Mohamed Salah scored as Liverpool secured a victory over Ipswich in their Premier League clash. The match saw Ed Sheeran, a noted Ipswich fan, leave at halftime to attend a gig despite his early departure. Liverpool’s win marked the start of the Arne Slot era, with Salah’s goal proving crucial in their 2-0 triumph.
Mohamed Salah finds the net as Liverpool kicks off the Arne Slot era with a victory over Ipswich
Liverpool forwards Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah dashed Ipswich’s hopes for a Premier League comeback and delivered a debut win for new manager Arne Slot.
Ipswich returned to the top flight for the first time in 22 years, following consecutive promotions under Kieran McKenna. They narrowly led a tight first half in front of an enthusiastic Portman Road crowd.
Liverpool, who finished third in Jurgen Klopp’s final season, stepped up their game after the break. Diogo Jota scored the opener on the hour mark, assisted by Mohamed Salah.
Five minutes later, Salah transitioned from provider to scorer with a clever finish, sealing a 2-0 victory and ensuring a successful debut for Slot on the road.
Ipswich made a series of summer signings, but McKenna suggested that many of his familiar faces would start the opener on Friday. Seven of the starting eleven had been key players in their promotion from League One in 2023.
Liverpool faced a similar situation, having yet to make any transfers under new head coach Slot. The Dutchman was greeted with a lively atmosphere as he debuted in English football.
The game was energetic, with yellow cards coming more often than chances in the early stages. The home crowd nearly erupted in the 20th minute when debutant Jacob Greaves’ weak header almost slipped through Alisson Becker’s grasp.
After a third Ipswich player was cautioned, a rapid counterattack saw Alisson comfortably handle Omari Hutchinson’s low shot.
Liverpool controlled possession and earned numerous corners but failed to challenge Christian Walton before halftime. A stoppage-time effort from Trent Alexander-Arnold curled over the bar.
Slot substituted Jarell Quansah with Ibrahima Konate at halftime, and Liverpool came out with renewed purpose. Greaves blocked a goal-bound shot from Salah, and Luis Diaz fired over the bar.
Both ends rejected penalty appeals: Liam Delap went down after contact with Virgil van Dijk. However, the appeal was dismissed as Leif Davis was offside. Additionally, Walton was not penalized for catching Diaz, who had already missed his shot.
McKenna had to replace the injured Wes Burns, who had narrowly avoided a second yellow card for a deliberate handball in the first half as the visitors began asserting dominance.
In the 59th minute, Jota inexplicably headed wide from a superb delivery by Alexander-Arnold. Shortly before, Luke Woolfenden had made a brilliant stop to deny Alexis Mac Allister. However, just a minute later, the deadlock was finally broken.
Alexander-Arnold played a crucial role in the opener with a brilliant through-ball to Salah. Salah then set up Jota, who made no mistake in slotting the ball past Walton.
Ipswich supporters tried to encourage their team, but just five minutes later, Liverpool doubled their lead to make it 2-0.
Van Dijk made a great crossfield pass to Salah, who then played a quick one-two with Dominik Szoboszlai. Salah then slotted the ball past Walton.
As the Ipswich players grew tired, Liverpool created more chances. Late in the game, Alisson made a crucial save from Ipswich substitute Ali Al-Hamadi to prevent a dramatic finish.
Ed Sheeran left the Ipswich vs. Liverpool match at halftime during their Premier League clash
The Premier League has gained a high-profile supporter with multi-award-winning artist Ed Sheeran celebrating Ipswich Town’s return to the top division. A lifelong fan of the Tractor Boys, Sheeran was seen enjoying the atmosphere at their season opener against Liverpool at Portman Road, although he had to leave early.
The widely admired singer had to leave early at halftime to attend a gig in Serbia as part of his international tour. Despite his early departure, the press took note of his presence, and he secured an exclusive interview with former Liverpool forward Peter Crouch for TNT Sports.
Flattered but dedicated to his music career, Sheeran—who recently became a minority shareholder of his boyhood club and had previously sponsored their shirts—explained his role in the team’s setup. “I have to leave here at halftime because I’m playing in Serbia tonight,” he said, underscoring his commitment to his musical and football passions.
The “Shape of You” hitmaker made headlines just days earlier by appearing with long-time collaborator and friend Taylor Swift at Wembley Stadium. The superstar pair is well-known for their numerous musical collaborations and enduring friendships.
Meanwhile, Sheeran is captivating fans with his “Mathematics Tour,” as Taylor Swift enchanted audiences at Anfield with her Eras Tour earlier this summer. According to Liverpool.com, his tour showcases a collection of hits from his discography, which is famously themed around mathematical symbols.
Sheeran did catch a solid spell of football as Ipswich, the newly promoted side, had a strong first half and created more opportunities than their rivals. However, they failed to turn their chances into goals against Liverpool and collected several yellow cards before Diogo Jota scored for the Reds on the hour mark.
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