Liverpool beat Ipswich 2-0 at Portman Road on Saturday as Arne Slot saw his side ease past the Tractors Boys who tasted defeat on their long-awaited return to the Premier League.
A classy second half display from Liverpool saw Mohamed Salah take charge as he set up Diogo Jota for the first and then scored the second himself.
Ipswich worked so hard in the first half but ran out of steam as Liverpool’s extra quality shone through.
Salah’s class the difference as Liverpool click
Ipswich did their best to disrupt the game in the first half and they succeeded in frustrating Liverpool. But you have to do more than just be spoilers to get something against this Liverpool side. The Tractors Boys couldn’t keep up the tempo of their play and Liverpool took full advantage of that in the second half. Salah’s supreme quality set up the first and the way he plucked the ball out of the air, played a one-two with Szoboszlai and then finished is a perfect example of what Ipswich will come up against most weeks in the Premier League this season. Liverpool weren’t fluid throughout and still have plenty of stars getting up to top speed (not Salah, who is looking lean after a full preseason with Liverpool) but when they clicked in the second half it was a joy to watch. You can already see the new philosophy Arne Slot has brought in and how it can add an extra layer to all of the great work Jurgen Klopp did with this squad of players, which has remained largely unchanged.
Ipswich vs Liverpool player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com, you can see Salah and Jota ripped Ipswich apart. Salah was superb in the second half and although Ipswich worked hard, things clicked into place for Liverpool once they got going.
What’s next?
Ipswich head to Manchester City next Saturday on August 24 as their start to life back in the Premier League doesn’t get any easier. Liverpool host Brentford next Sunday.
How to watch Ipswich vs Liverpool, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7:30am ET, Saturday (August 17)
Venue: Portman Road
TV channel: USA Network
Streaming: Watch via NBC.com
Ipswich vs Liverpool final score: 0-2
Diogo Jota 60', Mohamed Salah 65'
Ipswich vs Liverpool live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Full time: Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool
After a tough first half, that was a classy second period from Liverpool. Arne Slot’s boys turned on the style with Mohamed Salah at the heart of everything good they did. Ipswich worked so hard and won’t be too disheartened by that. This defeat won’t define their season.
Liverpool piling on the pressure now
Salah should score his second and Liverpool’s third but hits a tame shot at Walton, while moments before Liverpool rounded the Ipswich goalkeeper but couldn’t find Salah for a tap in. Liverpool are flying now. Ipswich are working hard but have run out of steam. Big time.
Mohamed Salah pokes home and the Reds are cruising - Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool (65th minute)
A lovely ball over the top finds Salah who brings it down masterfully, finds Szoboszlai and gets the ball back before poking a low effort into the net. Liverpool cruising now. Welcome to the Premier League, Ipswich Town.
Mo Salah's season is off and running. 🔥
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 17, 2024
The Liverpool superstar tucks it home to make it 2-0 against Ipswich Town. pic.twitter.com/3Elo6DMdM1
Diogo Jota slots home and that was coming - Ipswich 0-1 Liverpool (60th minute)
Salah is played in down the right and plays a perfect pass to Jota to slot home beautifully. After Jota had gone close moments earlier, that is the goal Liverpool’s dominance deserved.
LIVERPOOL'S FIRST GOAL OF THE ARNE SLOT ERA.
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 17, 2024
A brilliant Trent Alexander-Arnold pass plays in Mo Salah, who squares it for Diogo Jota to finish. 💥 pic.twitter.com/7tigyGaHzC
VAR checks a possible penalty but Davis was offside
Ipswich catch out Liverpool on the break and it could be a penalty but Davis was offside when the initial ball was played in.
Salah and Diaz go close at the start of the second half
Salah’s low shot squirms towards goal but Jota can’t finish. Then Diaz curls over. Liverpool are well on top now.
Half time: Ipswich 0-0 Liverpool
So far, so good for Ipswich. They’re hanging in there and have created a few chances, while Liverpool look a little sluggish.
Alexander-Arnold smashes over
Decent attack by Liverpool as the ball is cut back to Alexander-Arnold and he smashes over.
Liverpool struggling to gain momentum
Tough first 45 minutes for Arne Slot, as Ipswich are working so hard and Liverpool aren’t able to pass it around at all. Brilliant first half from Ipswich.
Bright start from the hosts
My oh my Ipswich are fired up and pressing high. Their fans are going bonkers in the stands and that is driving the Ipswich players on. Hutchinson has a shot blocked by Quansah and Liverpool are yet to settle.
Ipswich lineup
Walton; Tuanzebe, Woolfenden, Greaves, David; Luongo, Morsy; Burns, Chaplin, Hutchinson; Delap
Liverpool lineup
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Jota
Ipswich Town team news, focus
The star player to watch out for is Omari Hutchinson, as the winger was on loan from Chelsea last season and ripped up the Championship. Ipswich have signed him permanently and Hutchinson, 20, is their main man in attack. Elsewhere they have an experienced midfield (Massimo Luongo and Sam Morsy) and Leif Davis is an attacking left back who will cause plenty of problems for Premier League defenses. Ipswich do have some injury issues to navigate, as forwards George Hirst and Nathan Broadhead are out for the first few months of the campaign, while defender Harry Clarke is also missing.
Liverpool team news, focus
Andy Robertson has missed preseason after picking up an ankle injury but is back, while Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones have shaken off issues to be fit. Arne Slot has developed Liverpool’s play over the summer months to be a bit slower in possession and more rotation is allowed in midfield and attack, which will allow the likes of Mohamed Salah to roam freely. Diogo Jota has looked sharp, so too has Luis Diaz as both scored beauties in the friendly win against Sevilla last weekend. The likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Darwin Nunez and Alexis Mac Allister have just returned to action but should all be available to start this weekend.
Ipswich Town vs Liverpool prediction
This has the whiff of an upset in the air but it feels like Liverpool’s forwards will give Ipswich a rude awakening to what lies ahead in the Premier League. Ipswich Town 1-3 Liverpool.
Ipswich vs Liverpool preview
Kieran McKenna has done an incredible job to seal back-to-back promotions from the third tier to the Premier League, with Ipswich defying the odds last season to gain automatic promotion to the top-flight. They’re direct, clinical on the counter and exciting to watch with plenty of late drama and Ipswich will add something very different to the Premier League this season. Think of them as a beefed-up Luton Town.
Liverpool will be very different this season too, as Jurgen Klopp is gone and Arne Slot embarks on his first season in charge of the Reds. There will be subtle tweaks to their playing style and the majority of the squad has remained the same, so Slot is all about evolution rather than revolution. Still, expectations are high with Liverpool back in the Champions League and expected to push for the title once again as they hung in there until the final month of last season before Man City and Arsenal kicked on and left Liverpool in their wake.