Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, center, celebrates after he scores his side’s second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Liverpool at Portman Road stadium in Ipswich, England, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Strikes from Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota helped the Merseyside club post their first PL win under the tutelage of new coach Arne Slot.
Liverpool opened their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 win over newly promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday.
Strikes from Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota helped the Merseyside club post their first PL win under the tutelage of new coach Arne Slot.
The Dutchman opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation with Joto starting up front while Hungarian Dominik Szoboszlai began in the central role. Salah and Luis Dias started on either wing while Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch held the middle of the park.
The back four comprised of Andrew Robertson, Skipper Virgil Van Dijk, Jarell Quansah, Trent Alexander Arnold and Alison started between the stick for the visitors.
Ipswich coach Kieran McKenna opted for Christian Walton in goal and a defensive line of Axel Tuanzebe, Luke Woolfenden, Jacob Greaves and Leif Davis.
Midfielders Sam Morsy, Massimo Luongo, and Conor Chaplin were flanked by Wes Burns and Omari Hutchinson on either wing, with Liam Delap deployed up top.
The first period of the game ended 0-0, but Liverpool ensured they would hand the new head coach a triumphant beginning with two second-half goals.
Jota broke the deadlock at the hour mark as he put the finishing touches on a ball in from Salah from the left following an incredible through ball from Alexander-Arnold to put the Egyptian in behind the Ipswich defence.
Jota sent the Red faithful into a frenzy with a top-corner finish before Salha doubled the lead five minutes from the opener.
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Liverpool, finished third in the league last season in Jurgen Klopp’s final year as boss of the Reds.
Following the departure of the German mastermind, Slot has been tasked with the gig of guiding the Liverpudlian club to glory. Slot held the reins at Feyenoord, AZ Alkmaar and SC Cambuur before landing up to his role at the storied English club.