Isak is making Liverpool believers out of all of us

Three goals in three matches. Alexander Isak even thought he had a hat-trick against Ipswich before the offside flag cut short his celebrations after he got on the end of Florian Wirtz's pass. There will be no complaints from the striker, though, two goals on the night and a winning start to the Andoni Iraola era is more than enough to be getting on with.

What makes it genuinely exciting is the context. Last season felt like one long frustration for Isak: a summer transfer saga that dragged on, a fitness battle that left him playing catch-up, and then a broken leg, of all the cruel endings, sustained while actually scoring a goal against Tottenham. The 26-year-old has now already matched his entire Premier League goal tally from that campaign, and we are three matches into this one. If Liverpool can keep him fit, and touch wood that they do, then the question of how you replace Mohamed Salah's goals suddenly looks a lot less daunting.

Cody Gakpo played the role of Robin on the night, setting up both goals, but Isak carrying that Batman billing is a prospect worth getting genuinely excited about. This Liverpool team can challenge for things with a fit, confident Isak leading the line. That much already feels clear.

Barcola's debut was about the reception as much as the performance

Bradley Barcola came on for the final half-hour and Liverpool were not exactly pushing for a third, so there were natural limits on what he could show. He made some smart touches, a quick one-two with Milos Kerkez before stretching his long legs to create space on the left flank stood out, and he sent a teasing ball through the penalty area that Dominik Szoboszlai really should have let run to Gakpo rather than getting involved.

In truth, the most memorable moment of Barcola's debut had nothing to do with what he did on the ball. The travelling Kop gave him a reception that will have told the Frenchman everything about what this club can offer. Supporters of a certain vintage will recognise the Maxi Rodriguez melody, set to the tune of Heartbeat by Buddy Holly, repurposed in his honour: "Bradley... Bradley Barcola runs down the wing for me!" It is a joyous little number and one that could soundtrack something special at Anfield this season, provided Barcola gives the crowd the performances to sing it at full volume.

Araujo's versatility hands Iraola a useful tactical card

The Ronald Araujo signing raised eyebrows when it came through. There is no escaping the sense that Liverpool's recruitment team were scrambling somewhat after Ibrahima Konate stayed adamant he wanted to remain at the club right up until the moment he departed for Real Madrid on the expiry of his contract. Araujo arriving on an initial loan from Barcelona felt like a left-field solution born partly out of necessity.

Three matches in, though, and the Uruguayan has featured in every one of them, starting at makeshift right-back against Ipswich. It is not entirely uncharted territory for him, he filled that role six times for Barcelona from March onwards last season, but he is a very different profile to what Iraola would usually call upon in that position. As it turned out, that difference proved useful. It gave Iraola the flexibility to shift into a back five when Liverpool were protecting their two-goal lead in the second half, with Szoboszlai dropping into a right wing-back role to see the match out. Araujo's seven clearances led the team, and with Jeremy Jacquet still adapting to elite football, having a defender of that calibre available in multiple positions is reassuring.

It is an early but telling sign that Iraola is willing to be pragmatic when the match demands it, which matters greatly given the squad still looks imbalanced in places. A long Premier League season has a habit of exposing thin squads, how Liverpool manage their resources through it will be one of the defining stories of the campaign.