Arne Slot celebrated a successful debut as Liverpool manager with a solid 2-0 victory over newly-promoted Ipswich at Portman Road on Saturday. The match highlighted a strong performance in the second half, featuring goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah.
Stepping into the role previously held by Jurgen Klopp, Slot faced the challenge of leading a squad that has yet to make any signings during the current transfer window. Despite a slow start and a lackluster first half, the team’s revamped energy after halftime showcased Slot’s effective coaching.
Ipswich entered the match on a high after achieving back-to-back promotions, marking their return to the Premier League after 22 years. Early on, they engaged Liverpool fiercely, with Omari Hutchinson forcing a blocked shot and Jacob Greaves nearly converting a header.
The breakthrough for Liverpool came in the 60th minute, courtesy of another incisive pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold. Salah’s selfless assist allowed Jota to score, correcting his earlier miss. Just five minutes later, Salah secured his own goal with a clever one-two, marking his ninth goal on the opening weekend of the season for Liverpool.
Despite Ipswich’s goalkeeper Christian Walton making several key saves to fend off further goals, the defeat served as a stark reminder of the competitive gap between the Premier League and the Championship.
Ipswich faces a challenging match next weekend against defending champions Manchester City, while Liverpool has the opportunity to build momentum with a series of matches against Brentford, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Wolves, and Crystal Palace leading up to the October international break.
