Ipswich vs Liverpool - Premier League LIVE: Andoni Iraola drops Jeremie Frimpong as Bradley Barcola named on bench

11 hours ago 43

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Isak's time to shine

It feels like a big game for Alexander Isak, doesn't it?

Anybody who has watched the £125million striker at the start of this season will have seen how much he has struggled. The man still looks a far cry from the player we watched bang them in for Newcastle.

I honestly don't know what has happened to the striker's confidence; it's completely gone. It almost feels like Fernando Torres to Chelsea mark two.

But Isak still has time to prove us all wrong.

The Swede did manage to get off the mark for the season against Nottingham Forest, and he will want to build on that goal.

The good news is he likes playing Ipswich; he actually netted four goals in his two games against them two seasons ago.

 Alexander Isak of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield on August 29, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Premier League

The bottom half

Oh, there are Liverpool.

The Reds are actually below Ipswich coming into tonight, and this is not how they would have wanted the table to look even after just two games.

They are yet to get that win; however, I guess they are unbeaten...

Meanwhile, Ipswich have one dub in the bag and will be chasing another tonight.

Premier League

Top half of the table

Alright then, let's take a look at the table ahead of the weekend.

Yes, I know it's still early days, but there is never any harm having a cheeky gander.

You may notice that Liverpool aren't in it yet and neither are Ipswich, but one of them could leap into it with a win.

Early, early days, mind.

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Iraola: 'We want to start stronger'

Andoni Iraola, Liverpool head coach, speaking to Sky Sports:

We've been losing both games almost from the beginning. We've been coming from behind. We want to start stronger today, when you score the first goal it looks better. So try not to concede cheap goals. We have good players, doing well, but we are not getting the win.

On his change at right-back:

It could be similar or different. We like to swap a few things. The starting line-up is more or less the predicted one from Ipswich. At Old Trafford they played a fantastic first half, then the game opened and they struggled.

We want to start stronger. The intensity from the beginning, winning duels, playing a bit more vertical so we want start taking those decision.

 Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool, arrives at the stadium before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Ipswich Town and Liverpool FC at Portman Road on September 04, 2026 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

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Good omens for Liverpool?

Liverpool fans may not be the most confident coming into today, but they should be.

Why? Well, history shows that they will most likely be OK.

Liverpool have played more games at Portman Road without losing (six) than any other venue in the Premier League.

In fact, an even quirkier stat is that the Reds are unbeaten in 20 games in all competitions against sides with Town in their name (W15 D5) since losing 2-1 to Grimsby Town in October 2001.

Can they extend these runs tonight?

 Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz during the Premier League match between Ipswich Town FC and Liverpool FC at Portman Road on August 17, 2024 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Chris Sutton

'Liverpool will edge this'

Chris Sutton, former Premier League striker, on BBC Sport:

Ipswich have spent almost £200m on a stack of new signings to try to stay in the Premier League and, watching them, it is clear they are not just planning to park the bus. They will be confident for this game after beating Sunderland at home on the opening weekend and I am expecting them to have a real go at Liverpool too.

Boss Andoni Iraola has plenty of attacking options, but I still have concerns about them defensively, while his players adjust to his front-foot pressing style. I am sure he will get it right eventually, but at the moment they are leaking goals and creaking at the back.

My gut feeling is Ipswich will score, but Liverpool will still edge the win after two successive 2-2 draws. If their attack clicks, it will be hard to keep them out.

epa13198361 Victor Munoz of Liverpool celebrates scoring the 2-2 goal during the English Premier League match Liverpool FC against Nottingham Forest, in Liverpool, Britain, 29 August 2026.  EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos, 'live' services or NFTs. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

Lewis Steele

'A necessary call'

Lewis Steele at Portman Road:

Andoni Iraola has handed a first start for Ronald Araujo here at Portman Road which is a big call - but one I think was necessary. Jeremie Frimpong has been struggling in the first two games of the season and it appears Iraola has opted for his new Uruguay international at right back. He is experienced and can deal with the counter-attacking threat of Ipswich here.

epa13198639 Ronald Araujo of Liverpool in action during the English Premier League match Liverpool FC against Nottingham Forest, in Liverpool, Britain, 29 August 2026.  EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos, 'live' services or NFTs. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

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Frimpong DROPPED

Now this is a big call.

It's fair to say that Jeremie Frimpong has not had the best start to this season, or, in fact, his Liverpool career has a whole hasn't been incredible.

Liverpool fans have been absolutely hammering the right-back for his performances, and the fact that he struggles to whip in a cross. Genuinely, his crosses have been... well, pretty rubbish.

And well, it seems that Andoni Iraola agrees with the fans as he has decided to drop the Dutchman.

Ronald Araujo takes his place... I just don't get why Liverpool didn't go and get a new right-back.

Jeremie Frimpong of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield in Liverpool, on August 29, 2026.

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Liverpool Team News - Barcola on BENCH

Bradley Barcola doesn't make his full debut today.

There were some Liverpool fans hoping that the £123million Frenchman would be thrown straight into the mix by Andoni Iraola, but no, he only makes the bench.

Cody Gakpo was on the verge of swapping red for the blue of Manchester City, but here he is keeping his spot in the team.

Iraola makes only one change with Ronald Araujo coming in to make his debut at right-back in place of Jeremie Frimpong.

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Ipswich Team News - Palacios makes DEBUT

Just one change for Ipswich.

Exciting new signing Exequiel Palacios is thrown into the side with Marcelino Nunez making way.

New boy Zian Flemming comes into teh squad but is not included in the starting line-up.

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Barcola in the building

Here. He. Is.

Liverpool's new main man has arrived with the rest of the squad here at Portman Road, and well, he is either hella shy or just locked in ahead of his debut.

The question is: will he be starting or on the bench? You are set to find out in a giffy.

Exciting times.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Ipswich Town v Liverpool - Portman Road, Ipswich, Britain - September 4, 2026 Liverpool's Bradley Barcola arrives at the stadium before the match REUTERS/David Klein EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER DETAILS..

Premier League

The big weekend

The weekend is here, and boy, am I excited.

We have another stacked few days of Premier League action coming our way, full of incredibly tasty fixtures.

Here is what you can expect:

FRIDAY

  • Ipswich vs Liverpool, 20:00

SATURDAY

  • Newcastle vs Bournemouth, 12:30
  • Brentford vs Sunderland, 15:00
  • Brighton vs Leeds, 15:00
  • Fulham vs Crystal Palace, 15:00
  • Manchester City vs Coventry, 15:00
  • Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham, 15:00
  • Hull City vs Aston Villa, 17:30

SUNDAY

  • Everton vs Manchester United, 14:00
  • Arsenal vs Chelsea, 16:30

 Declan Rice of Arsenal runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Moises Caicedo of Chelsea during the Carabao Cup Semi Final Second Leg match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on February 03, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

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