Andoni Iraola’s winless Liverpool side travel to newly promoted Ipswich Town on Friday, with £123m signing Bradley Barcola in line for his first appearance.
Liverpool will look to register their first Premier League win of the 2026-27 season on Friday evening when they travel to newly promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Kick-off is set for 8pm BST, with the match broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event in the UK.
The fixture offers Liverpool a chance to build momentum after a stuttering start under new head coach Andoni Iraola, while Ipswich will hope to bounce back from a heavy defeat to Manchester United last time out.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Liverpool head into the match without a Premier League win, having taken just two points from their opening two fixtures — 2-2 draws against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest. Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot at Anfield over the summer after three seasons at Bournemouth, is yet to keep a clean sheet in his opening two matches in charge.
Ipswich Town, managed by Gary O’Neil since he took permanent charge at Portman Road in June, started the season with a 2-1 win over Sunderland before being thrashed 5-2 by Manchester United, a game in which Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick. Ipswich currently sit 12th in the table on three points, with Liverpool one place below on two points.
Liverpool completed a marquee £123 million signing before the transfer deadline, bringing in forward Bradley Barcola. He is in contention to make his first appearance for the club from the substitutes’ bench on Friday.
WHAT OFFICIALS / SOURCES ARE SAYING
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has overseen back-to-back draws to open the season and is under pressure to secure a first win of his tenure, according to reporting from Sports Mole and Yahoo Sports.
Ipswich manager Gary O’Neil said this week that midfielder Emersonn has recovered from the knee injury that had ruled him out, while confirming that Azor Matusiwa, Jack Taylor and Jaden Philogene remain sidelined.
KEY FACTS
- Fixture: Ipswich Town vs Liverpool, Premier League matchweek 3
- Date and kick-off: Friday, September 4, 2026, 8:00 PM BST
- Venue: Portman Road Stadium, Ipswich
- Referee: Darren England
- Broadcast: Sky Sports Main Event (UK), coverage from 7pm BST
- League positions: Ipswich 12th (3 points); Liverpool 13th (2 points)
- Key team news: Bradley Barcola (£123m signing) in contention for Liverpool debut; Liverpool without Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Federico Chiesa through injury
WHY THIS MATTERS
For Liverpool, a positive result is important both for early-season momentum and for easing pressure on Iraola following a difficult summer transfer window that saw limited incoming business until the Barcola deal was finalized late. For Ipswich, beating one of the Premier League’s traditional heavyweights would mark a significant statement in only their third top-flight match since promotion, and a first-ever league win over Liverpool at Portman Road.
BACKGROUND
Ipswich Town returned to the Premier League after securing promotion under previous manager Kieran McKenna, who stepped down before this season, handing the reins to Gary O’Neil. Liverpool, meanwhile, are adjusting to life under Iraola following the departure of Arne Slot. The two sides have met 74 times overall, with Liverpool holding a 38-14 advantage, though matches at Portman Road specifically have been evenly split at 12 wins apiece across 36 meetings. Liverpool won the sides’ last meeting 4-1 in January 2025.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Both teams are expected to continue adjusting their tactics and squads as the season progresses. Liverpool’s Joe Gomez, sidelined with a muscle injury, is expected to return to training next week, while further Premier League fixtures over the weekend will shape the early-season table before the next international break.
LATEST UPDATE
Team news and final lineups are expected to be confirmed closer to kick-off on Friday evening, with Barcola’s potential debut the standout subplot of the match.
