Ipswich Town vs Liverpool: Premier League – prediction, team news, lineups

By Kevin Hand and AFP. Published On 3 Sep 20263 Sep 2026.

Key points

• Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Gakpo, Wirtz, Munoz; Isak.
• The cost tag for the left-winger is second only to the 125 million pounds ($169m) Liverpool paid Newcastle for Sweden star Alexander Isak last year.
• While Ipswich have won only 14 of the encounters, this will be the 75th session between the teams, with Liverpool winning 38 of the previous meetings.
• While giving Ipswich a 19 percent chance, the Opta supercomputer has given Liverpool a 62 percent chance of winning the game.
• Barcola will be part of an expensively assembled Liverpool attack that additionally includes Isak, Hugo Ekitike and playmaker Florian Wirtz.

Who: Ipswich Town vs Liverpool What: English Premier League Where: Portman Road, Ipswich, United Kingdom When: Friday, September 4 at 8pm (19: 00 GMT) How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the buildup from 16: 00 GMT.

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola notes that Bradley Barcola arrived at the club with the "right mentality" after making clear his desire to join the Premier League club from Paris Saint-Germain.

For context, the 24-year-old France forward became the second-most expensive signing in Liverpool's history on Monday when he joined for a fee of up to 124 million pounds ($167m).

Notably, the cost tag for the left-winger is second only to the 125 million pounds ($169m) Liverpool paid Newcastle for Sweden star Alexander Isak last year.

Iraola, who has began his Anfield tenure with two Premier League draws, welcomed the signing from the two-time defending Champions League winners, saying he would be available for Friday's match at Ipswich.

"It was our priority, let's say, to sign a very, very good player in that position, " the Spaniard remarked to journalists on Thursday.

And I think he has come additionally with the right mentality. I've learnt from him that he wanted Liverpool a lot. He just wanted to come here, and I think that's a good first sign.

And being the player that he is and the things that he has won lately, I think he has come additionally with the willingness to support us.

"And I'm particularly happy with him and he trained well with us. If everything goes well in today's training, additionally he will definitely be available for."

Iraola remarked a decision would be produced on whether Barcola would be ready to start against newly promoted Ipswich at Portman Road.

"He is in a good place, but we also have to consider that he hasn't had the minutes in the preseason games, " remarked the former Bournemouth boss.

In practice, the arrival of the Frenchman has raised questions regarding the future of left-winger Cody Gakpo. This person was linked with a move away from Anfield during the summer transfer window.

But Iraola remarked he was happy to keep the Dutchman, whom he described as a "very valuable player".

Iraola, who replaced the sacked Arne Slot, remarked he was happy with the club's transfer business, including the signings of Barcola, Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz, and was thankful the summer window was now closed.

"The club has decided that those signings that we've done are the ones that improved our team, improved our position, " he remarked.

There were other options that we decided not to take for different reasons. Sometimes it's sporting reasons since they don't improve what you have.

Sometimes it's since of economic reasons – it didn't produce sense in terms of the market to do those movements.

"But I'm happy now that I know what we have. I have a lot of quality in the team. Now is the moment for us, for the players, for me, to develop what we have."

While Ipswich have won only 14 of the encounters, this will be the 75th session between the teams, with Liverpool winning 38 of the previous meetings. Ipswich Town team news.

While Florentino Luis faces a late fitness test, ipswich have challenges in the centre of the pitch with Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor both injured.

While Emersonn could miss out in attack due to a knee challenge, jaden Philogene-Bidace additionally misses out with an ankle injury. Predicted Ipswich Town starting lineup. Scherpen; O'Shea, Diop, Greaves, Davis; Nunez, Lukic; Fatawu, Enciso, Maeda; Akpom.

Hugo Ekitike is out with a ruptured Achilles; defenders Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley are both recovering from long-term knee injuries.

While Federico Chiesa has a back difficulty, joe Gomez has a muscle strain. Predicted Liverpool starting lineup.

In short, ipswich Town vs Liverpool: Premier League is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.