Cody Gakpo double helps ‘almost-perfect’ Liverpool thrash Ipswich Town 4-1
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Liverpool's Cody Gakpo scoring their fourth goal - his second - against Ipswich Town on Jan 25.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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LIVERPOOL – Arne Slot hailed Liverpool’s “almost-perfect” 4-1 demolition of Ipswich Town as the English Premier League leaders moved a step closer to the title on Jan 25.
Cody Gakpo struck twice after Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah netted at Anfield in a dominant performance that kept Liverpool six points clear of Arsenal with a game in hand.
Just a second league title in 35 years and a 20th overall to match Manchester United’s English record now seems just a matter of time in Slot’s first season in charge.
“It’s been a few times we have played a home game and conceded a goal at the start. Today is the way you want to start a game,” Slot said.
“We were aggressive, dominant for 85 minutes. They had hardly been in our half.
“At the end, we are all disappointed conceding from a corner, the first one this season. But for 85 minutes, it was almost a perfect performance against a team that plays a low block.
“That’s not always easy, but the way we did it was really good.”
The Dutchman was able to make five changes from the 2-1 win over Lille on Jan 21 that also secured direct passage to the last 16 of the Champions League in a sparkling season for the six-time European champions.
By contrast, Ipswich are finding the step up to the Premier League a bridge too far after back-to-back promotions.
Kieran McKenna’s men were thrashed 6-0 at home by Manchester City on Jan 19 and could easily have suffered the same margin or more on their first trip to Anfield since 2002.
Said McKenna: “In some aspects, it was similar to last week. There were some positives in the first half. It didn’t feel like we were under huge pressure and we started the game well... Liverpool executed well and we didn’t defend the box well enough.”
Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai scores their first goal.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta urged the Football Association to overturn Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly’s controversial red card in the 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Jan 25.
Lewis-Skelly, 18, became the third-youngest player to be dismissed in Premier League history when he was shown a straight red by Michael Oliver in the first half for clipping Matt Doherty.
It was a hugely contentious decision, as the offence took place deep inside Arsenal’s own half and was clearly not reckless. But Riccardo Calafiori’s 74th-minute winner ensured all three points for the Gunners.
“I am absolutely fuming, but I leave it with you,” Arteta said. “I think it is that obvious we don’t need any comment and hopefully the right thing will happen.
“Hopefully we don’t need to (appeal the decision) and if we have to, there is a really good precedent, what happened with Bruno (Fernandes of Manchester United) this season as well.” AFP
