Cody Gakpo delivered a standout performance, scoring twice as Liverpool comfortably defeated Ipswich Town 4-1 at Anfield, keeping their six-point cushion atop the Premier League intact.
Liverpool effectively ended the contest by halftime, scoring three goals in a dominant opening 45 minutes. The victory kept Jürgen Klopp’s men firmly on course for a second league title in six years, despite the pressure from Arsenal, who secured a dramatic late win against Wolves to stay in contention.
The Reds opened the scoring just 11 minutes in when Ibrahima Konaté threaded a precise ball to Dominik Szoboszlai, who drilled a powerful shot past Ipswich goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky at the near post. The Hungarian midfielder’s goal set the tone for a ruthless Liverpool display.
Mohamed Salah, Anfield’s talisman, doubled the lead 10 minutes before halftime. The Egyptian star fired into the roof of the net from a tight angle, further asserting Liverpool’s dominance.
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The third came just before the break, as Szoboszlai’s initial effort was parried, but Gakpo was in the right place to calmly slot home the rebound.
The second half was largely a formality, but Gakpo added to his tally with a powerful header, completing a brace and cementing his role as one of Liverpool’s most clinical finishers this season.
Ipswich, desperate to avoid a repeat of their 6-0 drubbing by Manchester City in their previous outing, showed little attacking intent and spent much of the game on the back foot. However, the visitors found a glimmer of consolation in stoppage time when Jacob Greaves rose highest to head home from a corner, giving the travelling fans a moment to cheer.
The result leaves Ipswich in 18th place, level on points with Wolves but still mired in the relegation zone. Liverpool, meanwhile, remain six points clear of second-placed Arsenal, with the Reds firmly in control of their title destiny.