Ipswich welcome Liverpool to Portman Road on Friday night for their third Premier League match since returning to the top flight. Gary O’Neil’s side have taken three points from their opening two games, beating Sunderland before suffering a 5-2 defeat at Manchester United.
Liverpool are still looking for their first league win under Andoni Iraola. The Reds have drawn 2-2 with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, showing plenty of attacking quality but also struggling to control games and keep clean sheets.
The Tractor Boys strong home record demands respect, but Liverpool have the forwards to punish the spaces around the home wing-backs. Bradley Barcola’s arrival gives Iraola another quick, direct option, although the new signing may initially be used from the bench.
Our prediction is 1-3, with Liverpool -1 Asian Handicap at odds of 2.10 our best bet.
Quick Prediction
Best Bet: Liverpool -1 Asian Handicap
Market: Asian Handicap
Correct Score Prediction: Ipswich 1-3 Liverpool
Odds: 2.10
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Expected Goals: Over 2.5 Goals
Both Teams To Score: Yes
📅 Date: 4 September 2026
🏟️ Venue: Portman Road
🏆 Competition: Premier League
Match Preview
Ipswich made an encouraging start to their Premier League return with a 2-1 home win over Sunderland. Julio Enciso created the opening goal for Emersonn, while Jack Clarke struck the late winner after Ipswich again capitalised on a mistake. O’Neil’s team were organised without the ball and quick to attack when possession changed hands.
The same 3-4-2-1 shape was used at Old Trafford, where Ipswich started well and took the lead through Leif Davis following good work by Abdul Fatawu. The match changed once Manchester United equalised, however, and Ipswich conceded five times between the 40th and 82nd minutes. Three of those goals arrived during a damaging 12-minute spell in the second half.
That collapse showed the challenge facing a newly promoted team against opponents with greater attacking depth. Dara O’Shea, Issa Diop and Jacob Greaves form the back three, with Davis and Fatawu asked to cover plenty of ground as wing-backs. They can cause Liverpool problems going forward, but leaving space behind them could be costly against Cody Gakpo, Victor Munoz and possibly Barcola.
There is still plenty to like about Ipswich at Portman Road. They are unbeaten in their last five competitive home matches, winning four, and all five produced over 2.5 goals. Enciso gives them creativity between the lines, while Marcelino Núñez has already scored twice this season. Daizen Maeda’s movement and Chuba Akpom’s ability to make an impact from the bench also give O’Neil options.
Liverpool’s opening results have been frustrating rather than disastrous. They recovered from behind to draw at Newcastle, with Dominik Szoboszlai scoring a 99th-minute equaliser, and responded twice after falling behind against Nottingham Forest. Alexander Isak and Munoz scored in the second half of that 2-2 draw at Anfield.
Iraola was unhappy with Liverpool’s passive first half against Forest, particularly their pressing and control of the spaces between midfield and defence. The improvement after the break was clear. Liverpool played faster, competed more aggressively for loose balls and regularly moved Florian Wirtz into dangerous central areas.
The visitors’ attacking setup should become increasingly difficult to contain. Isak leads the line, Gakpo can attack from either wing and Wirtz links midfield with the front three. Alexis Mac Allister and Szoboszlai offer passing quality and energy behind him, while Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez push forward from full-back. Barcola adds another one-against-one threat following his move from Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool have conceded twice in both league matches, so Ipswich should get chances. The bigger question is whether O’Neil’s team can stay in the contest if Liverpool increase the pace after half-time. Their response at Old Trafford suggests that could be difficult.
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Why Liverpool -1 Asian Handicap Makes Sense
Liverpool are the better team, but backing them in the straight match-winner market would offer less appeal. At 2.10, the Liverpool -1 Asian Handicap gives us a stronger price while still offering some protection if the Reds win narrowly.
The settlement is simple: a Liverpool victory by two or more goals gives us a full win, while a one-goal victory returns the stake. The bet loses if Ipswich draw or win. Our 1-3 correct-score prediction would therefore land the handicap comfortably.
Ipswich’s system could play into Liverpool’s hands. Davis and Fatawu are important to the home attack, but their forward runs can leave space on either side of the back three. Liverpool have the pace to attack those areas, especially if Gakpo and Munoz switch flanks as they did against Forest. Frimpong can also combine with the right-sided attacker to overload Davis.
The visitors should also benefit from Ipswich’s willingness to play through midfield. Liverpool want to press high under Iraola, and a loose pass from Núñez or Saša Lukić could quickly bring Wirtz and Isak into the game. Ipswich conceded after losing control of possession at Old Trafford and struggled once United began attacking in waves.
Barcola is another factor. A start would give Liverpool more speed and direct running from the first whistle, but even a place on the bench would leave Iraola with a dangerous option against tiring defenders. That matters when backing a team to win by more than one goal.
