Liverpool beat newly promoted side Ipswich Town 2-0 to start their Premier league campaign in style. The Reds were sensational in the second half, which rocked the Tractor Boys. Liverpool’s Egyptian King Mo Salah came to rescue the Reds as he set up Diogo Jota for the first goal and scored a beauty to finish things off. His everlasting streak of scoring on the first week of the matchday continues.
This was new boss Arne Slot’s first competitive game for Liverpool. Stakes were high an he did not disappoint the travelling fans who took a long journey south east. Ipswich are playing in the top division after a long wait of two decades. The Tractor boys started the game brilliantly, it was end to end football in the first half.
In the second half, Slot’s team showed major improvement and created multiple chances. The Reds could have easily added more than two goals had they taken their opportunities. Trent Alexander Arnold showed the world why he is one of the best full backs in the world. His overlapping runs stunned Ipswich fullback Leif Davis who kept him onside which led to Liverpool’s first goal.
It is not easy to replace someone as legendary as Jurgen Klopp. Arne Slot has a mammoth task up ahead and has started his new career in some fashion. The Dutchman becomes the first Liverpool manager to win their first competitive game. Former England and Liverpool striker Peter Crouch is impressed by the quality of Arne Slot’s football. He says;
“It was breathtaking! Liverpool needed to make a statement with the new manager and no signing. Ways they opened Ipswich up, they looked like they were going to score at will. There are slight differences between Slot and Klopp but the fans will get on board.”
The Egyptian King makes his 350th appearance for the Reds
Mohammed Salah made his 350th appearance for Liverpool on Saturday. This is his 8th season at Anfield. The 32 year old scored for the ninth time consecutively on the opening day of the Premier league breaking Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer and Frank Lampard’s joint record of eight times. He has 14 goal contributions on the opening matchday breaking Rooney’s record of 13 for Manchester United.
Many pundits and fans believed that Salah is past his prime and its time to let go of the Egyptian. However, the 32 year old announced himself on the big stage yet again proving his doubters wrong. Even now defenders fear Mo Salah running down the wing! He gave the Ipswich defenders a run for their money. He proved his manager that he is still the main man to lead Liverpool to glory.
The Egyptian king has 300 goal contributions for the club in 350 games for Liverpool. Such are his high standards, him scoring 18 goals in 32 games last season was considered a failure for him. With just a year remaining on his contract, the Reds are not ready to see him leave so soon. Arne Slot feels he has still a lot to offer to the club and has plenty of years left in him. He says;
“If I see what he does to keep his body as it is to be ready to play every game, then I think there are many more years inside of him to play.”
Plenty of positives to take for Liverpool
Liverpool had a flop transfer window this summer, failing to sign their top priority Martin Zubimendi. The manager had requested the board to sign a new number 6 but did not get one. Therefore, the manager had to take a risk and play Ryan Gravenberch in the number 6 role on Saturday. However, the risk paid off and the Dutch midfielder was sensational against Ipswich. He was not out of position throughout the game and was instrumental in carrying the ball forward during the second half.
The manager was also impressed by the performance of Virgil Van Dijk and Allison Becker. Both of them are very experienced and were instrumental in buildup. The defender gave a brilliant lob pass to Salah which he received brilliantly and secured the two goal advantage for the Reds.
The team showed great character while defending as well. The manager has a strict rule of defending with 11 players, even the forwards must contribute off the ball. Midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were brilliant as they attracted the Ipswich defenders towards them creating space for the forwards. The team was efficient in possession of the ball in the second half and had a chokehold on the Ipswich midfield.
Liverpool face Brentford next week on 25th August, Sunday. The manager was happy with his teams performance post match. He says;
“I inherited a very, very good team with a lot of great individuals but also these players have to understand that it is not enough what they brought in the first half. If they bring the maximum of their capacity then they can play really, really good, and that’s what they showed in the second half today. It was good to see the goals we scored .”
For more sports updates, make sure to follow us on:
