After a quite dismal opening half, Liverpool blew away an enthusiastic Ipswich team with two early second half strikes. Jota finished a sleek move, after an assist from Salah, who minutes later scored himself for the ninth consecutive opening day league fixture.
More than 20 years after Ipswich last graced the top flight, they were predictably energetic and enthusiastic in the early stages. Liverpool meanwhile, lacked both poise and pace and it was the home side who created the better chances, Alisson gathering on his line from a close range header following a corner.
Liverpool had plenty of corners of their own without ever threatening. They also had plenty of the ball but their passing was ponderous, lacked precision and failed to trouble the Premier League new boys.
Whatever Arnie Slot said at half-time, Liverpool looked a different team in the second half. They were quicker, sharper, more fluid on the front foot and Jota made up for a glaring miss when finishing smartly with his left foot. Stepping up the intensity, it was soon two-nil as Mo Salah prodded in a close range effort, and they really should have gone on to score many more.
Scintilating at times and looking as though they could score at will, Liverpool took Ipswich apart. Hanging on, the Tractor Boys looked laboured and out of their depth. To their credit though, they kept at it and, with a little luck coupled with profligacy from Liverpool, kept the scoreline respectable.
So, unlike many Liverpool managers before him, Slot has got off to a winning start. Whether we necessarily know any more about what we as supporters can expect, as the Slot machine ramps up, I’m not sure. We know he favours a slower, more considered build up, but Liverpool have always been at their best when attacking the speed and intensity, and it might be a question of evolution rather than revolution as the season progresses.
