Injury Woes Shape Upcoming Liverpool-Ipswich Duel | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Crucial Clash with Ipswich: Key Players in Doubt

Liverpool Seeks to Extend Lead

Liverpool look to continue their Premier League dominance this weekend, hosting Ipswich Town at the legendary Anfield. Fresh off a victory over Brentford, the Reds aim to preserve their six-point advantage atop the league. The match, slated for a 15:00 GMT kickoff, could extend Liverpool’s remarkable 17-match unbeaten streak.

Under Arne Slot’s guidance, Liverpool has been near-invincible at home, triumphing in eight of their last ten Anfield appearances. This fixture follows closely on the heels of the midweek Champions League success, a 2-1 nail-biter against Lille.

Ipswich Town Faces Uphill Battle

Contrasting sharply with Liverpool’s stellar form, Ipswich Town enters the fray on a less positive note. Their recent 6-0 thrashing by Manchester City has left them in the relegation zone. Positioned 18th, they’ve managed only 14 points from 22 matches.

Ipswich, known colloquially as the Tractor Boys, have found little success on the road, securing just two wins in their last ten away league games. The visit to Anfield is more than a game; it’s a formidable challenge against a backdrop of recent disappointments.

Team News: Injuries and Comebacks

As both teams prepare for this pivotal match, the focus sharpens on the fitness of key players:

Liverpool’s Injury Concerns

Midfielder Curtis Jones might miss Saturday’s game after a concerning episode in the recent Champions League fixture. “There was a moment in the game where he felt [something], and he said, let’s play for five more minutes and then see how it is. But [then] he said he had to go off at half-time,” Slot shared regarding Jones’ situation.

Photo: IMAGO

Joe Gomez remains sidelined with a hamstring issue from December, with Slot noting his recovery is still “quite far” off. Meanwhile, Diogo Jota is on the mend from a muscle overload but won’t be ready until the Merseyside derby on February 12.

Ipswich’s Recovery Race

Ipswich Town hopes for a boost from Conor Chaplin, nearing return from a knee injury. “Conor is a few weeks away still,” Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna noted, indicating a possible late January comeback.

Chiedozie Ogbene, however, faces a longer absence due to an Achilles tendon surgery in December, with a return not expected until the next season. Sammie Szmodics, another key player, is recovering from a recent ankle strain but is unlikely to play against Liverpool.