Ipswich vs Liverpool: Eight players set to miss Premier League opener at Portman Road

Liverpool head to Ipswich Town on Friday evening still searching for their first Premier League victory of the 2026/27 campaign, with Andoni Iraola’s side carrying a lengthy injury list into the 8pm kick-off at Portman Road.

The Reds have drawn both of their opening league fixtures — 2-2 at Newcastle United and 2-2 at home to Nottingham Forest — leaving them 13th in the table. Ipswich sit one place above them after a contrasting start: a 2-1 win over Sunderland in their opener was followed by a 5-2 thrashing at Manchester United last weekend.

Gary O’Neill has confirmed that three Ipswich regulars will definitely miss the match. Winger Jaden Philogene is recovering from an ankle problem and is not expected back for at least another week, while Jack Taylor and Azor Matusiwa are sidelined with knee and thigh injuries respectively on a similar timescale. Florentino Luis and Emersonn, both originally doubts, have been cleared for selection.

Liverpool’s absentee list is longer. Hugo Ekitike remains in rehabilitation for an Achilles tendon rupture sustained in the Champions League earlier this year and is not expected to return until the end of 2026. Giovanni Leoni has not featured competitively since suffering an ACL injury on his debut 12 months ago, though Iraola offered a cautious update on the centre-back: “I think the plan is also to start training during the [international] break, with the group.”

Conor Bradley has also been managing a serious knee problem since January, adding further defensive depth concerns for the visitors ahead of a fixture they will be expected to win despite their sluggish start to the season.

For Ipswich, the match represents another stern test as they bid to establish themselves back in the top flight after promotion. A second consecutive heavy defeat would heap early pressure on O’Neill’s squad, while a positive result against one of the division’s traditional heavyweights would send a significant statement about their survival credentials.