I don't think anyone knows what he's been through," the Liverpool captain said. "So I don't think it's easy for the outside world to see what he's had on his plate. What the reality is, I don't think anyone needs to know that. But his reality is he's here with us and he wants to be important for us. And he showed it already over numerous games, including the last two games before tonight and today again." Those words carry particular weight given that Gakpo suffered the heartbreaking loss of his unborn son during the summer's World Cup, a grief he carried whilst representing his country on the international stage.

A good week with a big one to come

Van Dijk was measured but clearly satisfied after what has been a productive week for the club. "It's been a good week, and now we have a good weekend to look forward to the Champions League," he said, a line that will land well with supporters who are already daring to dream about what this squad might achieve on multiple fronts this season.

With Isak building real momentum and Gakpo demonstrating the kind of form that makes the rejected City bid look like an absolute steal, Liverpool's attacking options are shaping up nicely. Van Dijk's message was straightforward: this group knows what it is capable of, and the early signs suggest they are not far off showing it consistently. The Champions League awaits, and if Friday night is anything to go by, this Liverpool side are in the mood.