EPL: Liverpool Extend Premier League Lead with Convincing Win Over Ipswich

Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai scored as Liverpool defeated Ipswich 4-1 to maintain their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Liverpool maintained their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table with a convincing 4-1 win over Ipswich Town at Anfield, extending their unbeaten run in the top flight to 18 matches.

The Reds were determined to make a stronger start, having conceded first in each of their last three home league games. Their early dominance paid off within 11 minutes, as Ibrahima Konaté's line-breaking pass found Dominik Szoboszlai in space at the edge of the area. Szoboszlai capitalized on the opportunity, scoring with a wonderful left-footed finish into the bottom corner.

Ipswich's woes deepened when Wes Burns suffered a serious-looking knee injury and was stretchered off. This was a significant blow to Kieran McKenna's side, who were already struggling to contain Liverpool's attacking threat. The visitors' chances of getting back into the game were further diminished 10 minutes before the break.

Mohamed Salah doubled Liverpool's advantage with a sublime finish, courtesy of an inch-perfect Cody Gakpo cross. Salah controlled the ball expertly at the back post before lashing it high into the roof of the net, leaving Ipswich with a mountain to climb in the second half.

Liverpool's lead became virtually insurmountable on the stroke of half-time, as Cody Gakpo turned home a rebound from Dominik Szoboszlai's initial effort. This goal marked Gakpo's fifth successive Premier League home game with a goal, putting him in esteemed company alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie as the only Dutchmen to achieve this feat.

A thumping win that maintains @LFC's momentum at the top 🔝#LIVIPS pic.twitter.com/SyoYXPzu3P

— Premier League (@premierleague) January 25, 2025

After the restart, Ipswich's primary objective was damage limitation. Their traveling fans finally had something to cheer about on the hour mark when Omari Hutchinson managed a shot, but Alisson comfortably saved the effort. The pattern of play remained unchanged, with Liverpool continuing to dominate.

Liverpool added a fourth goal soon after, courtesy of a trademark Trent Alexander-Arnold cross that picked out Gakpo, who headed home his eighth Premier League goal of the campaign. Alexander-Arnold came close to scoring a fifth goal on two occasions, first rifling an effort wide from long range and then rattling the posts from inside the area.

Despite not scoring a fifth goal, Liverpool secured a convincing 4-1 win, marking only their second home victory by a margin of at least three goals in 17 league matches. This win also extended their impressive record against promoted sides at Anfield, with 11 successive Premier League victories.

Ipswich managed to score a consolation goal in the 90th minute, as Julio Enciso's corner was headed home by Jacob Greaves at the back post. This goal ensured that Ipswich avoided suffering a third successive defeat without scoring. The loss, combined with Wolverhampton Wanderers' defeat to Arsenal, means that Ipswich are now only separated from the safety line by goal difference, despite their recent struggles.