The main risk is Liverpool’s defending. They have conceded four goals in two league games, started both matches slowly and have not kept a clean sheet in their last 10 competitive away fixtures. Ipswich are also in excellent home form. Even so, Liverpool’s attacking options make the 2.10 worth taking, particularly with a one-goal win resulting in a refund rather than a losing bet.
- ✓Ipswich are unbeaten in their last five competitive home matches
- ✓All five of Ipswich’s latest home matches produced over 2.5 goals
- ✓Both teams scored in four of Ipswich’s last five home matches
- ✓Liverpool’s first two league matches both finished 2-2
- ✓Liverpool are winless in their last five competitive matches
- ✓Liverpool have no clean sheet in their last 10 competitive away matches
- ✓Liverpool scored 17 and conceded 17 across their last 10 competitive games
Team News
Ipswich are waiting on Emersonn after the forward jarred his knee at Manchester United. If he cannot start, Akpom is a familiar replacement after scoring from the bench at Old Trafford. Deadline signing Zian Flemming is also pushing for involvement and arrives after scoring three times in his first four matches of the season.
Exequiel Palacios made his Ipswich debut from the bench in Manchester and could challenge Lukić or Núñez for a midfield place. Florentino Luís has been recovering from a calf injury, while Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor have remained sidelined following surgery. Jaden Philogene has also been dealing with an ankle problem.
Liverpool could include Bradley Barcola for the first time after he joined training following his move from PSG. A place on the bench may be more likely given the timing of his arrival, with Gakpo, Munoz and Isak all contributing during the opening two league games.
Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley remain long-term absentees. Joe Gomez, Giovanni Leoni and Federico Chiesa have also been unavailable, reducing Iraola’s defensive and wide options. Ronald Araujo is fit and could replace Jeremy Jacquet or offer cover at right-back. Neither team has a confirmed suspension.
Possible Starting Lineups
Ipswich Possible XI
Kjell Scherpen; Dara O’Shea; Issa Diop; Jacob Greaves; Abdul Fatawu; Saša Lukić; Marcelino Núñez; Leif Davis; Julio Enciso; Daizen Maeda; Chuba Akpom
Liverpool Possible XI
Alisson Becker; Jeremie Frimpong; Jeremy Jacquet; Virgil van Dijk; Milos Kerkez; Alexis Mac Allister; Dominik Szoboszlai; Victor Munoz; Florian Wirtz; Cody Gakpo; Alexander Isak
Players to Watch
Julio Enciso — Ipswich
Enciso is Ipswich’s main link between midfield and attack. His pressing created their opening goal against Sunderland, and his ability to carry the ball through central areas will be important if Liverpool leave gaps behind their midfield.
Leif Davis — Ipswich
Davis scored at Old Trafford and remains one of Ipswich’s biggest attacking threats from wing-back. His deliveries can trouble Liverpool, but he also faces a demanding defensive task against Frimpong and Liverpool’s right-sided forward.
Alexander Isak — Liverpool
Isak opened his league account against Nottingham Forest with a sharp back-post finish. His movement should test Ipswich’s back three, particularly when Wirtz receives the ball between the lines and has time to look forward.
Bradley Barcola — Liverpool
Barcola can play across the front line and gives Iraola another player who can beat defenders at speed. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, his direct running could be especially dangerous during the final half-hour.
Head-to-Head
There is little reason to lean heavily on older meetings for this prediction. Ipswich have changed manager and rebuilt their squad since promotion, while Liverpool also have a new coach and several different starters. Current form and the tactical matchup at Portman Road carry more weight.
Final Verdict
Ipswich’s home record and Liverpool’s defensive problems make the away win far from automatic. O’Neil’s side have scored in every competitive match this season and should threaten through Enciso, Davis and their quick attacks from wide areas.
Liverpool should still create the better chances. Wirtz can find space around Ipswich’s midfield pair, Isak’s movement will stretch the back three and Iraola has several quick wide players who can attack the gaps behind the wing-backs. If Liverpool press with the intensity shown in the second half against Forest, they can force Ipswich into the type of errors that changed the game at Old Trafford.
A slow start from the Reds is the main concern, but the Asian handicap limits the damage of a narrow victory because a one-goal win returns the stake. At 2.10, Liverpool -1 looks preferable to a short-priced straight win. I expect Ipswich to score, but Liverpool’s depth should tell as the match opens up, leading to a 1-3 away victory.
FreeOddsTips Prediction
Liverpool need to improve defensively, but their attacking options should be too strong once the game begins to stretch. The -1 Asian Handicap remains attractive because a narrow away win results in a refund, while a two-goal Liverpool victory lands the bet in full.
Best Bet: Liverpool -1 Asian Handicap
Odds: 2.10
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Correct Score: Ipswich 1-3 Liverpool
