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Premier League: Arne Slot's Liverpool Era Begins with a Win Over Ipswich
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Arne Slot's Liverpool era kicked off with a solid 2-0 win over newly-promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road, marking a promising start for the new boss.
After a frustrating goalless first half, Liverpool found their rhythm in the second half to secure the victory in their first competitive match since Jurgen Klopp's departure. Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah provided the crucial goals that sealed the points for the Reds.
Slot, who has yet to make any signings, became the first permanent Liverpool manager since Graeme Souness in 1991 to win his opening league match in sole charge. While the first half lacked spark, Liverpool's second-half performance was described as "breathtaking" by former striker Peter Crouch on TNT Sports. "Liverpool needed to make a statement with the new manager and no signings," said Crouch. "Some of the ways they opened Ipswich up, they looked like they were going to score at will."
Slot made key adjustments at halftime, bringing on Ibrahima Konate for Jarell Quansah, which revitalized Liverpool’s approach. Reflecting on the game, Slot emphasized the need for intensity: "I inherited a very good team, but in the first half, we lost far too many duels. In the second half, they were ready, and you could see we can play quite good football."
Mohamed Salah, in particular, shone under Slot's guidance, scoring one goal and assisting another. Salah's performance on the opening weekend continued his impressive record, making him the outright leader for goals and goal involvements on Premier League season openers. Despite his future being uncertain with his contract expiring next summer, Slot expressed confidence in Salah's longevity, stating, "There are many more years for him to play."
As Liverpool look ahead to bigger challenges, Slot will need to manage the high expectations of both the Premier League and Champions League. But for now, his debut win against a determined Ipswich side shows promising signs for the season ahead. "It's a big win for Arne Slot in his first game," said Chris Sutton on BBC Final Score. "I think they will be more of a patient team this season and they will be there or thereabouts [in the title race]."