Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool travel to Portman Road on Friday, chasing their first victory of the new Premier League campaign, while newly promoted Ipswich Town look to bounce back in front of their home supporters.
It's Premier League action on Friday, September 4, as the Reds aim to ignite their season against an Ipswich side looking to protect a strong run on home turf. Tractor Boys boss Gary O'Neil will be eager to reset his squad after a heavy defeat, while Liverpool will be seeking their opening win.
Team Form
Ipswich Town: Victorious in their initial home fixture while seeking consistency following a mixed opening month.
Liverpool: Winless after two rounds of top-flight action, securing back-to-back draws.
Key Stats & Head-to-Head
Ipswich have emerged victorious in six of their previous seven outings in all competitions.
Liverpool salvaged a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest after trailing twice, thanks to a late strike.
The Tractor Boys suffered a heavy 5-2 setback at Old Trafford in their most recent league outing.
Summer addition Victor Munoz registered his first goal for the Reds in his full debut last weekend.
Liverpool bolstered their squad this week by securing winger Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain for £123m.
Ipswich also beat Leicester City 3-1 in the EFL Cup at home on August 25, extending their fine recent form.
What to Expect From Both Teams
Ipswich Town | Form: WL
Gary O'Neil's side enter this contest determined to make amends following a tough afternoon away at Manchester United.
Supported by a fortress-like atmosphere at Portman Road, where they recently downed both Sunderland and Leicester, they will prove a stiff challenge for the visitors.
Preparing for another major opponent, the hosts will rely heavily on their vocal supporters to drive another resolute performance.
Liverpool | Form: DD
Andoni Iraola's squad aims to halt a brief winless run after sharing the points in their first two fixtures.
Despite key absentees such as Hugo Ekitike and Joe Gomez, the Merseyside outfit still possesses formidable talent in Virgil van Dijk and Alexander Isak.
With high-profile signing Bradley Barcola joining the forward line, taking maximum points on the road remains the top objective.
Predicted Lineups
Ipswich Town (possible):
Scherpen, O'Shea, Diop, Greaves, Davis, Nunez, Lukic, Fatawu, Enciso, Maeda, Akpom.
Liverpool (possible):
Alisson, Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Wirtz, Munoz, Isak.
Matchups & Players to Watch
Bradley Barcola: The £123m recruit from Paris Saint-Germain could feature from the bench to provide extra attacking threat.
Leif Davis: The energetic defender broke the deadlock against Manchester United and continues to supply quality going forward.
Victor Munoz: Comes into the game with confidence after netting a vital late equalizer during his debut start.
Jack Clarke: Demonstrated his composure in key moments by slotting home a 90th-minute winner against Sunderland at home.
Odds Market on MSport
Ipswich/Home to win = 5.74
Liverpool/Away to win = 1.55
Both teams to score (GG/NG Yes) = 1.59
Over 3.5 total goals = 2.16
This encounter features a fascinating contrast in momentum: a home-dominant Ipswich squad collides with a Liverpool side eager to kick-start their campaign.
With both managers seeking a statement performance to kick off September, Portman Road sets the stage for an engaging night of football.