Liverpool will host Ipswich at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, looking to continue their title charge and extending their unbeaten run.
Liverpool are coming into this game vs Ipswich Town on the back of an impressive win over Brentford in their last Premier League game. The Reds will be hoping to extend their lead at the top of the table with a victory here. Arne Slot’s men also extended their winning run by getting past LOSC Lille in the UEFA Champions League earlier this week.
Meanwhile, Ipswich Town are coming into this game on the back of four defeats from their last six Premier League games. The Tractor Boys will be the underdogs here, and it remains to be seen whether they can pull off an upset. Ipswich are 18th in the Premier League standings, and they will hope to beat the drop of this season.
Kieran McKenna’s men need to start picking up points if they want to preserve their status as a top-flight club next season. Liverpool have been difficult to beat in the Premier League, and they will be the favourites here. It will be interesting to see if they can grind out all three points. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the upcoming meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Liverpool will be without Joe Gomez due to a thigh injury. Diogo Jota is likely to miss out as well as he battles to recover from his recent fitness issue. The Reds are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Alisson Becker in goal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Ibrahima Konate will start alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will add defensive cover and control to the side from the deep. Dominik Szoboszlai will start as the attacking midfielder, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates.
Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will add creativity and goals from the flanks, with Darwin Nunez leading the line for Liverpool vs Ipswich Town on Saturday. So, Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa will be backup offensive options on the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez
Ipswich Town
Kieran McKenna will be without Sammie Szomodics due to an ankle injury when he takes his squad to Anfield on Saturday. Meanwhile, Chiedozie Ogbene misses out with a calf injury, and Conor Chaplin has a knee issue.
The away side will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Arijanet Muric in goal. Ben Johnson and Leif Davis will start as the full-backs here, and they will look to keep things compact defensively and hit Liverpool on the break. Luke Woolfenden and Dara O’Shea will form the central defensive pairing.
As for the midifeld unit, Samy Morsy and Jens Cajuste will start in the double pivot, and they will look to win the ball back for their side and break up opposition attacks. Nathan Broadhead and Jack Clarke will add pace and flair from the flanks.
Wes Burns will start in the attacking midfield role, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates, with Liam Delap spearheading the Ipswich Town attack vs Liverpool on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Muric; Johnson, Woolfenden, O’Shea, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Broadhead, Burns, Clarke; Delap
Key Stats
- Liverpool have scored at least two goals in 13 of their last 14 matches in the Premier League.
- Liverpool are undefeated in their last 17 matches in the Premier League.
- Ipswich Town have conceded at least two goals in their last three matches in the Premier League.
- 18 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two sides.
- Liverpool are unbeaten in five of their last six matches vs Ipswich Town.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian has been in phenomenal form, even though his levels have dropped slightly in recent weeks, and he will look to influence the game in the final third with his goalscoring ability and creativity.
Ipswich Town have been quite vulnerable defensively, and they will struggle to contain the Egyptian international. The Liverpool talisman will look to get on the score sheet and create opportunities for his teammates as well.
Prediction
Liverpool 3-1 Ipswich Town
Liverpool will be the firm favourites to grind out a victory here, and they should be able to come out on top. The Reds are the better team, and they will be full of confidence after a couple of impressive performances against Brentford and Lille.
On the other hand, Ipswich Town are lacking in form and confidence right now, and they have been quite vulnerable defensively. The visitors are likely to come up short here and crash to yet another defeat. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Arne Slot and his charges.
