Ipswich Town host Liverpool at Portman Road with both sides looking to improve defensively after an open start to the Premier League season. Gary O'Neil's side have three points from their opening two matches, while Liverpool are still searching for their first league victory under Andoni Iraola following consecutive draws.
Ipswich began with a 2-1 home win over Sunderland, secured by Jack Clarke's late finish against his former club. O'Neil praised his players for continuing to pursue victory after Sunderland equalised, highlighting the fitness and work rate behind their late pressure.
Their subsequent 5-2 defeat at Manchester United requires more context than the scoreline provides. Ipswich were in control during the first half and missed good opportunities to strengthen their position after Leif Davis put them ahead.
Marcelino Nunez's slip during an Ipswich corner allowed United to break and equalise before half-time. The hosts then took the lead through a controversial Jacob Greaves own goal after the ball struck Harry Maguire's hands in the build-up.
Those incidents changed the game before Ipswich's defending deteriorated. United eventually produced 33 shots and nine big chances, but the visitors' earlier control and missed opportunities deserve recognition when assessing their performance.
Liverpool have twice needed late equalisers to avoid defeat. Dominik Szoboszlai converted a stoppage-time penalty in their 2-2 draw at Newcastle, before Victor Munoz rescued another point against Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
Forest led twice and repeatedly threatened through direct passes and quick attacks. Liverpool held 69% possession but allowed five big chances and 2.41 xGA, showing how little their control of the ball translated into defensive security.
Ipswich are expected to introduce Exequiel Palacios alongside Sasa Lukic in midfield, replacing Nunez. Zian Flemming is also expected to lead the attack after completing his £20m move from Burnley.
Emersonn is doubtful after being replaced at half-time at Old Trafford. Azor Matusiwa has a muscle injury, Florentino is doubtful and Jaden Philogene-Bidace has an ankle problem.
Liverpool have completed the signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris St-Germain in a deal worth an initial £106m, rising to £123m with add-ons. The France forward is available for this fixture and is expected to start on the bench.
Their injury concerns include Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Joseph Gomez and Federico Chiesa. Hugo Ekitike remains a longer-term absentee with an Achilles injury.
How the bookies view it
Ipswich are 23/5, implying a 17.9% chance of winning. The draw is 15/4, representing 21.1%, while Liverpool are favourites at 4/7, carrying an implied probability of 63.6%.
Over 2.5 goals is available at 1/2, implying 66.7%. Both teams to score is 8/13, equivalent to 61.9%.
Head to head: Liverpool undefeated in last in last 26 years
Liverpool won both Premier League meetings during the 2024/25 season, recording a 2-0 victory at Portman Road before winning 4-1 at Anfield.
Across their recent head-to-head history, Ipswich's last victory was a 1-0 win at Anfield in December 2000. The following league meeting finished 1-1 at Portman Road.
Only one of the two most recent encounters featured both teams to score and over 2.5 goals. Current performances provide stronger support for the combined selection than those previous meetings.
Player to watch: Julio Enciso work rate and threat to cause issues for visitors
Julio Enciso has supplied an assist in both of Ipswich's opening league matches. He intercepted possession and carried the ball forward to create Emersonn's opener against Sunderland, then set up Chuba Akpom's late goal at Old Trafford.
His willingness to shoot adds another threat from the central attacking midfield position. Against Sunderland, Enciso registered 0.23 xG alongside 0.31 xA in 71 minutes, contributing through his own attempts as well as his passing.
O'Neil also praised his defensive work in disrupting Granit Xhaka. Recovering possession high up the pitch offers Enciso opportunities to attack before Liverpool's defence is organised, with Flemming providing a new option ahead of him.
Predicted lineups
Ipswich, 4-2-3-1: Scherpen, O'Shea, Diop, Greaves, Davis, Palacios, Lukic, Fatawu, Enciso, Maeda, Flemming.
Liverpool, 4-2-3-1: Alisson, Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Munoz, Wirtz, Gakpo, Isak.
Anything else catch the eye
Both teams have scored twice in each of their opening league matches. All four games have featured both teams to score and over 2.5 goals, producing 18 goals in total.
Ipswich's attacking performances support their contribution to this selection. Against Sunderland, they generated 1.43 xG and created two big chances despite having 38% possession. At Old Trafford, Abdul Fatawu's work on the right created the opening goal, demonstrating another route to threatening stronger opposition.
Flemming strengthens those options. He scored 11 league goals for Burnley last season and three in four league appearances this campaign. His recent top-flight experience gives Ipswich a forward familiar with the demands of facing Premier League defenders.
There is still a distinction between Ipswich's results and their chance quality. Four goals from 2.31 xG represents efficient finishing, so their scoring return alone is not enough to establish a sustained attacking trend.
Liverpool's defensive performances provide the additional support. Across two matches, they have conceded four goals and allowed eight big chances. Opponents have found openings through quick transitions and passes behind the defence, areas Ipswich have already shown an ability to exploit.
The visitors' attacking numbers are stronger. Liverpool generated 3.64 xG from 27 shots at Newcastle, including 16 attempts inside the box. Even after removing their penalty, their 2.85 non-penalty xG shows the extent of their chance creation.
Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz should test an Ipswich side averaging 2.67 xGA. Barcola's expected presence among the substitutes also gives Iraola another attacking option if Liverpool need a goal later in the match.
Backing goals avoids needing Liverpool to convert their attacking advantage into a first victory. Ipswich have offered more going forward than their latest result suggests, while neither side has established consistent defensive control.
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