Ipswich vs Liverpool betting tips: Goals on the menu in Suffolk

Matchday 3 of the 2026-27 Premier League season begins on Friday night when Liverpool, still searching for a first win of 2026-27, head to newly-promoted Ipswich.

Odds Now’s football tipster Matt Hill takes a closer look at the contest and offers up his best bets.

Ipswich vs Liverpool betting odds

Match winner - Ipswich 19/4, Draw 15/4, Liverpool 11/20

Over 2.5 match goals - Yes 1/2, No 7/4

Both Teams To Score - Yes 3/5, No 7/5

Goal In Both Halves - Yes 4/9, No 7/4

First Goalscorer (selected) - Alexander Isak 5/1, Cody Gakpo 13/2, Bradley Barcola 13/2, Florian Wirtz 17/2, Dominik Szoboszlai 9/1, Zian Flemming 10/1, Emersonn Silva 11/1, Julio Enciso 12/1

* Odds correct at time of publish (Midday Thursday September 3rd) and subject to change.

Ipswich vs Liverpool match preview

Expectations were relatively modest for Ipswich coming into this season, given they have had to deal with the surprise summer exit of their highly-rated boss Kieran McKenna.

After leading the Tractor Boys back to the promised land at the first attempt last term, McKenna caught everyone off guard when announcing he would be taking a break from football – leaving his replacement, Gary O’Neil, with huge shoes to fill.

However, bookmakers give the East Anglian outfit more chance of surviving than their fellow two promoted sides, with Ipswich currently available at a best-priced 13/10 (AK Bets) for the drop, while Hull (1/2) and Coventry (8/15) are odds-on pokes.

Things could hardly have started better, with Jack Clarke netting an injury-time winner against his former club Sunderland on the opening weekend to give O’Neil a precious three points on his first outing as boss. Yet Ipswich were sent crashing back down to earth last weekend with a 5-2 defeat at Manchester United – a game where their opponents’ superior attacking quality caused real issues.

The closing days of the transfer window were fairly modest for Ipswich compared with some other clubs but they did complete the £20million signing of Zian Fleming from Burnley to bolster their forward ranks.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have had a frustrating start to life under ex-Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot this summer. Draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest leave them in the peculiar position of being unbeaten but also still looking for a first victory.

On a positive note, goals have been in plentiful supply. The two 2-2 draws have seen the Reds share the goal involvements around, including contributions from last summer’s big-money underperformers in Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz. Creating chances looks set to be no issue, but keeping them out at the other end may well be.

It could certainly be argued that the home draw with Forest last time out flattered Liverpool more, given Forest had 2.30 of xG and missed three big chances, alongside their two goals. The Merseysiders look particularly vulnerable at full-back, which should give Ipswich – and other future opponents – some encouragement in the coming weeks.

Iraola will be thrilled his club finally managed to get a deal over the line for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola earlier this week, which adds yet more standout quality to their forward ranks.

Ipswich vs Liverpool betting tips

Over 3.5 goals - 6/5 (Betfred)

Sometimes it just pays to keep things simple. The four games involving these two sides to date have produced 18 goals and zero clean sheets. So why stop now?

Ipswich, with a vociferous home support, will be encouraged to attack a vulnerable visiting backline that is giving up chances left, right and centre.

At the other end, Liverpool must be licking their lips here, having seen Manchester United stick five past the Tractor Boys last weekend.

Backing BTTS and over 3.5 goals at 6/4 looked tempting enough too in the circumstances. However, keeping it simple with over 3.5 match goals also keeps the Liverpool rout on side, which isn’t a farfetched concept.

Julio Enciso + Florian Wirtz 1+ shot on target - 15/8 (Bet365)

If we’re expecting goals, then shot markets should also be of interest here – and coupling a trigger-happy player from each sides makes strong appeal.

Florian Wirtz had a first season to forget at Anfield but looks rejuvenated early in his second campaign. He managed a shot on target on opening weekend in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle, and followed that up last time out against Forest. Those output numbers could have been even better for the German really, with a well-taken goal against the latter was narrowly ruled out for offside.

We can also trust Ipswich’s livewire ball carrier Julio Enciso to cause Liverpool problems in transition. The Paraguayan made an impressive start to life at Brighton in 2022 before a horrific knee injury stunted his progress. Having re-built his career with a loan at Ipswich, then a permanent switch to Strasbourg, he now looks ready to really kick on again having head to Portman Road on a permanent this summer.

Enciso has taken six shots in Ipswich’s two matches thus far – a tally that only 10 players in the division have bettered – and given how direct and tricky he is, he looks certain to feature in some positive moments for the underdogs.

Wirtz and Enciso both to register a shot on target therefore appeals as a tidy alternative play at 15/8 with Bet365.

Matt Hill’s best betting tips for Ipswich vs Liverpool – September 4th 2026

2.5pts - Over 3.5 match goals - 6/5 (Betfred)

1.5pts - Florian Wirtz and Julio Enciso 1+ shot on target each - 15/8 (Bet365)

Total staked - 4pts