Ipswich Town vs Liverpool Prediction: Betting Tips & Odds

Ipswich Town welcome Liverpool to Portman Road on Saturday morning New Zealand time, with both clubs desperate for points early in this Premier League season. Ipswich are back in the top flight after promotion from the Championship. Liverpool, under new head coach Andoni Iraola, have drawn both of their opening games and look vulnerable at the back.

In this Ipswich Town vs Liverpool preview, I look at form, team news and whether Liverpool can finally get their season moving.

I’ve also got a goals angle at over $2.20 for those checking football betting tips ahead of this clash.

Ipswich Town

I was impressed with Ipswich on the opening day. Jack Clarke coming off the bench to curl in a 90th-minute winner against his old club Sunderland was straight out of a fairytale.

Their 5-2 defeat at Old Trafford last weekend brought them crashing back to earth though. Leif Davis gave them an early lead before Bruno Fernandes took over with a hat-trick, and shipping five goals in a game you led is never a good look.

For me, the bigger concern is at the back. One clean sheet in their last 36 top-flight games is an awful record.

Julio Enciso has been involved in everything good Ipswich have done so far - two assists from two Premier League appearances. Abdul Fatawu has been creative from the right, with three chances created. Gary O’Neil will want a reaction after the Man United mauling, and I think he will get one.

Team News: Philogene is out with a hamstring problem. Florentino and Matusiwa are sidelined. Emersonn is a doubt with a knee issue.

Predicted Lineup: Scherpen; O’Shea, Greaves, Diop, Davis; Lukic, Nunez; Fatawu, Enciso, Maeda; Akpom.

Liverpool

Two games, two 2-2 stalemates, zero wins.

That is where Liverpool are right now, and I don’t think Iraola expected this. His side needed a 99th-minute Dominik Szoboszlai penalty to rescue a point at Newcastle, then fell behind twice against Nottingham Forest at Anfield - Alexander Isak levelled after Dan Ndoye’s opener, only for Morgan Gibbs-White to restore Forest’s lead from the spot before Victor Munoz rescued another point late on.

They’ve conceded in every Premier League game going back to last season.

BTTS has come in eight straight.

Florian Wirtz looks like the real deal. Alexander Isak has already scored. And now Bradley Barcola has arrived from PSG for a reported fee of around 106 million pounds - whether he starts on Friday is unclear, but having him available gives Iraola another weapon.

The question for me is whether this defence can cope. Jeremy Jacquet has been subbed off in both games and Ronald Araujo, on loan from Barcelona, has had to come on each time. Virgil van Dijk can’t do it all himself.

Team News: Ekitike is out long-term with an Achilles injury. Conor Bradley and Leoni are also sidelined. Gomez is a doubt with a muscle problem. Chiesa has a back issue.

Predicted Lineup: Alisson; Frimpong, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Gakpo, Wirtz, Munoz; Isak.

• Liverpool have not won either of their first two Premier League games this season.
• Ipswich have never beaten Liverpool at Portman Road in the Premier League.
• BTTS has occurred in eight consecutive Liverpool Premier League matches.
• Both of Ipswich’s Premier League games this season have produced three or more goals.
• Liverpool beat Ipswich 4-1 in their most recent meeting at Anfield in January 2025.

I think Liverpool win this, but I’m not confident about a clean sheet.

Iraola’s side have too much quality up front to go three games without a victory. Isak and Wirtz against an Ipswich back line with one clean sheet in 36 top-flight outings is a mismatch on paper, and Liverpool will be desperate after two frustrating results.

But Ipswich will score.

I’m almost certain of it. They’ve found the net in every game this season, and Liverpool’s defence has been all over the place. Enciso and Fatawu will find space on the counter.

If you’re following the early-season action on live betting sites, this is a game to watch in-play. I can see it going back and forth - a 2-1 or 3-1 Liverpool win feels about right.

Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.20

Liverpool’s two Premier League games have produced four goals each. Ipswich’s two outings have produced three and seven. That’s 18 goals across four matches involving these two clubs.

I don’t see this slowing down on Friday. Liverpool need to attack, and they will. Ipswich won’t drop deep and absorb pressure - they didn’t do it at Old Trafford and they won’t start now. Over 3.5 goals has come in during both of Ipswich’s league games and both of Liverpool’s.

At $2.20, I’m happy to back it on the free bets available across New Zealand’s top betting platforms.