The latest Liverpool team news, injury update and predicted XI ahead of their clash with Ipswich Town
Liverpool have made a rather uninspiring start to the 2026/27 season, opening the campaign with back-to-back 2-2 draws. They started things off with a tricky trip to St. James’ Park, where Dominik Szoboszlai rescued the Reds with a last-gasp penalty against Newcastle. The game after, Andoni Iraola’s side had to come from behind to salvage a draw at home to Nottingham Forest.
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Next up, Liverpool travel to take on newly promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Gary O’Neil’s side started their season by beating Sunderland 2-1 and then hammering Leicester City in the Carabao Cup, but came crashing back down to earth last weekend with a 5-2 loss at Old Trafford - a game in which they held the lead for a blissful eleven minutes.
Heading into the big Friday night kick-off, Liverpool have no fresh injury concerns, but plenty of long-term ones. Defender Joe Gomez will miss the trip to face the Tractor Boys, as he continues to recover from a muscular injury. Federico Chiesa won’t be back until next month due to a back injury, while trio Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni are all targeting November returns.
As Liverpool look to get their first Premier League three points of the 2026/27 season on the board, we’ve taken a look at the most likely starting XI Iraola Andoni will name, and whether he’ll be handing a debut to £123m superstar signing Bradley Barcola, following his blockbuster move from Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool predicted line-up vs Ipswich: goalkeeper and defence
Jeremy Jacquet will be looking to impress for Liverpool in his debut campaign at Anfieldplaceholder image
Jeremy Jacquet will be looking to impress for Liverpool in his debut campaign at Anfield | Getty Images
GK - Alisson: There was plenty of speculation suggesting Alisson would leave Liverpool this summer, but the world class goalkeeper ultimately stayed at the club for a ninth season of Premier League football. He’ll start between the sticks once again against Ipswich, in what will be his 258th league appearance for the Merseyside club.
RB - Jeremie Frimpong: One of two defenders called Jez now in the side, Frimpong continues to try and fill the void left by Trent Alexander-Arnold, following his highly controversial exit to Real Madrid in June 2025. Like with the England international, questions remain over whether Frimpong’s defensive efforts can match his attacking excellence.
CB - Jeremy Jacquet: Finding a new central defence partner to eventually take over the reins from Virgil van Dijk was never going to be easy, but Liverpool look to have found a real gem in their £60m new signing. For our money, he was one of the best transfers across the whole division over the summer, with all the potential to become a Premier League great.
CB - Virgil van Dijk: The 35-year-old Reds icon could be in his final year at the club, with his contract set to expire next summer. An imperious and cool-headed machine at the back, Van Dijk has a chance to rack up his 300th Premier League appearance for the club before the season ends.
LB - Milos Kerkez: The full-back situation at Liverpool remains a concern, with plenty of pundits and fans alike questioning whether their current options are good enough. If anyone can get a tune out of Kerkez, it will be Iraola, who managed him to great effect during his time at Bournemouth.
Will Bradley Barcola start against Ipswich Town?
Bradley Barcola will be looking to make his Liverpool debut against Ipswich Townplaceholder image
Bradley Barcola will be looking to make his Liverpool debut against Ipswich Town | AFP via Getty Images
CM - Dominik Szoboszlai: Now one of the first names on the team sheet, Szoboszlai has quickly grown in stature to become one of the division’s best central midfielders. A real all-rounder, he’s as adept at getting stuck into a ball-winning tackle as he is pinging in a free-kick from 30 yards. An invaluable weapon for Iraola to have at his disposal.
CM - Ryan Gravenberch: Liverpool look likely to rotate their midfield a bit this season - this was evidenced by Alexis Mac Allister coming in for Gravenberch last weekend’s draw with Forest. The latter should start against Ipswich, and will be looking to improve on the distinctly mixed display he gave in the opening day draw with Newcastle.
AMR - Victor Munoz: Had the Reds not hijacked the deal, Munoz would be playing his football at St. James’ Park this season. Liverpool will be relieved they did, after his stunning goal against the Tricky Trees at Anfield. He’s expected to continue on the right wing, keeping Rio Ngumoha out of the side for now.
AMC - Florian Wirtz: Liverpool’s £116m attacking midfielder will have been gutted to see his goal ruled out against Forest, with the neatly-taken finish chalked off for an offside in the build-up. There are hopes that he’ll take his game to the next level this season, after a fairly average debut campaign at Anfield last term.
AML - Cody Gakpo: Reds fans are crying out for Barcola to make his debut against Ipswich, but it looks like he’ll be slowly introduced into the side. He’ll no doubt get on to the field at some point on Friday night, but it will most likely be Gakpo who starts, after his late summer transfer window move to Manchester City collapsed.
ST - Alexander Isak: There’s considerable pressure on the shoulders of the Sweden international at the moment, who knows he alone needs to lead the line until Ekitike returns from his lengthy injury lay-off. He took his goal well against Forest, and will be looking for a 20+ goal season after much of the 2025/26 campaign was written off by a broken leg.
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