Liverpoolvs.Ipswich

The Manchester City loanee could not face his parent club in last weekend's 6-0 humiliation, which left the Tractor Boys in the relegation zone on goal difference.

McKenna was also missing Jacob Greaves (unspecified), Luke Woolfenden (unspecified), Sammie Szmodics (ankle), Conor Chaplin (knee) and Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles) for that thrashing, and the latter three will remain unavailable for Saturday's game too.

Whether Greaves or Woolfenden come back into contention is not yet known, but McKenna does have Axel Tuanzebe back in his ranks, and the former Manchester United defender is certainly a candidate to return to the first XI.

McKenna opted to deploy a 5-4-1 system instead of his tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1 against Man City in a futile bid to quell the champions, but after last weekend's horror show, he may revert to his more usual setup.

Both Cameron Burgess and new signing Ben Godfrey could therefore be at risk of the axe if Greaves is passed fit to start alongside Dara O'Shea, while Phillips's return could spell bad news for Sam Morsy.

The versatile Ben Johnson could still start in a more advanced role, certainly alongside Omari Hutchinson and Liam Delap if so, and a full debut could also come Jaden Philogene's way in place of Jack Clarke if Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Julio Enciso is not deemed ready just yet.

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:

Walton; Tuanzebe, O'Shea, Greaves, Davis; Phillips, Cajuste; Johnson, Hutchinson, Philogene; Delap

Written by

Ben Knapton