Arne Slot enjoyed the perfect start to life as Liverpool boss as goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah secured a 2-0 win against Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
In the first of TNT Sports’ live Premier League fixtures in the 2024/25 season, the newly-promoted side started well and kept Liverpool at bay until the interval.
Omari Hutchinson, who had his loan made permanent in a club-record deal this summer, came close to opening the scoring from a counter-attack but saw his low effort saved by Alisson, while defender Jacob Greaves had a header well saved.
But Slot’s side came flying out of the blocks after the break, producing numerous free-flowing moves and finally showing their undoubted quality.
Jota capped off a spell of Liverpool dominance by converting with ease on the hour mark after Salah got the better of Leif Davis with menacing pace on the wing – and there was now a relentlessness about the visitors.
Just five minutes later, Salah got a goal of his own after he played a neat one-two with Dominik Szoboszlai on the edge of the box before squeezing a low effort under Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton.
While the visitors seemed slow to grasp the new style of play under Slot, the result secured the Dutchman a comfortable win on his debut in the Liverpool dugout.
Talking Point – Slot up and running as Liverpool boss but transition will take time
All in all, a 2-0 win away at a newly-promoted Premier League side is a solid way to start your reign as manager. But Slot’s style differs somewhat from what we’ve been used to seeing at Anfield in the last few years, and there were signs at Portman Road there may be some patience required before the 2019-20 Premier League champions are at their best.
Liverpool struggled to contain Ipswich in the first half, and there were moments where they could not even make it out of their own half. A gaping void in the “anchor” role was most notable, and the club’s inability to fill that hole during the summer transfer window may see them suffer in future matches. In truth, Slot’s side did well to go into half-time level, and their performance levels cranked up massively after the break.
TNT Sports pundit Peter Crouch labelled Liverpool’s first and second half performances as “chalk and cheese”, and it was a pretty accurate assessment. They were free-flowing in the second half and they finally showed their unquestionable quality.
But there are plenty of positives to take for both sides. Salah was immense throughout, while Jota also looks to have taken to life under his new boss well.
For Premier League newcomers Ipswich, they have been shown just how relentless football in the top-flight can be, and it will serve as a good lesson going forward. They had plenty of positives, with new signing Liam Delap impressing up top, and Jacob Greaves providing a steely presence at the back.
Player of the Match
Mohamed Salah was far and away the best player on the pitch at Portman Road.
When Liverpool suffered, he was a fantastic out ball on the right and had the measure of his fullback Leif Davis throughout the afternoon.
Salah was Liverpool’s most threatening and creative outlet and his performance was epitomised with an assist and a goal.
A different look, but the same Salah and his start to life under new boss Slot could not have been better.
Player Ratings
Ipswich: Walton 6, Tuanzebe 6, Woolfenden 5, Greaves 7, Davis 5, Luongo 6, Morsy 6, Burns 5, Chaplin 5, Hutchinson 6, Delap 7. Subs: Johnson 5, Taylor 5, Harness 6, Al-Hamadi 5, Szmodics 5.
Liverpool: Alisson 6, Robertson 6, Van Dijk 6, Quansah 6, Alexander-Arnold 7, Mac Allister 7, Gravenberch 6, Diaz 7, Szoboszlai 7, Salah 9*, Jota 8. Subs: Konate 7, Bradley 6, Gakpo 5, Tsimikas 6.
Key Moments
20′ CLOSE BY GREAVES! First real chance on goal and it comes from centre half Greaves. He’s a rangy customer, and he used his height well to get on the end of Sam Morsy’s excellent ball from the free-kick. He heads down, but only into the clutches of Alisson.
39′ BURNS FORTUNATE TO STAY ON PITCH? Burns, who has already been shown yellow this afternoon, goes down in tangle with Jota and deliberately pushes the ball out of the forward’s path. Somewhat lucky to avoid a sending off there.
60′ GOAL! IPSWICH 0-1 LIVERPOOL (JOTA) Wow. That was an absolutely breathtaking couple of minutes from Liverpool and they’re finally ahead. Salah gets the better of Leif Davis, and he charges down from the right, playing in a simple central ball for Jota to guide home with ease. Moment earlier, Jota headed just wide from a superb Trent cross.
65′ GOAL! IPSWICH 0-2 LIVERPOOL (SALAH) The floodgates are opening slightly, and buzzcut Mo is off the mark! A neat move, a Salah plays a one-two with Szoboszlai before worming a low effort under the flailing Walton. The shackles are off Liverpool seemingly, and Salah is having a lot of joy on the right flank.
89′ CLOSE FROM DIAZ! Diaz wants in on the action and he nearly manufactures a goal as he flicks the ball up and volleys into an Ipswich body.
90+4′ PLENTY OF CHANCES LATE ON FOR LIVERPOOL Salah and Bradley look to make it three but a combination of heroic last-gasp defending and a smart save from Walton keeps the result intact.
Key Stats
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