Two new chapters will unfold at Portman Road this Saturday as Ipswich Town and Liverpool kick off their Premier League campaigns in a highly anticipated showdown.
For Ipswich, it marks a return to the top flight after a 22-year absence, while Liverpool begins a new era under the guidance of manager Arne Slot.
Ipswich Town, led by head coach Kieran McKenna, are eager to prove they belong in the Premier League after their remarkable rise from League One.
The Tractor Boys have been impressive in pre-season, securing wins over Shakhtar Donetsk, Hoffenheim, and Nice.
With a solid defense and a knack for scoring, Ipswich are looking to carry that momentum into their first Premier League game since 2002, when they last faced Liverpool at Anfield in a crushing 5-0 defeat.
For Liverpool, the match marks the beginning of a new era with Slot at the helm. Despite a slow start in pre-season, the Reds picked up steam with victories against top teams like Arsenal and Manchester United.
Slot’s arrival has brought renewed optimism, and with stars like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold leading the way, Liverpool aims to maintain their unbeaten record at Portman Road.
Both teams have their eyes set on a strong start, but history favors Liverpool, who have never lost a Premier League match at Ipswich. As the Tractor Boys return to the big stage and the Reds adjust to life under Slot, Saturday’s match promises to be an intriguing battle of ambitions and strategies.
What time does Ipswich Town vs. Liverpool kick off?
The newly promoted side Ipswich Town will lock horns with Liverpool at the Portman Road stadium in Ipswich, England at 12:30 local time.
Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories:
| Region | Kick-off Date | Kick-off Time |
| USA | Saturday, Aug 17 | 7:30 am ET |
| UK | Saturday, Aug 17 | 12:30 pm GMT |
| India | Saturday, Aug 17 | 5:00 pm IST |
| Nigeria | Saturday, Aug 17 | 12:30 pm WAST |
Ipswich Town vs. Liverpool live stream, TV channel
Here are all the details about where you can watch Ipswich Town vs. Liverpool in major regions across the world:
| Region | TV Channels | Streaming Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| USA | UNIVERSO NOW, Telemundo | fuboTV, nbcsports.com, SiriusXM FC |
| UK (England) | TNT Sports 1 | Discovery+ app and website. |
| India | Star Sports Select HD1, Star Sports Select 1 | Hotstar VIP, JioTV |
| Nigeria | DStv Now, SuperSport Premier League Nigeria | Canal+ |
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Ipswich Town vs. Liverpool predicted lineup, team news
Liverpool
Liverpool are set to begin their Premier League campaign with a nearly full squad, with the only notable absence being Bobby Clark.
The teenage midfielder is on the verge of a £10 million move to Red Bull Salzburg, so he won’t be involved in Saturday’s match. Otherwise, manager Arne Slot has a fully fit squad at his disposal.
Andrew Robertson has recovered from his Euro 2024 injury and played an hour in Liverpool’s recent friendly against Las Palmas, making him a strong contender to start at left-back. Key players Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are expected to start despite ongoing contract discussions.
However, there are whispers that Slot might have reservations about Ibrahima Konate, who played in the friendly against Las Palmas. Youngster Jarell Quansah, who impressed in the match against Sevilla, could be in line for a starting spot instead.
Liverpool Predicted Lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jota, Diaz
Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town are dealing with a few injury concerns as they prepare for their Premier League return. The medical team is working to get Harry Clarke (Achilles), George Hirst (knee), Nathan Broadhead (thigh), and Janoi Donacien (adductor) back to full fitness.
Meanwhile, Cameron Humphreys is a major doubt due to an unspecified issue.
This summer, Ipswich have bolstered their squad with nine new signings, and several could feature in the starting lineup. Arijanet Muric, Liam Delap, Jacob Greaves, and Omari Hutchinson are among the new arrivals expected to make their debuts.
Although a loan move for Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips is reportedly close, the midfield pairing of Massimo Luongo and Sam Morsy is likely to start against Liverpool.
Ipswich Town Predicted Lineup:
Muric; Tuanzebe, Edmundson, Greaves; Johnson, Luongo, Morsy, Davis; Hutchinson, Delap, Harness
Ipswich Town vs. Liverpool Prediction
Ipswich may consider adopting a three-man central defense to counter Slot’s Liverpool, but the visitors’ quality and depth are likely to break through eventually.
Despite Ipswich’s solid defensive record in pre-season, Liverpool’s firepower should prove too much for the newly promoted side. While McKenna’s team will aim to keep the scoreline close, Liverpool are expected to secure a victory with Mo Salah as always favourite to score on the opening day and return to Merseyside with the first three points of the Slot era.
Prediction: Ipswich Town 1-3 Liverpool.
Also Read:
- Is Liverpool’s squad depth strong enough to win the Premier League this season?
- Mohamed Salah could set a Premier League record against Ipswich
- Liverpool forward attracting interest: Arne Slot to sell him this summer?
- Liverpool to sanction a loan move for midfielder before transfer window ends
- ‘He will go’: Liverpool midfielder to make a shock exit this summer