The Arne Slott era had begun.
Liverpool got off to a sluggish start against Ipswich Town but second-half goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah gave them a comfortable win on their Premier League opener.
Tougher tests lie ahead, but it was a satisfying start for Slott, who will be trying to ensure manager Jurgen Klopp’s absence is not too much missed on Merseyside.
These were big topics on Portman Road.
Why were Liverpool so much better after half-time?
After a disappointing first half performance, Slott’s team talk needed to be a good one and it proved to be.
Liverpool had just three shots on target in the first 45 minutes, none of which were on target, giving them an expected goals rating of 0.11. It was an error-ridden performance, lacking tempo, composure and confidence, as the first half graph from Opta highlights below.
But in the second half we got to see what “slot ball” is like in practice – an increased tempo, better movement, more confidence and accuracy in decision making and passing.
The midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were more visible and pushed forward, making it easier for Ipswich to attack.
They were also much more intense without the ball and did not allow Ipswich to play as they had in the first half. Being in better ground allowed them to push their opponents further back and, as the manager said after the match, won far more duels.
In the first half, Liverpool’s success rate in duels was just 41.5%.
In the second round, that percentage increased to a more respectable 54.5 percent.
Kieran McKenna’s side were full of the energy of a newly promoted team in the first half but their level dropped in the final 45 minutes and they were completely stolen by Liverpool.
Last season’s indecisiveness reared its head when Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota missed successive golden chances, but the result was sealed when Jota and then Salah finished off quick, well-planned attacks.
If they had adapted to the situation, their advantage could have been even greater by full time.
Andy Jones
What did we find out about the slots on the touchline?
Before kick-off, the home crowd was whipped into a frenzy by the PA announcements.
“It’s our time. Welcome to the Premier League,” he said emphatically, before breaking out into a “Blue Army” chant.
There was buzz at Portman Road about Ipswich’s return to the top flight but Slott, with his hands in his pockets, was the calm figure amid the noise.
The difference with Klopp couldn’t be greater: no wild gestures, no angry confrontations with the fourth official when a decision went against his team.
Slott was mostly subdued on the sideline (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Even in an error-riddled first half, in which Liverpool looked vulnerable on the counter-attack, conceding a succession of easy free-kicks and failing to threaten Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton, Slott kept his cool, repeatedly encouraging and applauding his players.
At one point he shouted instructions to Gravenberch about adjusting his positioning in defensive midfield, then urged the defensive line to move forward when he felt they were dropping too far back.
As Slott headed straight for the dressing rooms at half-time, his assistant, Sipke Hulschov, approached referee Tim Robinson to air his dissatisfaction with Liverpool’s officiating.
Liverpool played much more fluently and controlled in the second half but there was no sign of Slott celebrating Liverpool’s goal – instead he simply clenched his fists and hugged his backroom staff.
With his job done, Slott was able to enjoy the closing stages with jubilant away fans chanting his name as he became the first Liverpool manager to win their opening league game since August 1998, when Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier won 2-1 as co-managers.
James Pearce
Why were Liverpool so vulnerable to attacks from their own corners?
If Slott wanted more control and fewer counter-attacks faced by his team, this was not a good start, especially when Liverpool had chances after chances after corners.
Ipswich’s best chance in the first half came when Alexis Mac Allister lost a challenge on the edge of the box after an attacking set-piece, and all it took was one pass from Liam Delap for Omari Hutchinson to edge past the Liverpool goal.
Only Trent Alexander-Arnold was behind them but, together with a recovering Szoboszlai, he managed to slow an Ipswich attack and force a bold shot from the edge of the area.
Omari Hutchinson had a chance after a Liverpool corner was broken up (Bradley Collier/PA Images via Getty Images)
Early in the first half, it was Alexander-Arnold who again denied a counter-attack from a corner with a crucial interception.
Ipswich’s growing confidence and a poor Liverpool performance were high on Slott’s list of concerns at half-time.
They wouldn’t get away with it so easily against a stronger opponent.
Andy Jones
How would Gravenberch fare in the number six role?
The number six position remains unresolved after Liverpool failed to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, but Gravenberch has shown he could be a solution for now.
Slott wants a pressing midfielder in that role, someone who is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and driving it forward – these are the attributes the Dutch midfielder possesses as he looks to kick-start his Liverpool career after a halting first season.
The first half was by no means easy, with Ipswich’s pressure making it difficult for Liverpool to attack from the back, and Gravenberch made good use of the ball when he had it, but he couldn’t control it well enough, forcing his teammates to resort to long passes.
Ryan Gravenberff has performed well in his role as number 6 (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
His play in the second half was much improved, taking control of the game from deeper positions and being more actively involved, and he was key in starting Liverpool’s attacks and winning the ball back.
Some concerns remain when not in possession, particularly in the second half, as Liverpool looked open and were let through passes at times, but without the perfect solution, this is a growing pain that the Slots will have to deal with.
Andy Jones
What did the slot say?
Slott admitted Liverpool were off the pace in the first half and blamed his players for repeatedly losing out to a spirited Ipswich side.
“Maybe the first taste of the first half wasn’t what we expected,” he told TNT Sports. “They all overpowered us and were very aggressive. We couldn’t find our rhythm or the ball. The second half was fun to watch.”
“The first thing I said (at half-time) was, if you’re going to lose so many duels, there’s no need to talk about tactics. And that’s what we did.”
Slott also explained that the substitution of Jarrel Kwansah at half-time was for tactical reasons, not fitness.
“It’s not that Jallel lost every duel – many of us lost too many duels – but I think we needed (Ibrahima) Konate to get the long ball in the air for the No. 9, and that gave us the initiative.”
What’s next for Liverpool?
Sunday 25 August: Brentford (h), Premier League, 4:30pm BST, 11:30am EST
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(Top photo: Mark Atkins/Getty Images)
