Slot starts victorious, Liverpool is still developing

IPSWICH, England — Ipswich Town Fans have waited 22 years for a day like this at Portman Road, but on their return to the stadium they were brutally reminded of the task ahead. Premier League like Arne Slots Liverpool Won 2-0 in the first game of the post-Jürgen Klopp era.

For 60 minutes, Ipswich went head-to-head with Liverpool, fighting for every ball and creating the two best chances, with a starting eleven that included seven players who played for them when they were promoted from League 1, the third tier of English football, just over a year ago.

Then Liverpool stepped on the gas and moved the ball faster. The game was not over for Ipswich. Diogo JotaThe goal from ended the deadlock, with Mohammed Salah and rounded it off five minutes later. It was a one-two combination that burst the bubble of Ipswich, the familiar Liverpool we have become accustomed to for several seasons.

Liverpool’s only new signing in the summer was on the coaching bench, Slot left Feyenoord to replace Klopp after his nine-year reign came to an end. This was the first glimpse of what Slot’s Liverpool will look like, but despite the great goodwill towards their new head coach, there were also worried rumours among fans travelling to East Anglia about their off-season signings, or lack thereof, making them the only team in Europe’s top five leagues not to have signed a player. So, essentially, this was Klopp’s team, Slot had only made small changes here and there since taking over: evolution rather than revolution.

At first Liverpool looked a little confused, perhaps caught between two philosophies. Passing was ineffective, attacks came from the flanks (bypassing the midfield) and players defending corners looked desperately to the bench for help. They did not manage a single shot on goal in the first half, their only chance coming from Trent Alexander Arnold – who moved between right-back and defensive midfield when in possession of the ball – when he shot over the goal shortly before half-time.

Instead, it was Ipswich who had the only two shots on goal in the first half and looked more dangerous on the counterattack, but the odd misplaced pass or moment of hesitation on the ball could have left them in trouble. Alisson more.

But then Slot changed things. Her watchword in preseason was patience. Slot wanted the team to play less wildly and more cautiously, relying on possession and applying pressure to perform. Liverpool played with more intensity and found a faster tempo: suddenly Ipswich looked out of form, their efforts were not enough and Liverpool were able to dismantle them.

Chance after chance arose as Liverpool found space behind Ipswich’s full-backs. And that was exactly what Liverpool took advantage of, as Alexander-Arnold’s through ball found a gap between the otherwise excellent Leif Davis And Jacob Greavesand Salah ran towards it to cross to Diogo Jota, who fired the ball home. Salah’s goal then came thanks to a one-two with Dominik Szoboszlai. Job done.

It was clear from the start that this would be an analysis of how Liverpool have fared in the post-Klopp era and against the backdrop of a quiet summer. Slot has praised the strength of the squad he inherited and that the group would need between five and eight games to find their natural rhythm. But that also came just days after they lost out on their ideal midfield candidate.

Slot believed he had convinced Real Sociedad‘S Martin Zubimendi San Sebastian for Merseyside, but then he changed his mind and decided to stay at his boyhood club. That put Liverpool in a bind and left a gap at number 6 in the new manager’s system. Ryan Gravenberch was assigned that role in the first half and Ipswich were confident in that area that they could play man-to-man, leaving options for counter-attacks. As Liverpool upped the tempo, the midfield became more influential, but you could see why the Reds have preferred a player in that deep midfield role. It is crucial to the way Slot wants his team to play and their ability to switch. One wonders if they might accelerate the search for alternative options over the next two weeks, despite being reticent to find a player for the sake of buying. They still need that expert Rodri-like conductor.

These opening games of a new season sometimes don’t fit the bill. For Liverpool, it was clear from the start that it would be a test after promotion in a packed stadium full of enthusiasm and excitement, but there were moments when the atmosphere was boiling over, even three hours before kick-off.

“Oh my God, we’ve reached the stage where we’re getting scarves that are both the same,” shouted one fan as he left the station, and laughter erupted nearby. On the train to Ipswich, there was debate about whether it was worth betting £10 on the captain. Sam Morse being sent off now that they are in a league with VAR (it doesn’t), how realistic it would be for them to finish 17th in the top flight and avoid relegation (realistic considering that) and whether Ed Sheeran would be at the game (he was).

Thoughts went back to their last participation in the Premier League (then called the Premiership) and how they thought they would be promoted straight back after being relegated at the end of the 2001/02 season (thanks to a 5-0 defeat to Liverpool). Instead, it took two decades for them to return to the big league with two consecutive promotions under the brilliant manager Kieran McKenna.

But as McKenna said in his programme notes, this time two years ago they had just won a midweek game at Burton Albion in League One. “This scale of work and challenge ahead of us this season dwarfs anything we have seen so far,” he said.

Unlike Liverpool, Ipswich was active in the off-season and England midfield Calvin Phillips their newest loan player, while Omari Hutchinson — Loan from Chelsea last season – was one of seven players they signed permanently this summer for a total of around £70 million. But their fans, players and management are realistic: this will be a wonderful but tough journey. However, they have shown enough here to ensure they will fight all season and continue to play McKenna’s trademark pressing and attacking with fluidity and freedom.

“We know the group is in the thick of things, but we hope that this will help us to accelerate our development in this league,” said McKenna after the game. “We also know that on the other hand there is the possibility that we don’t get any points in our first two games (away at Manchester City next Saturday), but then we have Fulham And Brighton & Hove Albiontherefore every game is difficult.

“We’re up against two of the most dominant teams at the start and after that it’s about our path and how we can improve. We won’t spend much time talking about the table, positions or points. It’s about being fully involved in every game.”

Memories of their time away will alternate with the experience of seeing their Tractor Boys back in the top flight, but Liverpool’s double strike in five minutes was a stark reminder of what lies ahead for them this season.

For Slot, this was a job done and a first successful step in his tenure at Liverpool.