A dazzling second-half performance ensured Liverpool got their 2024/25 campaign off to a winning start as they beat Ipswich Town 2-0 at Portman Road.
Kieran McKenna's Tractor Boys made life difficult for Arne Slot's Reds in the opening period, limiting their visitors in possession. However, Liverpool turned on the style after half-time and cruised to an opening weekend win against the newly promoted side.
While Slot's side impressed in the second period, McKenna, too, would've taken plenty 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 Road on Saturday afternoon, but we're not sure, the broadcasters didn't make it abundantly clear.
Anyway, the football.
The returning Ipswich were characteristically spritely amid a first half defined by tenacity and industry as opposed to attacking quality. Both sides had their struggles in possession on a seemingly slow and dry pitch, and neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening period. The bright Omari Hutchinson broke and drew a comfortable save out of Alisson, as did Jacob Greaves from a set-piece, while Trent Alexander-Arnold blazed over from the edge of the box to close out the first half.
Ipswich deserved plenty of credit for their courageous start to proceedings against a dreary Liverpool outfit, but Slot's side moved through the gears after the restart. The Reds started to enjoy themselves in possession and frequently found themselves in behind the hosts' backline. After spurning several chances to start the second half, Jota finished off a flowing move to break the deadlock on the hour.
After that, it was a question of how many. Liverpool looked like scoring every time they went forward against an Ipswich side that expended so much energy in the first half.
Mohamed Salah doubled the visitors' advantage soon after, but Slot's side did relent in the final third to ensure Ipswich weren't subject to a hammering, which would've felt harsh given their early efforts. They wasted a mountain of chances late on.
GK: Christian Walton - 7/10 - Smothered everything in the opening period in what was a much quieter first half than he would've expected. Had little chance once Liverpool turned it on.
RB: Axel Tuanzebe - 5/10 - Sturdy enough for a while, but Liverpool eventually had lots of fun getting in behind Tuanzebe down Ipswich's right.
CB: Luke Woolfenden - 7/10 - Managed himself well after picking up an early booking. Doesn't look the sharpest of turners, but Woolfenden defended the Ipswich box admirably when called upon.
CB: Jacob Greaves - 8/10 - Impressive in both boxes. It looks like the new arrival will be a handful attacking set-pieces, and he defended his own box like a vintage Italian.
LB: Leif Davis - 4/10 - Davis has been a key figure at Portman Road under McKenne but he looked woefully out of his depth up against Salah on Saturday. Many left-backs do, mind.
DM: Massimo Luongo - 6/10 - Got through some excellent work in the first half, especially in the build-up. Played some lovely passes around the corner. Faded after the restart.
DM: Sam Morsy - 6/10 - The skipper typified Ipswich's hustle and bustle in the middle of the park, but he's not the most athletic and his midfield partner had a bigger say in the build-up.
RM: Wes Burns - 6/10 - Fortunate not to receive a second yellow card for handball, but Burns certainly gave Andy Robertson a few things to think about. Isolated at times, though.
AM: Omari Hutchinson - 7/10 - Ipswich's brightest spark going forward, but doesn't yet have the running power to be a reliable threat on the counter-attack. Was very neat and tidy between the lines.
LM: Conor Chaplin - 5/10 - A quiet afternoon for Chaplin, who was replaced midway through the second half without having much of an impact.
ST: Liam Delap - 6/10 - Looks like he's going to be a key outlet for McKenna's side this season as he produced a couple of lovely sequences in 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,
Manager
Kieran McKenna - 7/10 - Ipswich were so brave and their first half performance was brilliant, especially without possession. However, the gulf in quality did eventually manifest. There's only so much McKenna can do.
GK: Alisson - 6/10 - Ipswich tested Alisson on a couple of occasions in the first half, but the Brazilian was forced into saves he would've been expected to make.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold - 8/10 - Took a while to get into the game, but Ipswich couldn't get near him in the second half. Trent ran the show after half-time, producing multiple delicious passes which flummoxed the Tractor Boys' backline.
CB: Jarell Quansah - 6/10 - His half-time withdrawal was a surprise as it didn't appear injury-enforced. Quansah made a couple of decisive interventions early on, but was caught out at times when forced to defend out wide.
CB: Virgil van Dijk - 7/10 - A trademark display from Van Dijk, who never appeared flustered. Pings out to Salah worked well in the first half, and Ipswich barely bothered him in the second period.
LB: Andy Robertson - 6/10 - The Scotland captain endured a sloppy opening to proceedings, but, in truth, he was never really troubled down his flank. A bit of rust was to be expected given his lack of a pre-season.
DM: Ryan Gravenberch - 7/10 - After a slow start, Gravenberch came to life once Ipswich faded. Started to get ahold of the midfield having been overwhelmed at times early on.
DM: Alexis Mac Allister - 5/10 - The Argentine looks like he's working his way into Slot's framework. Mac Allister operated in the pivot and higher up as part of a box midfield, but was on the periphery of Saturday's game.
RM: Mohamed Salah - 8/10 - Had his way with Davis throughout the contest and he made sure he continued his excellent record on the opening day by poking home Liverpool's second.
AM: Dominik Szoboszlai - 8/10 - The positions he took up in the opening period troubled left-back Davis, but the Hungarian's execution once he received between the lines wasn't pinpoint until later on in the game. Szoboszlai's distribution was superb at times.
LM: Luis Diaz - 7/10 - Ipswich could not contain Diaz once Liverpool moved through the gears. The winger constantly found himself in behind, but he couldn't quite piece it together in the final third. Such a threat, though.
ST: Diogo Jota - 7/10 - After missing a gilt-edged chance, Jota got his goal which handed Liverpool the lead and opened the floodgates. Always a threat in and around the box.
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.
Manager
Arne Slot - 8/10 - After a circumspect opening bereft of penetration, Slot's Reds were majestic in the second half. 'Slotball' is divine in full cry, and we're certainly going to enjoy the Dutchman's outfit this season.