Liverpool 4-1 Ipswich: Match report & 3 talking points as Reds keep title charge on track | OneFootball

Liverpool kept their push for Premier League glory on track with a 4-1 thrashing of Ipswich Town at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

A Cody Gakpo brace and goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah saw the Reds cruise to a victory that keeps their lead at the summit at six points.

As for Ipswich, who netted a late consolation through Jacob Greaves, they remain mired in the relegation zone having conceded ten goals in their last two games.

Liverpool signalled their intentions inside the first 50 seconds as Gakpo cut inside to send a rasping effort just over the bar from just outside the area.

And it took just a further ten minutes for the Reds to carve out a lead, Szoboszlai receiving the ball at the edge of the box and throwing a dummy before arrowing a left-footed effort into the bottom corner.

Ipswich were given brief respite from the relentless pressure when a break in play was required for Wes Burns to receive treatment on a knee injury that ultimately forced him off on a stretcher.

But Liverpool quickly picked up where they left off, with Gakpo sending in a cross to the back stick, where Salah controlled brilliantly before firing into the roof of the net.

The game was all but wrapped up before half-time when Szoboszlai's first-time effort from a threaded pass was parried by Christian Walton into the path of Gakpo, who simply tapped in from close range.

Kieran McKenna attempted to change the flow of the game in moving from a back four to a back five at the break, but that switch only resulted in Ipswich being camped inside their own box and offering little on the break. As such, it was no surprise to see Liverpool extend their advantage, Gakpo heading home a delicious Trent Alexander-Arnold cross from the right-hand side.

Ipswich's woes were almost added to by Alexander-Arnold, but he could only strike the bar with an effort from just inside the box in the final 15 minutes.

The visitors ended up with a goal of their own to celebrate, Greaves diverting a Julio Enciso corner in at the back post much to the delight of the travelling fans.

Mohamed Salah banishes January slump talk

Mohamed Salah (left) scored for the second time this week / PAUL ELLIS/GettyImages

There is a popular theory regularly espoused on social media that Mohamed Salah is never quite the same player in the second half of a season. Those who subscribe to this half-baked idea were given plenty of ammo by a rare three-game goalless run for the Egyptian prior to this week.

Unfortunately, Salah has since made a mockery of any such suggestion, putting Lille to the sword in midweek and then scoring in truly brilliant fashion in this one. That is bad news for Premier League defences who thought they might get an easier ride between now and May.

Liverpool's midfield dominates

Dominik Szoboszlai (centre) was impressive on Saturday / Gareth Copley/GettyImages

Arne Slot has not had the chance to do much business since being appointed as Liverpool manager, but he is truly reaping the benefits of his predecessor's final summer transfer window at the helm.

It was then that the midfield talents of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch were brought to Anfield, and they showed here how smart a move that was. They did not just dominate Ipswich through individual brilliance, but because they are a trio whose qualities dovetail perfectly.

Should his team go on to win trophies this season, then Slot would do well to put in a call in to Jurgen Klopp to thank him for leaving the foundations for success in place.

Ipswich must move on quickly

Kieran McKenna's side were never expected to win at Anfield / PAUL ELLIS/GettyImages

It was perhaps inevitable that, across back-to-back games against Manchester City and Liverpool, Ipswich haven't had much to cheer. But that is exactly what would have been expected at the start of the season, and so these consecutive thrashings cannot be allowed to knock confidence too much.

The Tractor Boys remain in with a chance of survival, and have a game against fellow strugglers Southampton coming up that looks utterly crucial. As such, Kieran McKenna would do well to quickly pick his players up and remind them that games like this won't decide the success of the season.