Liverpool predicted lineup vs Ipswich Town

Liverpool are set to travel to Portman Road this weekend as the Reds gear up to face Ipswich Town in what may be a very important game for the Merseysiders as Andoni Iraola gets to know the pressure to get three points every week of being on the touchline at L4.

And we take a look at a possible starting eleven that can aid Liverpool to come back to Anfield Road with a win.

Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker

Alisson Becker starts every time he’s fit, and that isn’t changing here. There were question marks over his long-term future but for now, Alisson remains firmly first choice for Liverpool.

Defence: Dominik Szoboszlai, Virgil van Dijk, Jeremy Jacquet, Milos Kerkez

In front of him, Virgil van Dijk and Jeremy Jacquet form the centre-back pairing.

It looks like Van Dijk does have what it takes to feature in all the games for the Reds this season. While he was a bit rusty last year, he has shown signs of genuinely durability in the first couple of games of the season. And his developing partnership with Jacquet is already looking quite promising.

We still need to see if Jacquet can get his full share of ninety minutes. But this is where the Reds have depth with Ronald Araújo coming on loan so it means Liverpool no longer have to lean entirely on their top two centre-backs every single week.

And coming to the flanks, going in on the right-back would be Dominik Szoboszlai. While it does sound unconventional to bench Frimpong but Iraola has already trialled the Slot way of using the Hungarian for 20 minutes late against Nottingham Forest and the logic holds up.

Szoboszlai can bring more attacking dominance from the flank and if the Reds can do that, Iraola can also use Florian Wirtz in. a proper number ten role (something that we will look later in this article).

Jeremy Frimpong has been Liverpool’s weakest starting position so far this season and while there’s real belief he’ll eventually flourish under Iraola, in games where we know Liverpool will dominate the ball in the final third, we may see more of Szoboszlai starting in that RB role.

While the former Leipzig midfielder is not your traditional defender, he does possess that size, pace, and the ability to be a genuine threat down that side.

Early last season he did have three consecutive starts at right-back, including the 1-0 win over eventual Champions Arsenal when Liverpool sat six points clear at the top, he defended well and scored an outstanding free-kick. His shot data from that spell shows real volume from range too, exactly the kind of weapon that matters against a side like Ipswich, who are likely to sit deep and look to hit Liverpool on the counter.

If Liverpool can find a way to score first here, something they haven’t managed yet under Iraola then having him as that extra player in the attack becomes the key to breaking games like this open before an opponent can pack in around a lead.

Milos Kerkez starts on the left. It’s been a difficult start for him and there are legitimate questions being asked, but if anyone can unlock him, it’s Iraola. Keep him in, and trust the process.

Midfield: Trey Nyoni, Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz

Trey Nyoni can come in the midfield in what would be a bold move from Iraola but the reasoning is simple, he has been genuinely electric whenever given the chance. He has that habit of dropping deep, sometimes even deeper than the centre-backs, to receive possession, and what he does once he has the ball is exactly why he belongs in this XI.

Even whilst being raw, he is arguably the best pure passer among Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Szoboszlai. He doesn’t waste possession, rarely passes backward or sideways for the sake of it, and looks immediately for the progressive option, usually finding it, usually cutting straight through a defence.

That’s precisely why Gravenberch is a better fit alongside Nyoni than in a deeper role by himself. Gravenberch’s game depends heavily on ball-carrying and progressing the ball by dribbling means his body is constantly moving out of defensive shape, which is part of why he ends up out of position so often. Nyoni staying deeper and disciplined allows that balance to work.

Mac Allister completes the pivot with Nyoni.

With Nyoni playing in a more deeper role whilst keeping that disciplined shape, Mac Allister gets license to push forward and contribute goals, almost operating as a hybrid six-to-eight.

Against a side Liverpool cannot afford to concede first to, that extra defensive solidity from a Nyoni-Mac Allister double pivot matters, even if it costs a little going forward. It should also free up more space underneath for Florian Wirtz to work in, rather than competing with teammates for the same pockets, and it should give both full-backs more license to push on and make overlapping runs of their own.

Florian Wirtz stays in the number ten role, no debate. It’s his position, he was excellent against Forest, and with Nyoni and Mac Allister providing that platform behind him, there’s every chance he reaches an even higher level here with more room to work in.

Flank: Victor Muñoz, Cody Gakpo

Victor Muñoz starts on the right. The narrative is that he’s a left winger by trade but he’s already produced two genuinely brilliant moments on the right side of the pitch, the strike against Forest and winning a penalty inside the box against Newcastle.

Iraola loves a pacey winger, and Muñoz has earned this. Expect his confidence, and with it his appetite for one-on-one duels and direct running at defenders, to keep growing.

̃ () vs Nottingham Forest:
• HIGHEST TOP SPEED (32.6 KM/H)
• MOST SHOTS (4)
• EQUALIZER GOAL
• 4 Touches In Opposition Box
• 7 Defensive Contributions
• 1 Chance Created
• 3 Interceptions
• 6/16 Ground Duels Won
SOLID. pic.twitter.com/c1k70xHmD4
— Rising Stars XI (@RisingStarXI) August 29, 2026

Cody Gakpo starts on the left, not Bradley Barcola, who has had barely any training time to prepare for a start.

Barcola could still see 10 to 20 minutes depending on how the game develops, but Gakpo deserves real credit for how this transfer window played out. He had genuine opportunities to leave, City and Tottenham were both there, and he chose to stay, having reportedly agreed personal terms with City but making clear he preferred to remain and fight for his position even after Barcola’s arrival for around £120 million. That’s a properly level-headed response, and it’s exactly the kind of player who takes extra motivation from staying and proving his worth. He’s been Liverpool’s talisman in moments that mattered already this season, driving the win over Newcastle and providing an excellent assist for Isak against Forest.

Striker: Isak

Isak leads the line. He needs to be scoring against sides like Ipswich, and with Muñoz and Gakpo both providing service either side of him, the platform is there. These attacking pieces simply need time to gel properly together.