Liverpool maintained their six-point lead on the high of the Premier League as Cody Gakpo scored twice in a 4-1 thrashing of Ipswich.
Kieran McKenna’s aspect, crushed 6-0 by Manchester Metropolis final weekend, had been subjected to a different bruising afternoon at Anfield, with Dominic Szoboszlai’s Eleventh-minute strike from the sting of the field setting the tone for the rampant hosts.
Mohamed Salah prolonged their lead when he slammed house a scientific end from an acute angle following a Gakpo cross for his a hundredth Premier League objective at Anfield.
Gakpo scored the third himself shortly earlier than the break when he slotted in a rebound after Christian Walton had denied Szoboszlai and the hosts continued to pour ahead.
Gakpo added his second and Liverpool’s fourth within the 66th minute when he headed in a chic cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold, who then struck the publish with a curling shot earlier than Jacob Greaves nodded an Ipswich comfort objective from a nook.
Greaves’ objective gave the travelling followers one thing to have fun however, by that time, the sport had come to resemble a coaching train for the hosts, with Arne Slot in a position to withdraw Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Szoboszlai halfway by the second interval.
Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Wolves ensures the hole between Liverpool and the second-placed Gunners stays at six factors, though the leaders nonetheless have their sport in hand to come back.
Ipswich, in the meantime, stay 18th, having additionally misplaced winger Wes Burns to what regarded like a severe knee harm within the first half.
Evaluation: Gakpo’s Anfield run continues
A player-of-the-match efficiency and a bit of historical past for Gakpo, who turns into the primary Dutch participant to attain in six successive Premier League house video games, surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie’s earlier finest of 5.
Amongst many spectacular performances, the 24-year-old was Liverpool’s excellent participant, establishing Salah’s objective with a far-post cross along with scoring twice himself. His double takes him to eight objectives within the Premier League this season, equalling his whole for the entire of final time period with 4 months to spare.
He’s clearly relishing the chance to play constantly on the left having principally been used within the central-striker function by Jurgen Klopp. It’s a tactical change which continues to bear fruit for Slot.
Gakpo: I really like scoring in entrance of the followers
Gakpo mentioned of his newest goalscoring efficiency at Anfield: “I really do love it. It’s amazing scoring in front of the fans. But most important was the win. I’m very happy.”
On Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross for his second objective, he mentioned: “Everybody knows his quality. He has showed it a lot this season. At Tottenham he also had a great ball for Lucho [Luis Diaz], for a similar goal. It was a great ball, a good finish and a good goal.
“We have grown as a team, We know better how we play together. We have a different manager as well and a slightly different style of play, more possession based.
“I feel everyone seems to be in good kind however we’ve to maintain going.”
Slot pleased by ‘dominant’ display
Liverpool boss Slot said of his side’s performance: “Respectable, dominant. Scoring 4 objectives is all the time good. We hardly gave away any probabilities in any respect. We conceded nearly no counter-attacks which isn’t simple towards a low block.
“Unfortunately, we conceded from a set-piece in the end. If we hadn’t done that it would have been a complete performance. Now we are a bit dissatisfied with the goal we conceded.”
On Szoboszlai, he mentioned: “Pleasing to see for him because he has been working so, so hard for the team. It’s good that he comes off the pitch with a goal.”
Can Liverpool be caught?
The Soccer Saturday panel had a feisty debate on the title race.
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Paul Merson took on Tim Sherwood and Clinton Morrison in a heated debate on whether or not Arsenal can catch Liverpool within the title race
McKenna fears severe Burns harm
Ipswich boss McKenna mentioned: “A difficult game. A difficult position to be in at half-time and also a frustrating position.
“We began the sport nicely however then from little we discovered ourselves a objective down after which just a few objectives down.
“We take a lot of positives from the second half. We managed the game pretty well and finished the game strong. We made some mistakes but if we take the lessons in the right way we can be stronger.”
On Burns’ harm, which noticed him stretchered off following a prolonged stoppage, McKenna added: “We have our fingers crossed but the knee looks swollen. We hope it is not as bad but it looks serious.”
Salah surpasses earlier objective whole
- Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scored his a hundredth Premier League house objective at Anfield along with his nineteenth Premier League objective of the season general. It’s the most of any participant in 2024/25, and surpasses his whole in the entire of final time period (18 in 32 appearances).
- Liverpool have now picked up extra factors (26) and wins (eight) at house within the Premier League this season than every other aspect. This sport was the primary time they scored 4 or extra objectives within the league at Anfield this time period.
- Since he joined the membership firstly of final season, Dominik Szoboszlai has scored extra objectives from outdoors the field in all competitions (5) than every other participant for Liverpool.
