Premier League Preview: How Can Injury-Hit Liverpool Secure Their First Win Away? Ipswich Continue Their Dark Horse Run

At 3:00 a.m. Beijing time on September 5, the first match of the third round of the 2026-27 Premier League season will begin, with promoted Ipswich hosting Premier League giants Liverpool. The two teams have experienced very different starts to the new season. Ipswich have collected one win and one defeat from their first two matches and sit 12th in the league, while Liverpool have drawn both of their opening games without a victory and urgently need points. One side aims to continue their dark horse momentum at home, while the other hopes to secure their first win of the season under pressure, making this match full of uncertainty.

As a promoted side in this Premier League season, Ipswich's opening performances have exceeded outside expectations and shown strong adaptability. They recorded one win and one loss in their first two league matches, beating Sunderland 2-1 and losing 2-5 to Manchester United, leaving them with three points in 12th place. The team uses a practical and resilient style, with the manager favoring a flexible defensive counterattacking approach. At home, they show strong determination and aggressive pressing. However, their heavy defeat in the previous round affected morale and exposed defensive instability in tough matches. Against top teams with fast transitions, their back line will face a major test. To strengthen the squad, Ipswich signed a high-value attacking reinforcement in the summer window, and the new arrival could make his debut in this match to improve their finishing ability.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have struggled at the start of new manager Iraola's first season, failing to win either of their opening two Premier League matches and urgently seeking their first victory. Liverpool drew 2-2 with Newcastle and Nottingham Forest in their first two games, with both home and away results ending level. The team's form was already inconsistent last season, and issues have appeared in both attack and defense at the beginning of this campaign. Defensive stability has declined, with repeated mistakes providing opponents with counterattacking opportunities. However, Liverpool still possess the resilience of a top club, repeatedly fighting back from losing positions, while their key players continue to show individual quality.

Liverpool also face a demanding schedule, with a crucial Champions League opening-round match against Atletico Madrid coming next midweek. They may be distracted by that fixture, but against a promoted side their desire for points is unquestionable as they aim for victory and a stronger league position. It is predicted that the team will avoid rotation, as securing a league win first would boost morale and help them collect points in the Champions League.

The biggest variable in this match comes from Liverpool's injury list. The team is currently missing five important players, seriously affecting squad depth, especially in midfield and wide areas. New signing Barcola has only recently joined and has had limited time to adapt, so he is likely to start on the bench rather than lead the attack from the beginning. However, the match has special significance for Liverpool's squad, as midfield core Dominik Szoboszlai will reach his 150th appearance milestone for the club. His motivation could help him lead the midfield and become a key figure in breaking the deadlock. In addition, weaknesses at full-back have become clear, with inconsistent performances and limited ability from the wide players creating the biggest defensive concern.

Ipswich have a relatively complete squad and no major injury problems, giving them the conditions to compete at full strength. Forward leader Emerson provides strong physicality and is a major attacking outlet, with excellent finishing and hold-up play. Winger Fatawu has outstanding pace and dribbling ability, allowing him to repeatedly attack the opponent's flank and provide crosses into central areas. Defensive pillar Diop handles aerial defense and important clearances, with his performance directly affecting the team's defensive ceiling. New signings have also expanded Ipswich's tactical options, giving them more room for adjustments in both attack and defense.

The historical meetings between the two teams have been heavily one-sided, with Liverpool holding clear dominance. In their last four Premier League encounters, Liverpool won all matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding only one, completely controlling both attack and defense. In addition, Liverpool are unbeaten in their last six away matches against Ipswich, with four wins and two draws, making them a major opponent for the promoted side. In the most recent meeting, Liverpool won 4-1 away at Ipswich, creating a clear psychological disadvantage for their opponents.

Although Ipswich have home advantage and have shown improved form, the overall gap remains significant when facing a deep-rooted Liverpool side with a dominant head-to-head record. However, Liverpool's weakened squad and poor current form give Ipswich an excellent opportunity to create an upset and challenge the giants at home.

Tactically, Ipswich are likely to continue their practical approach, focusing on defense at home, narrowing their shape to build a compact defensive block, and using two holding midfielders to block Liverpool's central passing routes. After stabilizing the match, they will look for opportunities through wing attacks and quick counterattacks, targeting Liverpool's weaknesses on the flanks. Their main idea is to prioritize stability, avoid defeat and fight for victory by using home momentum to consume Liverpool's weakened squad.

Liverpool are expected to maintain a possession-based approach, controlling the tempo through midfield circulation and relying on individual quality from key players to create breakthroughs. They will likely target the combination areas between the opponent's wings and central zones, applying pressure on Ipswich's lack of experience in high-pressure matches. However, injuries will reduce Liverpool's midfield control and efficiency in wide areas. It will be difficult for them to reproduce their peak attacking fluency, and the match could become a tight contest rather than an easy clean-sheet victory.

For Liverpool, this match is not only a key opportunity to chase their first win of the season but also an important chance to build chemistry and adjust form before the Champions League. Ipswich hope to use home advantage to create another dark horse moment and earn valuable league points. A single Premier League match at 3:00 a.m. can always produce surprises, and Liverpool will need to defend their reputation as a top club.