Ipswich vs Liverpool Prediction 4 September 2026
🔊 The opening match of the Premier League's third round takes place on Friday evening, with Ipswich Town hosting Liverpool. The Merseysiders are yet to win in the new season, having drawn both of their opening fixtures 2-2, while Ipswich picked up three points against Sunderland (2-1) but paid the price for their open, attack-minded approach in the second round, suffering a heavy 5-2 defeat to Manchester United. Can the Premier League newcomers give one of the title favourites a real game?
Head-to-Head
📊 There are two previous meetings between these sides, both played in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season. Liverpool won both comfortably, 4-1 and 2-0.
Head-to-head statistics Ipswich - Liverpool
Ipswich Town Team Overview
Ipswich made a triumphant return to the Premier League, winning automatic promotion after a year away. The club has undergone a major overhaul of its structure and squad, making them one of the biggest talking points in English football at the start of the season. This summer the team was taken over by Harry O'Neil. The former Wolverhampton and Bournemouth manager arrived from French side Strasbourg, signing a three-year contract. He replaced Kieran McKenna in the role.
Unlike the dominant style of play in previous years, in the Premier League Ipswich have been relying on quick transitions from defence to attack using pace on the flanks, intense work in midfield and a well-organised defensive block, sacrificing possession in favour of counter-attacks - as was the case against top clubs, where their possession dropped to around 40%. The team are still finding their feet (nine debutants started in the opening round) and are showing bright but inconsistent football so far.
The start of the season has been uneven due to a tough fixture schedule. In the first round the team picked up three points, beating north-east visitors Sunderland at home (2-1). O'Neil's side then came through the second round of the League Cup, defeating Leicester (3-1). Their first away match of the season, however, was a painful one, with the club suffering a heavy defeat at Manchester United (2-5).
Match Results: Ipswich Town
Liverpool Team Overview
Liverpool are entering a period of major rebuilding under Ándoni Iraola. The Basque manager took charge of the Reds after a remarkable spell at Bournemouth, where he guided the club to a record sixth-place finish in the Premier League. Iraola's style is well established: high-energy, bold and extremely intense football. His tactical approach leaves no room for patient ball circulation, instead prioritising fierce counter-pressing immediately after losing possession and quick vertical attacks.
The summer transfer window has significantly changed the look of the squad. Jérémy Jacquet, Víctor Muñoz and Bradley Barcola have all joined, while Ronald Araújo has arrived on loan to strengthen the defence. At the same time, the Merseysiders have parted ways with long-serving leaders and important squad members in Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson and Curtis Jones. The situation ahead of the season's start has been further complicated by personnel losses. Injuries and poor physical condition mean the coaching staff cannot count on Joe Gomez, Hugo Ekitike or Conor Bradley.
Adapting to the extreme physical demands of the Basque manager is proving difficult for the players. The revamped Liverpool have drawn both of their Premier League matches so far. Away at Newcastle, they were rescued only by Dominik Szoboszlai's composure in converting a penalty in stoppage time. In the home game at Anfield, the Reds were on top but let victory slip: Nottingham made the most of their chances and managed to take a point.
Match Results: Liverpool
⚽ Goals Prediction
Both sides are showing bright, unbalanced football at the start of the season, with a clear lean towards attack and serious defensive problems. O'Neil's side have played two very different league matches but both featured plenty of goals. The signing of Bradley Barcola has given Liverpool more options in attack. However, Andoni Iraola's all-out vertical pressing approach has so far led to chaos at the back: Liverpool have conceded four goals in their opening two matches of the season. In their last meeting, earlier in 2025, Liverpool beat their opponents 4-1. Both teams are playing in an even more open style now, which makes a low-scoring match seem almost impossible. The prediction is Total Goals - Over 2.5, odds 1.48*.
