Liverpool remained top of the Premier League courtesy of a convincing 4-1 win over Ipswich Town in a match that was all but sealed at the break. Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah, and Cody Gakpo (twice) sealed the win at Anfield as it reached 53 points for the Reds. The emphatic result did little to deter Arsenal, still six points behind in pursuit, while Ipswich remains 18th and deep in the relegation zone.
Follow Playing for 90 on X (Twitter).
A dominant start and near-perfect performance by Liverpool as the first 45 minutes were all they needed to put the game to bed. Szoboszlai opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a precise shot after a pinpoint pass from Konate, whose vision carved open the Ipswich defense. Salah doubled the lead shortly after, coolly finishing a cross from Gakpo on the left. And to seal the first half, Gakpo scored a rebound that put Ipswich in an irredeemable situation.
The second half saw Liverpool dominant, and they had their fourth goal through Gakpo again. Gakpo's goal was a perfect header courtesy of a perfect cross by Alexander-Arnold. Ipswich was able to have a stoppage-time consolation when Jacob Greaves headed in from a corner.
In reflection, Liverpool manager Arne Slot did not hold back with his praise: "For 85 minutes, it was a near-perfect performance. We were aggressive, dominant, and in control of the game against a team that defends in such deep blocks. It's not easy, but we imposed our rhythm well," Slot commented.
Salah and Szoboszlai's influence was
The victory was sealed by fine performances from Salah and Szoboszlai. Salah scored his 19th of the season-one better than last season-and had a moment of notice when he chased back to midfield to prevent a counterattack.
"People always talk about Mo's contracts and goals, but today he showed how much work he does in defense. That moment he won the ball back was very important, and it typifies what we expect from every player," Slot said.
Meanwhile, Szoboszlai proved himself increasingly vital to this Liverpool team with a very important goal and tireless performance, and Slot praised the midfielder for his development.
"Maybe early in the season, he would have played that ball to Salah, which is often a great option. Today, he took it himself, and he was rewarded. Underrated by so many people, but on the pitch, his work rate is overwhelming for every opponent. He's indispensable to our ambitions."
Full control with margins for improvement
Aside from the goals, Liverpool were tactically sound and pressed high effectively to ensure Ipswich were seldom a threat. Alisson was forced into only a few saves, each crucial to keeping the team clear of any potential panic.
Alexander-Arnold was as important in attack, with his assists coming off perfectly before going close to finding the net himself. Despite dominance, Slot was slightly disappointed post-match about the late goal that was conceded.
"We're a little frustrated with the goal from a corner, the first we've conceded this season. But it doesn't overshadow how well we controlled the game."
Liverpool strengthen fortress at Anfield
With this result, Liverpool earned 26 points at Anfield this season, the best anyone has managed in the Premier League so far. This also marked the first time the Reds have scored four or more goals at home this campaign and really made Anfield one of the most daunting places to visit.