Liverpool’s new manager, Arne Slot, has a chance to achieve something that several of his predecessors could not: winning their opening league game. The last Liverpool manager to accomplish this feat was Graeme Souness in April 1991, when they defeated Norwich 3-0 at Anfield. Since then, managers such as Roy Evans, Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez, Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish, Brendan Rodgers, and Jurgen Klopp have all failed to secure a victory in their debut league match.
Slot’s first game in charge will take place against newly-promoted Ipswich, just like Klopp’s opening match as Liverpool manager in October 2015. On that occasion, Klopp’s side played out a goalless draw against Tottenham. Slot, at the age of 45 years and 258 days, is the 10th oldest permanent managerial appointment in the club’s history. In comparison, Klopp was 48 years old when he took charge, while Bill Shankly was 46.
One player who could make a significant impact in Liverpool’s opening game is Mo Salah. If he appears, it will mark his 350th appearance for the club in all competitions. Salah has scored an impressive 211 goals during his time at Liverpool. However, he has never faced Ipswich before in a Liverpool shirt. In the past, Salah has scored in six of Liverpool’s seven opening day fixtures, with his only miss coming last season against Chelsea. His tally of seven opening day goals is a joint Premier League record, alongside Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, and Frank Lampard.
When it comes to previous encounters between Liverpool and Ipswich, the two teams have met 10 times in the Premier League era. Liverpool has emerged victorious on five occasions, with three draws and two defeats. Notably, Liverpool has never lost a Premier League game at Portman Road, winning three and drawing two of the five encounters played there. The teams’ most recent meetings took place during the 2001/02 season, with Liverpool winning both matches by an aggregate score of 11-0. The visit to Portman Road saw Liverpool secure a resounding 6-0 victory, their joint-biggest win over Ipswich and their largest-ever margin of victory at Portman Road.
Liverpool has an impressive record on the opening day of the Premier League season. They have remained undefeated in their last 11 opening day matches, winning eight and drawing three. The last time Liverpool suffered a defeat on the opening day was in 2012 when they lost 3-0 to West Brom at the start of Brendan Rodgers’ tenure. Furthermore, Liverpool has scored at least two goals in seven of their last eight opening day fixtures. It is worth mentioning that this will be the fifth season in the last six in which Liverpool faces a newly promoted team in their first league match. The exception was last season’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea.
The referee for Liverpool’s opening game against Ipswich will be Tim Robinson. This will be his 25th Premier League game, and he has yet to issue a red card. Interestingly, Liverpool has won all three matches in which Robinson has officiated, all occurring last season, including one league match and two League Cup matches.
Ipswich Town returns to the Premier League after a 22-year absence. This will be their sixth season in the Premier League, with their best finish being fifth place in the 2000/01 season. Over the course of their Premier League history, Ipswich has accumulated 224 points, averaging just under 45 points per season. Last season, Ipswich scored the most goals in the Championship, with a total of 92. They were also formidable at home, losing only once in the league, which occurred almost a year ago in a 4-3 defeat to Leeds United. It is worth noting that Kieran McKenna, former assistant manager at Manchester United under Jose Mourinho, remained in the role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
In conclusion, Arne Slot has the opportunity to make history as the first Liverpool manager since 1991 to win his opening league game. Mo Salah’s presence could prove vital, given his impressive scoring record on the opening day. The previous encounters between Liverpool and Ipswich have been largely successful for the Reds, who have never lost a Premier League game at Portman Road. Liverpool’s strong record on the opening day and their previous victories under referee Tim Robinson add further intrigue to the upcoming match. Ipswich Town’s return to the Premier League after a 22-year absence brings excitement and anticipation to the fixture.