Ipswich Town welcome Liverpool to Portman Road this evening for a Premier League fixture that carries significant weight for the visitors, who are still searching for a first win under new manager Andoni Iraola.
Iraola, who took charge of the Reds after replacing Arne Slot in the dugout over the summer, has endured a difficult start to his tenure at Anfield. His first two matches in the Premier League ended in identical 2-2 draws, against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest respectively, leaving Liverpool still to register a victory under the former Bournemouth boss.
The most recent of those results was particularly dramatic, with Liverpool required to fight back at home to salvage a point against Nottingham Forest. Victor Munoz, one of the club's summer recruits, struck a late equaliser to deny Forest all three points at Anfield. The previous fixture at St James' Park against Newcastle had also proven to be a scrap, with Liverpool needing a Dominik Szoboszlai penalty to force a share of the spoils.
Despite the underwhelming results, Liverpool have strengthened their squad significantly with the high-profile arrival of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain. The winger joined for a reported fee of £123million, a figure just below the British transfer record the club paid last summer to sign Alexander Isak. Barcola is eligible to feature for Liverpool in Suffolk this evening and could be handed his first minutes in a red shirt.
For Ipswich, the visit of Liverpool represents an opportunity to build on an encouraging start to life back in the Premier League. The Tractor Boys secured their first win of the season with a home victory over Sunderland, giving their supporters hope of a positive top-flight campaign following promotion. However, that momentum was checked last weekend when Ipswich suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat away to Manchester United, a result that will have tempered expectations ahead of tonight's clash.
With both sides looking to find consistency early in the season, the match offers a fascinating contrast in circumstances. Liverpool, despite their pedigree and recent investment in the squad, arrive under pressure to convert their attacking talent into results, while Ipswich will be eager to prove their opening win was no fluke and that they can compete against one of the division's traditional heavyweights.
All eyes will be on whether Iraola can finally guide his new side to a first league win, and whether Barcola's introduction can provide the spark Liverpool have been missing in front of goal during their opening fixtures. For Ipswich, containing a Liverpool attack bolstered by such a marquee signing will be no easy task, but a positive result at Portman Road would go a long way to consolidating their return to the Premier League.
Kick-off at Portman Road is scheduled for 8pm BST, with build-up coverage beginning an hour earlier. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League for subscribers wishing to watch from home, with a live stream also available via the Sky Go app and website for those on the move.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.