Game Week 23 Predictions: Liverpool to beat Ipswich

Liverpool looks to extend their lead at the top against struggling Ipswich Town, with Salah aiming to find form in this crucial Premier League clash.

Liverpool will hope to extend their lead at the top with a win over struggling Ipswich, will Salah shine again? (Photo credit: Khel)

 Liverpool vs Ipswich Town

Anfield

4:00 pm

Liverpool has a huge chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to nine points with the visit of Ipswich Town to the Anfield Stadium on Saturday.

While Arsenal and Forest are in action at the same time, other results won’t matter to the Kops as long as they do their own business at home against a club that hasn’t won more than twice in the league this season since returning to top-flight football in the summer.

It’s the weekend that reminds us of what happened on the opening day of the season, and if there’s anything at all to learn from those fixtures, then the top four could well be identical at the end of the weekend; however, with Manchester City trading places with Chelsea.

Liverpool beat Ipswich Town 2-0 on the opening day of the current season, with the Tractor Boys stretching the game till the second half before surrendering to the firepower in the Liverpool ranks; Mohammed Salah scored one and assisted the other on the day.

Speaking of the Egyptian, he hasn’t been at his very best this year, but this is one fixture in which he can regain his scoring touch right in front of the Kops. While his contract situation rumbles on, Salah can use this occasion to remind everyone of who he is.

The Tractor Boys play good football, but to what end? It’s a little semblance of what Burnley was about last season under Vincent Kompany. Kieran McKenna watched on as his lads were pummelling by Manchester City last weekend 6-0 right in front of their own fans; they must avert such a scoreline at Anfield.

Liam Delap is the leading light at Ipswich, but he’s often isolated, and this forces him to drop deep to get involved, so who would put the ball in the net when their top striker is fighting for possession in the middle of the park?

It might be time for Ipswich to go pragmatic; they can’t continue to have a go at teams and then leave their goal unguarded. With relegation staring them in the face, they need to start picking something every other game, or it might be too late to help them.

Liverpool’s front three will be excited for this one. Arne Slot can even choose to rest players ahead of tougher fixtures, but they’re through to the round of 16 in the Champions League, and next week’s fixture is academic; you should pray for the Tractor Boys.

Verdict: Liverpool to win