Liverpool are aiming to extend their advantage at the Premier League summit on Saturday afternoon when they host Ipswich Town.
The Reds secured a late but much-needed victory against Brentford last weekend courtesy of Darwin Nunez’s stoppage-time brace, with Liverpool’s lead now stretched to six points after Arsenal surrendered a two-goal lead during their draw with Aston Villa. Arne Slot’s side also have a game in hand on their title rivals.
Liverpool followed their trip to the capital by welcoming Lille to Anfield in the Champions League. Despite a second-half scare against the French outfit, Harvey Elliott’s deflected strike maintained the Reds’ perfect record in the league phase of the competition as they secured automatic progression to the last 16.
Ipswich were Slot’s first competitive opponents as Liverpool manager when the sides duelled on the opening day of the season, with the Tractor Boys succumbing to a 2-0 defeat. Such results have been far too common for the Suffolk side, who currently sit in 18th after their 6-0 humbling at the hands of Manchester City last weekend.
Liverpool didn’t come through the victory over Lille unscathed despite being able to rest and rotate on Tuesday evening. Curtis Jones only lasted the first half and was withdrawn due to injury, with Slot confirming that the midfielder will miss the weekend’s clash.
Slot is still without Portuguese sharpshooter Diogo Jota for Ipswich’s visit, with the injury-prone forward back on the sidelines. The Dutch coach has revealed that Liverpool’s No.20 is likely to miss “weeks rather than months”.
Jota will return before his fellow treatment room resident Joe Gomez, who is absent with a hamstring injury sustained in Liverpool’s final game of 2024.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Ipswich (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diaz.
Julio Enciso signed for Ipswich on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday and could be involved in some capacity at the weekend, with fellow January recruit Jaden Philogene making his debut from the bench last Sunday.
Ipswich could use all the attacking reinforcements they can gather on Saturday with Conor Chaplin and Sammie Szmodics extremely unlikely to travel to Merseyside. Chiedozie Ogbene, who scored at Anfield for Luton Town last term, is sidelined for the rest of the campaign.
Ipswich predicted lineup vs Liverpool (5-4-1): Walton; Johnson, Godfrey, O’Shea, Burgess, Davis; Hutchinson, Morsy, Cajuste, Philogene; Delap.
