Isak scores on Anfield debut but Iraola still waits for first Liverpool win
Alexander Isak marked his Anfield debut with a goal, but Liverpool could not find a winner as Nottingham Forest held them to a 2-2 draw on Saturday, 29 August 2026 — Andoni Iraola's first home match as manager ending in a second consecutive 2-2 (Al Jazeera).
Forest struck first through Dan Ndoye, and when Alexander Isak levelled, Morgan Gibbs-White restored the visitors' lead from the penalty spot. Victor Munoz grabbed Liverpool's second equaliser, but there was no third. Iraola is still waiting for his first win as Reds boss (US News; Liverpool FC).
Two games in, Liverpool have not been ahead for a single minute of the Premier League season. Both matches finished 2-2. Against Newcastle they had 60% of the ball; against Forest, 70% (BBC Sport). The pattern will trouble Iraola, whose Bournemouth side last season won just four of 19 Premier League games in which they held the majority of possession — and won nine of the other 19. Bournemouth failed to win a single match in which they had more than 58.8% possession (BBC Sport).
Isak arrived from Newcastle for a British record fee, signing a reported six-year contract (Premier League). He scored 52 goals in all competitions during his time on Tyneside. The 26-year-old from Solna, Sweden, began his career at AIK, breaking through in 2015 (Premier League). Liverpool fans debated whether the reported £125m deal was a statement of intent or an overpriced fee (BBC Sport).
Against Forest, Isak looked sharper than he had in the Newcastle game. His record against Forest is formidable: six goals and two assists in four Premier League appearances (Liverpool FC). He scored Liverpool's first equaliser, prodding home when Forest failed to clear (US News). After the match, Isak said he does not set targets for the season and takes each game at a time (BBC Sport).
Iraola was hand-picked by sporting directors Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes as their first choice to replace Arne Slot, according to fan discussion collected by BBC Sport (BBC Sport). Pre-season plans included a Spanish fitness specialist trusted by Iraola to ensure the squad was physically ready (BBC Sport).
Two points from six, two draws, and a team that dominates the ball but keeps conceding first. Anfield has seen slower starts. It has also seen quicker ones.
