A stunning second-half efficiency ensured Liverpool bought their 2024/25 marketing campaign off to a successful begin as they beat Ipswich City 2-0 at Portman Highway.
Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys made life troublesome for Arne Slot’s Reds within the opening interval, limiting their guests in possession. Nonetheless, Liverpool turned on the type after half-time and cruised to a gap weekend win in opposition to the newly promoted facet.
Whereas Slot’s facet impressed within the second interval, McKenna, too, would’ve taken loads of positives from Ipswich’s first Premier League outing in 22 years.
How the match unfolded
Apparently this Ed Sheeran bloke was in attendance at Portman Highway on Saturday afternoon, however we’re undecided, the broadcasters did not make it abundantly clear.
Anyway, the soccer.
The returning Ipswich had been characteristically spritely amid a primary half outlined by tenacity and business versus attacking high quality. Each side had their struggles in possession on a seemingly sluggish and dry pitch, and neither goalkeeper was examined within the opening interval. The intense Omari Hutchinson broke and drew a cushty save out of Alisson, as did Jacob Greaves from a set-piece, whereas Trent Alexander-Arnold blazed over from the sting of the field to shut out the primary half.
Ipswich deserved loads of credit score for his or her brave begin to proceedings in opposition to a dreary Liverpool outfit, however Slot’s facet moved via the gears after the restart. The Reds began to get pleasure from themselves in possession and steadily discovered themselves in behind the hosts’ backline. After spurning a number of probabilities to begin the second half, Jota completed off a flowing transfer to interrupt the impasse on the hour.
After that, it was a query of what number of. Liverpool regarded like scoring each time they went ahead in opposition to an Ipswich facet that expended a lot power within the first half.
Mohamed Salah doubled the guests’ benefit quickly after, however Slot’s facet did relent within the last third to make sure Ipswich weren’t topic to a hammering, which might’ve felt harsh given their early efforts. They wasted a mountain of probabilities late on.
GK: Christian Walton – 7/10 – Smothered every little thing within the opening interval in what was a a lot quieter first half than he would’ve anticipated. Had little likelihood as soon as Liverpool turned it on.
RB: Axel Tuanzebe – 5/10 – Sturdy sufficient for some time, however Liverpool finally had a number of enjoyable getting in behind Tuanzebe down Ipswich’s proper.
CB: Luke Woolfenden – 7/10 – Managed himself nicely after choosing up an early reserving. Would not look the sharpest of turners, however Woolfenden defended the Ipswich field admirably when known as upon.
CB: Jacob Greaves – 8/10 – Spectacular in each containers. It appears to be like like the brand new arrival can be a handful attacking set-pieces, and he defended his personal field like a classic Italian.
LB: Leif Davis – 4/10 – David has been a key determine at Portman Highway below McKenne however he regarded woefully out of his depth up in opposition to Salah on Saturday. Many left-backs do, thoughts.
DM: Massimo Luongo – 6/10 – Received via some glorious work within the first half, particularly within the build-up. Performed some pretty passes across the nook. Pale after the restart.
DM: Sam Morsy – 6/10 – The skipper typified Ipswich’s hustle and bustle in the midst of the park, however he isn’t probably the most athletic and his midfield accomplice had a much bigger say within the build-up.
RM: Wes Burns – 6/10 – Lucky to not obtain a second yellow card for handball, however Burns definitely gave Andy Robertson a couple of issues to consider. Remoted at instances, although.
AM: Omari Hutchinson – 7/10 – Ipswich’s brightest spark going ahead, however does not but have the working energy to be a dependable menace on the counter-attack. Was very neat and tidy between the strains.
LM: Conor Chaplin – 5/10 – A quiet afternoon for Chaplin, who was changed halfway via the second half with out having a lot of an influence.
ST: Liam Delap – 6/10 – Appears to be like like he will be a key outlet for McKenna’s facet this season as he produced a few pretty sequences within the first half. Felt like this was merely a teaser.
Substitutes
SUB: Ben Johnson (57′ for Burns) – 5/10
SUB: Marcus Harness (65′ for Chaplin) – 6/10
SUB: Jack Taylor (65′ for Luongo) – 5/10
SUB: Sammie Szmodics (74′ for Tuanzebe) – 5/10
SUB: Ali Al-Hamadi (74′ for Delap) – 6/10
Subs not used: Cieran Slicker (GK), Kalvin Phillips, Cameron Burgess, Ali Al-Hamadi, Conor Townsend,
Supervisor
Kieran McKenna – 7/10 – Ipswich had been so courageous and their first half efficiency was sensible, particularly with out possession. Nonetheless, the gulf in high quality did finally manifest. There’s solely a lot McKenna can do.
GK: Alisson – 6/10 – Ipswich examined Alisson on a few events within the first half, however the Brazilian was pressured into saves he would’ve been anticipated to make.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8/10 – Took some time to get into the sport, however Ipswich could not get close to him within the second half. Trent ran the present after half-time, producing a number of scrumptious passes which flummoxed the Tractor Boys’ backline.
CB: Jarell Quansah – 6/10 – His half-time withdrawal was a shock because it did not seem injury-enforced. Quansah made a few decisive interventions early on, however was caught out at instances when pressured to defend out huge.
CB: Virgil van Dijk – 7/10 – A trademark show from Van Dijk, who by no means appeared flustered. Pings out to Salah labored nicely within the first half, and Ipswich barely bothered him within the second interval.
LB: Andy Robertson – 6/10 – The Scotland captain endured a sloppy opening to proceedings, however, in reality, he was by no means actually troubled down his flank. A little bit of rust was to be anticipated given his lack of a pre-season.
DM: Ryan Gravenberch – 7/10 – After a sluggish begin, Gravenberch got here to life as soon as Ipswich pale. Began to get ahold of the midfield having been overwhelmed at instances early on.
DM: Alexis Mac Allister – 5/10 – The Argentine appears to be like like he is working his manner into Slot’s framework. Mac Allister operated within the pivot and better up as a part of a field midfield, however was on the periphery of Saturday’s recreation.
RM: Mohamed Salah – 8/10 – Had his manner with Davis all through the competition and he made positive he continued his glorious document on the opening day by poking house Liverpool’s second.
AM: Dominik Szoboszlai – 8/10 – The positions he took up within the opening interval troubled left-back Davis, however the Hungarian’s execution as soon as he obtained between the strains wasn’t pinpoint till afterward within the recreation. Szoboszlai’s distribution was very good at instances.
LM: Luis Diaz – 7/10 – Ipswich couldn’t comprise Diaz as soon as Liverpool moved via the gears. The winger consistently discovered himself in behind, however he could not fairly piece it collectively within the last third. Such a menace, although.
ST: Diogo Jota – 7/10 – After lacking a gilt-edged likelihood, Jota bought his objective which handed Liverpool the lead and opened the floodgates. At all times a menace in and across the field.
Substitutes
SUB: Ibrahima Konate (46′ for Quansah) – 6/10
SUB: Conor Bradley (76′ for Alexander-Arnold) – 6/10
SUB: Cody Gakpo (79′ for Jota) – 5/10
SUB: Kostas Tsimikas (79′ for Robertson) – 6/10
Subs not used: Caoimhin Kelleher (GK), Wataru Endo, Darwin Nunez, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott.
Supervisor
Arne Slot – 8/10 – After a circumspect opening bereft of penetration, Slot’s Reds had been majestic within the second half. ‘Slotball’ is divine in full cry, and we’re definitely going to benefit from the Dutchman’s outfit this season.
Participant of the match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
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