Liverpool vs Ipswich Town

Liverpool’s Premier League title pursuit continues at Anfield against hot relegation candidates Ipswich Town.

Arne Slot became only the second manager in Champions League history to win their first seven games in charge of a club as Liverpool saw off 10-man Lille 2-1 at Anfield to lock down automatic last-16 qualification. Moreover, Slot pieced together the longest unbeaten top-flight streak in their first season in Liverpool’s dugout since 1893/94 with a 2-0 win at Brentford last weekend, taking the Reds’ intimidating streak without defeat to 17 matches (W12, D5). In doing so, Liverpool re-established a six-point lead on second-placed Arsenal. With a game in hand, the Merseyside giants are in pole position to win their second title in the Premier League era. Ipswich’s upcoming visit bodes well, with Liverpool seeking an 11th consecutive home league triumph against newly promoted clubs.

Despite bidding to avenge a 2-0 defeat in August’s reverse fixture amid a decent three-game away league form (W1, D1, L1), Ipswich’s morale took a hit last weekend as Manchester City trounced them 6-0 at Portman Road. Back-to-back multi-goal margin defeats ‘to nil’ have hindered Ipswich’s effort to climb out of the bottom three, though only goal difference separates them from 17th-placed Wolverhampton. On the bright side, the majority of the Tractor Boys’ Premier League points this season came on the road (9/16). Furthermore, they’ve bagged 12 of their 20 league goals on hostile turf. However, Anfield has never been a happy hunting ground for Ipswich, considering they’ve emerged victorious from only two of their previous 30 league visits (D8, L20).