🚩 Corners Prediction
Under Andoni Iraola, Liverpool have moved away from patient build-up play in favour of quick progression through the flanks. The Basque coach has pacey wingers at his disposal - including new signing Bradley Barkley - who constantly look to create danger, take on their men and deliver crosses, leading to deflections and clearances that generate corners. On average in recent matches, Liverpool have been winning around 6.4 corners per game. The visitors will dominate the match, which should earn them the majority of set pieces. Ipswich, for their part, won't simply sit deep in their own box. O'Neill's tactics are built around rapid wide counter-attacks, and any quick break from the hosts followed by a cross into the box against a reshaping Liverpool defence is a potential corner. Ipswich reliably hit their home minimum of 3-4 corners. We think there is value in backing Total Corners - Over 8.5 at odds of 1.45.
🟨 Yellow Cards Prediction
This looks set to be a feisty match, and the average individual booking totals for both sides at the start of this season point towards a high-card game. Since Andoni Iraola's appointment, Liverpool have switched to an extremely aggressive counter-pressing style. The players are still adapting to the new demands, which often leaves them a step behind and forcing fouls to break up attacks. Liverpool have already picked up 7 yellow cards in the first two rounds of the season and are jointly top of the Premier League for bookings. The match will be refereed by strict English official Darren England. Liverpool have a difficult history with him: under his watch, the Merseysiders regularly accumulate multiple bookings, and at the end of the season before last he even sent off Ryan Gravenberch. Our prediction is Total Yellow Cards - Over 3.5, at odds of 1.7*.
🚀 Player Stats Bet
Dominik Szoboszlai has already got on the scoresheet this season, in the match against Newcastle. He is in good form and is the designated penalty taker. If a good chance falls his way, whether from open play, a long-range effort or a penalty, Szoboszlai will look to take it. A goal from the Hungarian is not the safest option, but in our view the probability is no lower than for any other attacking player in the side. The odds on Szoboszlai to Score are 4.1*.
😱 Risky Bet
For those looking for an interesting high-odds bet, one option worth considering is plenty of goals in the first half - 1st Half Total Goals - Over 2, priced at 3.8*. Liverpool may look to settle the game before the break, quite possibly scoring twice before half-time, while the hosts, judging by their recent matches, are unlikely to sit back and could have their say in attack, creating several chances at Liverpool's goal.
🎯 Reliable Bet
We think Liverpool will take control from the first minute and look to convert their chances early. Andoni Iraola sets Liverpool up for an extremely intense style with an emphasis on aggressive pressing from the very first seconds. The Reds don't spend time feeling out the opposition - they go vertical immediately. This has led to early goals in their previous rounds. The team scored or conceded in the opening 45 minutes in both of their first matches of the season. Any lack of cohesion in the attacking line is offset by high individual quality - Barcola, Szoboszlai - which allows them to open up defences through the element of surprise. The reliable bet here is First Half Total Goals - Over 0.5, priced at 1.25*.
👀 If the match doesn't go to script
If the match takes a low-scoring turn and we don't see bright attacking play from the visitors or active resistance from the hosts, then Total Goals - Under 3.5 at 1.7* is worth considering. If Liverpool decide that a narrow win is preferable to a high-scoring draw, that outcome is entirely plausible. However, the head-to-head history, the form of both sides and their respective tactics all suggest this scenario is unlikely.
*Odds are approximate and may vary across different bookmakers.
⭐️ Editorial Prediction
We expect the opening match of the third round to feature plenty of goals, with Liverpool enjoying clear dominance in possession and chance creation, and Ipswich hitting back on the counter-attack. There should also be a high number of set pieces - both corners and free kicks close to goal - which will generate a lot of dangerous moments. Liverpool's attacking quality should be enough to win comfortably by a margin of several goals, but their poor defensive cohesion at the start of the season suggests Ipswich have every chance of finding the net at least once at home. Our prediction is that this match will produce a lot of goals, and we are backing Total Goals - Over 3.5. Predicted score: 1-3.
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Betting Tips: Ipswich Town - Liverpool
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