Liverpool Triumph 2-0 Over Ipswich Town: Player Ratings as Reds Begin Slot Era with Victory

A dazzling second-half performance ensured Liverpool got their 2024/25 campaign off to a winning start as they beat Ipswich Town 2-0 at Portman Road.

Kieran McKenna's Tractor Boys made life difficult for Arne Slot's Reds in the opening period, limiting their visitors in possession. However, Liverpool turned on the style after half-time and cruised to an opening weekend win against the newly promoted side.

While Slot's side impressed in the second period, McKenna, too, would've taken plenty of positives from Ipswich's first Premier League outing in 22 years.

Apparently this Ed Sheeran bloke was in attendance at Portman Road on Saturday afternoon, but we're not sure, the broadcasters didn't make it abundantly clear.

Anyway, the football.

The returning Ipswich were characteristically spritely amid a first half defined by tenacity and industry as opposed to attacking quality. Both sides had their struggles in possession on a seemingly slow and dry pitch, and neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening period. The bright Omari Hutchinson broke and drew a comfortable save out of Alisson, as did Jacob Greaves from a set-piece, while Trent Alexander-Arnold blazed over from the edge of the box to close out the first half.

Ipswich deserved plenty of credit for their courageous start to proceedings against a dreary Liverpool outfit, but Slot's side moved through the gears after the restart. The Reds started to enjoy themselves in possession and frequently found themselves in behind the hosts' backline. After spurning several chances to start the second half, Jota finished off a flowing move to break the deadlock on the hour.

After that, it was a question of how many. Liverpool looked like scoring every time they went forward against an Ipswich side that expended so much energy in the first half.

Mohamed Salah doubled the visitors' advantage soon after, but Slot's side did relent in the final third to ensure Ipswich weren't subject to a hammering, which would've felt harsh given their early efforts. They wasted a mountain of chances late on.