Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Ipswich this afternoon was virtually the ‘perfect performance’, according to boss Arne Slot.
Cody Gakpo continued his fine season with a brace, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah also in goal as Liverpool maintained their six-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the table.
Jacob Greaves pulled one back late for Ipswich, but they were outclassed for much of the afternoon and have now conceded 10 goals in two games to see their relegation fears increase.
A selfie of the Reds on the scoresheet 😊🤳 pic.twitter.com/KqF2PbHEBb
–Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 25, 2025
Early breakthrough paved the way to victory – Slot
Szoboszlai’s opening goal was crucial, according to Dutchman Slot, who said: “It’s been several times since we played a home game and we conceded an early goal, but I think today , that’s how you want to start the game: we were aggressive, dominant.
“For 85 minutes, they have barely been in our half I think. He is a counter-attack threat with the wingers they have and with [Liam] Delap, but we managed to control this so, so, so well with the amount of work we did.
“In the end, we are all a little disappointed to have conceded [from] a corner – the first of the season – but for 85 minutes it was a near-perfect performance, against a team going on such a low block. It’s not always easy, but the way we did it for 85 minutes was really good.
Special praise for Szoboszlai
Slot was particularly pleased with Hungarian captain Szoboszlai, who he said sometimes goes unnoticed.
He added: “If you zoom in on Dom, I think at the start of the season he would have played that ball to Mo, which most of the time was a very good choice because Mo can definitely score a goal as well.
“And now he decided to go for the goal himself and scored the goal himself. Good for him because, in my opinion, he’s a bit underrated. Not from me, but he doesn’t always get credit for being very important to this team because his work rate is incredible.
“He continues to run with the highest intensity, and that is very important for a team that wants to compete for something.”
There’s no place like home 🏟️
A goal in each of his last seven starts at Anfield for Gakpo 🇳🇱✨ pic.twitter.com/UDaBiwnqK1
–Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 25, 2025
Relegation fears persist for Ipswich
Ipswich remain in the bottom three and in the middle of a difficult run after losing 6-0 to Manchester City last weekend.
Boss Kieran McKenna told BBC Sport: “It was another tough game for us. There was a positive in the way we ended it. I didn’t think we had huge pressure in the first half, but Liverpool are clinical and we didn’t defend our box well enough. We have arrived at a delicate moment in the season but we will learn from it.
“Everyone has a plan but when they score a first goal like that it’s really difficult. Thanks to my players for the way they held on in the second half.
“We’ll come back to that. We have to do some things better than in the first half. I know we’re halfway through the season, but this is the first time all four defensemen have been together since Game 6.
There could be more bad news for Ipswich with winger Wes Burns withdrawn with a nasty injury.
McKenna added: “His knee is very swollen. we are not very positive.
