EPL: Newcastle Thrash Ipswich 4-0 as Isak Scores Hat-Trick

Newcastle cruised to a 4-0 win over Ipswich, with Alexander Isak's hat-trick leading the charge in a dominant display.

Ipswich Town's festive period got off to a dismal start as they were comprehensively outplayed by Newcastle, succumbing to a 4-0 defeat at Portman Road. The tone for the match was set in the opening seconds, as Ipswich conceded just 26 seconds into the game, despite having kicked off themselves.

The hosts' performance only deteriorated from there, with Newcastle dominating proceedings and Alexander Isak helping himself to a hat-trick. The defeat marked Ipswich's heaviest loss of the season, and the team's struggles are unlikely to abate anytime soon.

Ipswich's upcoming fixtures offer little respite, with a daunting trip to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal on December 27 looming large. To compound matters, captain Sam Morsy will be suspended for the match. The team will then return to Portman Road to host Chelsea on December 30, in what promises to be another stern test for Kieran McKenna's side.

Following the early concession, Ipswich struggled to regain momentum, managing only a handful of off-target shots throughout the 90 minutes. Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka was largely untested, highlighting Ipswich's inability to pose a significant threat.

The absence of suspended top scorer Liam Delap, who has netted six goals this season, was deeply felt by Ipswich. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Arijanet Muric's performance will be scrutinized, particularly for his role in Newcastle's third goal, which was scored on the cusp of halftime and effectively sealed the outcome.

Ipswich's return to the top tier, following back-to-back promotions under Kieran McKenna's leadership, has brought heightened expectations from the fans. While setbacks like this were inevitable, the manner of the defeat will be particularly galling. Ipswich must quickly learn from this painful experience and regroup to face the challenges ahead.