Liverpool maintained their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League as Cody Gakpo scored twice in a 4-1 thrashing of Ipswich.
Kieran McKenna’s side, beaten 6-0 by Manchester City last weekend, were subjected to another bruising afternoon at Anfield, with Dominic Szoboszlai’s 11th-minute strike from the edge of the box setting the tone for the rampant hosts.
Mohamed Salah extended their lead when he slammed home a clinical finish from an acute angle following a Gakpo cross for his 100th Premier League goal at Anfield.
Gakpo scored the third himself shortly before the break when he slotted in a rebound after Christian Walton had denied Szoboszlai and the hosts continued to pour forward.
Gakpo added his second and Liverpool’s fourth in the 66th minute when he headed in a sublime cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold, who then struck the post with a curling shot before Jacob Greaves nodded an Ipswich consolation goal from a corner.
Greaves’ goal gave the travelling fans something to celebrate but, by that point, the game had come to resemble a training exercise for the hosts, with Arne Slot able to withdraw Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Szoboszlai midway through the second period.
Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Wolves ensures the gap between Liverpool and the second-placed Gunners remains at six points, although the leaders still have their game in hand to come.
Ipswich, meanwhile, remain 18th, having also lost winger Wes Burns to what looked like a serious knee injury in the first half.
Analysis: Gakpo’s Anfield run continues
A player-of-the-match performance and a piece of history for Gakpo, who becomes the first Dutch player to score in six successive Premier League home games, surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie’s previous best of five.
Cody Gakpo heads Liverpool into a 4-0 lead against Ipswich
Among many impressive performances, the 24-year-old was Liverpool’s outstanding player, setting up Salah’s goal with a far-post cross in addition to scoring twice himself. His double takes him to eight goals in the Premier League this season, equalling his total for the whole of last term with four months to spare.
He is clearly relishing the opportunity to play consistently on the left having mostly been used in the central-striker role by Jurgen Klopp. It is a tactical change which continues to bear fruit for Slot.
Gakpo: I love scoring in front of the fans
Gakpo said of his latest goalscoring performance at Anfield: “I really do love it. It’s amazing scoring in front of the fans. But most important was the win. I’m very happy.”
On Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross for his second goal, he said: “Everybody knows his quality. He has showed it a lot this season. At Tottenham he also had a great ball for Lucho [Luis Diaz], for a similar goal. It was a great ball, a good finish and a good goal.
“We have grown as a team, We know better how we play together. We have a different manager as well and a slightly different style of play, more possession based.
“I think everyone is in good form but we have to keep going.”
Slot pleased by ‘dominant’ display
Liverpool boss Slot said of his side’s performance: “Decent, dominant. Scoring four goals is always nice. We hardly gave away any chances at all. We conceded almost no counter-attacks which is not easy against a low block.
“Unfortunately, we conceded from a set-piece in the end. If we hadn’t done that it would have been a complete performance. Now we are a bit dissatisfied with the goal we conceded.”
On Szoboszlai, he said: “Pleasing to see for him because he has been working so, so hard for the team. It’s good that he comes off the pitch with a goal.”
Can Liverpool be caught?
The Soccer Saturday panel had a feisty debate on the title race.
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Paul Merson took on Tim Sherwood and Clinton Morrison in a heated debate on whether Arsenal can catch Liverpool in the title race
McKenna fears serious Burns injury
Ipswich boss McKenna said: “A difficult game. A difficult position to be in at half-time and also a frustrating position.
“We started the game well but then from little we found ourselves a goal down and then a few goals down.
“We take a lot of positives from the second half. We managed the game pretty well and finished the game strong. We made some mistakes but if we take the lessons in the right way we can be stronger.”
On Burns’ injury, which saw him stretchered off following a lengthy stoppage, McKenna added: “We have our fingers crossed but the knee looks swollen. We hope it is not as bad but it looks serious.”
Salah surpasses previous goal total
- Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scored his 100th Premier League home goal at Anfield with his 19th Premier League goal of the season overall. It is the most of any player in 2024/25, and surpasses his total in the whole of last term (18 in 32 appearances).
- Liverpool have now picked up more points (26) and wins (eight) at home in the Premier League this season than any other side. This game was the first time they scored four or more goals in the league at Anfield this term.
- Since he joined the club at the start of last season, Dominik Szoboszlai has scored more goals from outside the box in all competitions (five) than any other player for Liverpool.
