Liverpool vs Ipswich predicted lineups and team news | OneFootball

Liverpool will be looking to tighten their grip on top spot in the Premier League when they face relegation-battling Ipswich Town at Anfield on Saturday.

Liverpool vs Ipswich predicted line-ups

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Luiz, Gakpo

Ipswich (5-4-1): Walton; Johnson, Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis; Hutchinson, Morsy, Cajuste, Philogene; Delap

Liverpool vs Ipswich team news

Liverpool have a few fresh injury concerns, all of which Arne Slot addressed in his latest press conference.

Curtis Jones has been ruled out of Saturday’s clash against Ipswich, having been withdrawn at half-time during their 2-1 win against Lille in the Champions League in midweek. Slot did say Jones will hopefully return to contention next week to face PSV.

Joe Gomez and Diogo Jota also remain out through injury, with their returns currently unknown. But Slot revealed he wasn’t expecting them to be out for”months”.

Ibrahima Konate was rested against Lille midweek, and is expected to return to the starting lineup against Ipswich, despite Slot confirming the defender is playing with pain and his load is being managed.

Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich will remain without Sammie Szmodics, Conor Chaplin and Chiedozie Ogbene through injury. But Axel Tuanzebe is now back and in contention to start against Liverpool.

Ipswich could also hand out debuts to new signings Jaden Philogene who joined from Aston Villa on a permanent deal and Julio Enciso who has joined on loan from Brighton. Kalvin-Phillips is also now eligible to play again, after being unable to face parent club Manchester City last week.

Salah goals need to return

Despite being the Premier League top scorer on 18 goals in 21 games, Mohamed Salah is yet to score a goal from open play in the Premier League this year. His only goal this calendar year so far came from the penalty spot against Manchester United in a 2-2 draw.

The Egyptian has also provided 13 assists this season, showing he is still having an impact even without scoring the goals. But in recent weeks Liverpool have nearly slipped up on a number of occasions. They had to come from behind to draw 1-1 with Nottingham Forest and the left it until injury time to beat Brentford thanks to Darwin Nunez’s brace.

Liverpool are currently sat six points clear at the top of the league and will want to continue winning game to extend that gap, not allowing any teams to get too close and apply the pressure. However, if Salah continues to blow cold on his league output, others will need to continue to step up and provide important goals to gain points, as Nunez and Diogo Jota have done in recent weeks.

Ipswich, meanwhile, are hunting points in order to climb out of the dreaded relegation zone, joint on 16 points with Wolves heading into gameweek 23. Top scorer Liam Delap will be key for Ipswich in this game, as they look to hit Liverpool on the break, hoping their eight-goal man can do some damage against the Reds.