Liverpool vs. Ipswich: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

It's hard to see anything other than a Liverpool win here. The Reds have lost only one game at Anfield in all competitions this season, winning eight of their last ten, while Ipswich have won only two of their last ten league games on the road.

Over 2.5 goals have been scored in all of Liverpool's last three games in the league and two of Ipswich's last three, so we think this one could see a few goals, most of which are likely to come the way of the home side.

Given this game pits the league's highest scorers and strongest defence against the league's third-lowest scorers and fourth-leakiest defence, we expect this one to be a fairly one-sided encounter. Liverpool 3-0 Ipswich.

Two sides at opposite ends of the Premier League table lock horns this weekend as Liverpool face off against Ipswich Town.

• Date: 25/01/2025
• Kick-off time: 15:00
• Location: Anfield, Liverpool

Liverpool are currently top of the Premier League table with 50 points from 21 games. The Reds are cruising in the league as things stand, with Arne Slot's men six points clear of Arsenal with a game in hand. Better yet, all of the sides below Liverpool are struggling for consistency and are extremely hit-and-miss, so it's looking less and less likely that anyone is going to be able to mount a serious challenge to the Reds - absent of a total Liverpool collapse.

Having scored 50 goals in the league, Liverpool are the leading scorers, and with just 20 goals conceded, they're also the tightest defence. By most metrics, Liverpool have been the standout team this season and are fully deserving of their place at the summit of the league table.

Liverpool's season is being somewhat marred by the contract uncertainty surrounding Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. Arguably Liverpool's three best players, the trio are all out of contract at the end of this season, and the club are seemingly finding it difficult to tie the three of them down to new deals. Losing any of the three players would be a big blow, but if Liverpool were to lose all three, which is perfectly possible, they'd immediately have to embark upon a major rebuild.

There is a small chance that these off-pitch situations will affect the club's form in the second half of the season. Whether that would be enough to derail their Premier League title charge remains to be seen, but at this stage, it's probably the most likely way that Liverpool would fail to win the title - without being particularly likely at all.

A home game against a relegation-threatened Ipswich side should be easy money for Liverpool, as they take another step towards a second Premier League crown.

Ipswich Town are currently 18th in the Premier League with 16 points from 22 games. The Tractor Boys are finding life in the top tier tough as they fight to consolidate their place in the league. Ipswich are level on points with Wolves in 17th, so they'll feel as though they've got every chance of survival. Despite a few poor results, Kieran McKenna's side have been the most impressive of the three newly promoted sides, and in the likes of Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson, they probably have the most match-winning quality at this level.

Ipswich do need to improve going forward, though, having scored only 20 goals in the league this season. Having also conceded 43 times, their goal difference of -23 is the third worst in the league, which is a very concerning metric from their perspective.

Ipswich have picked up some impressive wins this season, but they have struggled to put together a run of good results despite delivering runs of consistently good performances. After a hammering at the hands of Manchester City last weekend, they're probably heading for another defeat here. As long as they avoid another battering, though, the damage to their season shouldn't be too impactful.

This game will not be televised live in the UK, but full radio coverage will be provided by BBC Radio Merseyside.

Liverpool Team News:

Curtis Jones is a major doubt for Liverpool after coming off at half-time with an injury in the Champions League game against Lille in midweek, so a midfield three of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai is likely.

Also in the sidelines are Joe Gomez and Diogo Jota, neither of whom are likely to be back in time for this one.

Predicted lineup: Allison; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Díaz.

Ipswich Team News:

Ipswich are likely to be without Chiedozie Ogbene, Sammie Szmodics and Conor Chaplin, with the trio all sidelined by injury.

Changes are likely after the defeat to Manchester City last weekend, with new signing Jaden Philogene potentially in line to make his first start for the club.

Predicted lineup: Walton; Johnson, O'Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis; Hutchinson, Morsy, Cajuste, Philogene; Delap.

Liverpool:

Liverpool are coming into this game in good form, with three wins, one draw and one defeat from their last five games. Most recently, the Reds beat Lille 2-1 in the Champions League, with goals from Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott getting the job done.

Before that, Liverpool claimed a hard-fought 2-0 win over Brentford, with a stoppage-time brace from Darwin Núñez proving the difference between the two sides.

That result followed a 1-1 draw away at Nottingham Forest, where Diogo Jota scored the goal, a 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup, courtesy of Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jayden Danns and Federico Chiesa, and a 1-0 loss away at Tottenham.

Ipswich:

Ipswich enter this game with two wins, one draw and two losses from their last five games, The Tractor Boys were on the wrong end of a thumping last time out, where Manchester City hammered them 6-0 at Portman Road in what was a pretty abject performance.

Prior to that, Ipswich lost 0-2 to Brighton after beating Bristol Rovers 3-0 in the FA Cup, thanks to Kalvin Phillips, Jack Clarke and Jack Taylor, which was preceded by a 2-2 draw away at Ipswich Town - where Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap scored the goals - and a 2-0 win over Chelsea, courtesy of Delap and Omari Hutchinson.

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