A primary-half purpose spree put Liverpool in management on the prime of the desk in a really helpful attacking show beating Ipswich 4-1, with Dominik Szoboszlai‘s position key.
Liverpool 4-1 Ipswich
Premier League (22) | AnfieldJanuary 25, 2025
Targets: Szoboszlai 11′, Salah 35′, Gakpo 44′ 66′; Greaves 90′
1. Taking management within the title race
This most convincing of wins retains Liverpool six factors forward of Arsenal with a sport in hand.
For some time, it regarded like Arsenal may drop factors having gone all the way down to 10 males following a harsh crimson card for Miles Lewis-Skelly, however Wolves themselves had a participant despatched off and the north Londoners nicked a 1-0 win.
Emphatic victories resembling this, the place quite a few gamers contribute to objectives, can enhance morale additional. It was only a disgrace they couldn’t preserve a clear sheet to go along with it.
The league just isn’t received but. There are nonetheless loads of factors to win and doubtlessly lose, however all of the predictors and outcomes bots might be placing a excessive proportion quantity subsequent to Liverpool’s probabilities of lifting the Premier League trophy.
It seems like wins towards a top quality Bournemouth facet and a tough sport in hand towards a revived Everton within the upcoming video games might be vital to creating such predictions play out.
2. Attacking Szoboszlai
With Diogo Jota out injured once more and no recognised striker via the center, Szoboszlai’s position as essentially the most attacking midfielder turns into extra vital.
It’s a job that’s virtually as attacking because the centre-forward place and more often than not, particularly in a sport like this the place Liverpool dominate possession, Szoboszlai types a two via the center with the striker.
The Hungarian added his third Premier League purpose of the season, selecting it up in that superior midfield place and firing an correct left-footed shot into the underside nook.
He was additionally in a striker’s place for the third purpose, and customarily regarded just like the staff’s largest purpose menace within the first half.
The harm to Curtis Jones additionally means this position could also be his alone in the meanwhile, with Harvey Elliott because the fast backup, and he’ll be an vital participant for the upcoming video games.
3. Anfield content material
These are the sort of video games the place the group and the ambiance isn’t wanted to spur the staff on to a win. They will simply sit again and benefit from the present.
The followers had been absorbed within the sport, appreciating the attacking play and having fun with Liverpool’s dominance of possession.
There have been renditions of participant chants, with Luis Diaz’s particularly common, but when something the most important collective singing got here after Ipswich scored.
The Kop additionally sang Arne Slot’s identify on the finish of the sport, together with a rendition of You’ll By no means Stroll Alone within the closing minutes.
A basic 3pm kickoff, routine win for the Reds.
4. Aim distinction
An excellent purpose distinction can in some circumstances be like an additional level, and Liverpool added 4 extra objectives to their goals-for tally on this comfy win.
The Reds have steadily amassed the most effective purpose distinction within the league thanks, in a giant half, to solely having misplaced one sport and by simply the one purpose.
There was the occasional large scoreline, resembling 6-3 at Tottenham and 5-0 at West Ham, however most wins have been by the odd purpose or two.
After Ipswich misplaced 6-0 to a struggling Man Metropolis facet final week, this all the time regarded like an opportunity for Liverpool to rack up a giant, feel-good win, and so they didn’t disappoint.
Three objectives within the first half and one within the second took the purpose distinction to 54, 10 forward of Arsenal, and with a a lot better attacking file.
5. Looking forward to a busy schedule
There’s a break in league play for cup video games within the coming weeks, however there isn’t any relaxation for Liverpool.
The ultimate sport of the Champions League league section is in midweek towards PSV, earlier than Bournemouth within the league, Spurs within the Carabao Cup, Plymouth within the FA Cup after which the sport towards Everton to make up within the league.
The character of those video games towards totally different ranges of opposition in several circumstances ought to present loads of choices for rotation, however Slot has not been the heaviest of rotators to date.
He was in a position to relaxation key names in-game on Saturday, although, with Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch all introduced off halfway via the second half after which Alexis Mac Allister and Diaz in a while.
The PSV sport comes with Champions League development already within the bag and certain a spot on the prime of the desk. It may very well be a really perfect alternative to relaxation key gamers and even not have them journey.
The Plymouth sport must also supply a possibility to discipline an alternate, however nonetheless sturdy lineup, whereas the league matches and semi-final might be a precedence.
