Sports
Arne Slot Wins Premier League Debut As Liverpool Beat Ipswich 2-0
![Arne Slot Premier over Ipswich](https://gwg.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/dm_240817_COM_SOC_Analysis_Did_Arne_Slot_impress_on_his_Premier_League_opener_with_Liverpool_20240517_GLO.jpg)
Arne Slot began his Premier League journey as Liverpool’s manager with a 2-0 victory against newly-promoted Ipswich on Saturday. The win came courtesy of two quick goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah.
Taking over from Jurgen Klopp at Anfield is a tough job, but Slot was likely encouraged by Liverpool’s strong performance in the second half.
Ipswich had been riding high after back-to-back promotions, returning to the Premier League for the first time in 22 years. Celebrity fan and minority owner Ed Sheeran was at Portman Road to support them but had to leave at halftime for a gig in Serbia. Sheeran witnessed Ipswich start well, showing they were not intimidated by their famous opponents.
Omari Hutchinson had a shot blocked early, and Jacob Greaves forced a save from Alisson Becker with a well-placed header. Despite their efforts, Liverpoolās defense held firm.
Slot is the only new addition to Liverpool this season, as the club has not signed any new players in the transfer window. The lack of new faces was evident in a sluggish first half.
However, after Slotās halftime talk, Liverpool came out much stronger. They nearly increased their lead, with Greaves making a crucial clearance to stop Salahās curling shot. Liverpool also had a close call when a potential penalty against Virgil van Dijk was overturned due to offside.
Luis Diaz missed a golden opportunity to score, sending the ball over the bar from close range after great work by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai. Jota also headed wide from a promising cross by Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpoolās persistence paid off in the 60th minute when Alexander-Arnold’s precise pass allowed Salah to set up Jota for the opening goal. Five minutes later, Salah scored his ninth goal on an opening weekend for Liverpool after combining with Szoboszlai.
Ipswichās goalkeeper, Christian Walton, made several saves late in the game to keep the score respectable, denying Salah and Conor Bradley from adding more goals. Ipswich had been unbeaten at home in the league for nearly a year, but they were given a tough lesson in the difference between the Championship and Premier League.
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for Ipswich, as they face defending champions Manchester City next weekend. Meanwhile, Liverpool has a chance to build early momentum under Slot, with matches against Brentford, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Wolves, and Crystal Palace before the October international break, along with a trip to Manchester United.
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