While the signage that greeted those stepping off the trains near Portman Road this weekend pointed towards “an historic occasion”, this wasn’t exactly what Ipswich Town will have had in mind on their Premier League return.
But for Arne Slot, Liverpool’s new head coach, the long old trek back to Merseyside will be taken with a small slice of history of his own having become the first Reds boss of the Premier League era to win his first game in charge.
Mohamed Salah can also add his own name into the record books once more having now scored nine goals in the opening games of campaigns to surpass a record previously shared with Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard.
The legendary Egyptian now has 14 goal contributions for Liverpool on match-day one of the seasons he has been a part of since 2017 and while they might not be the most coveted statistics for either Slot and Salah, the new era is at least starting as it means to go on.
As Ipswich lined up for their first top-flight fixture since 2002, a particularly boisterous and emotional pitchside announcer set the pulses racing that bit quicker with a forceful “welcome to the Premier League” for the Ipswich fans.
But after a first period full of the anticipated vim and vigour, backed by a delirious home support, it will have been the second half that will really have hammered home that they are now rubbing shoulders with the elite once more.
Goals from Diogo Jota and Salah did the damage for Slot’s side but a more ruthless streak in the second period should have seen them run up something of a cricket score. Instead, Slot was made to settle for a fairly comfortable 2-0 triumph.
Liverpool started slowly but grew into the game as it wore on and it was telling that there was no panic from either the sidelines or the pitch itself as the score remained goalless until the hour mark. A more patient approach is now being demanded from Slot and this is exactly why. Over time, they forcefully ground down their hosts and eventually let the quality take over, And in so many ways, it was the ideal performance their head coach would have asked for.
A first-half devoid of real incident was characterised by an energetic and excitable home team and a somewhat lethargic visiting outfit who were shown little respect, despite their exalted reputations.
Referee Tim Robinson reached for his yellow card three times as Wes Burns, Omari Hutchinson and Luke Woolfenden were all cautioned for overexuberance. Thirteen fouls in total was the most against Liverpool in the first half of a Premier League game since February 2009, against Chelsea and only the impressive Jota looked willing to match his hosts’ work-rate and desire in the first period.
Liverpool started to turn the screw after the break as chances in quick succession came and went for Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Jota, whose close-range header flashed wide before he quickly made amends for the opener, created by a stunning Trent Alexander-Arnold pass and Salah’s assist.
Much has been made of Jota’s injury history since his move nearly four years ago but the former Wolves star remains a gifted finisher. Keeping him fit remains integral to the overall plan under Slot.
Within five minutes it was 2-0 with Salah getting his now customary opening-weekend goal and that was the moment for the away end to dust off a ditty that hadn’t been aired since the early weeks of the 2021/22 campaign as they sung – with their tongues firmly in cheeks – about having no money but still winning the league this term.
It was, of course, a nod to the fact that Liverpool remain the only club not to have to added to their ranks this summer with the terrace anthem coming on the week a £51m deal for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi fell through over the player’s wishes to remain with his boyhood club.
Talk of Joe Gomez’s future – left out the squad entirely here – will also intensify now with the long-serving defender considering his plentiful options but the half-time switch of Quansah for Ibrahima Konate will bring the wealth of defensive options under the microscope.
It’s insisted there is no injury to Quansah, with tactical thinking explained as the reason for the change, but can the club realistically allow Gomez to leave without an adequate replacement?
Given the England international’s much-needed versatility last term, it is unthinkable. Injuries will happen to Liverpool and the policy of shedding the squad of its fringe players doesn’t work unless senior additions arrive the other way.
That’s why it promises to be a fascinating fortnight or so in the transfer market and why sporting director Richard Hughes, who was here at Portman Road alongside CEO Billy Hogan, will need to keep his phone charged up. But for now, Slot and his staff can park those talks, if only briefly. The Dutchman heads back to Merseyside having fulfilled Ipswich’s promise as this being “an historic occasion”.
