Ipswich Town has confirmed squad news ahead of hosting Liverpool at Portman Road on Saturday.
The Tractor Boys are in the Premier League for the first time since 2002, where it was ironically Liverpool that condemned them to relegation 22 years ago.
Kieran McKenna has guided them through impressive back-to-back promotion campaigns from League One to the top tier since taking over in 2022/23.
They played an entertaining brand of football last season, scoring an impressive 92 goals in the Championship.
While their attack was strong, Ipswich will need to tighten up defensively to stand a chance against Liverpool’s firepower.
Meanwhile, Arne Slot is relishing the challenge of partaking in his first competitive game as the Reds boss, saying in his own pre-match press conference:
“We saw their games in pre-season. I don’t think that is more difficult than if they would have been in the Premier League for a long time. It is true that a newly promoted club, there is a lot of positivity around a club like this.”
“A promoted team that only had a lot of positives in recent years will come up against us [and are] really looking forward to it. But we are really looking forward to the game as well.”
“But there seems to be even more cause for positivity at the Suffolk side, with McKenna now confirming that at least one new signing is in contention to face Liverpool.
Ipswich Town transfer update
Ipswich Town have officially completed the signing of both Manchester City man Kalvin Phillips and Sammie Szmodics, who arrives from Blackburn.
Kalvin Phillips is a big signing for Ipswich and should do plenty to shore up their midfield.
He arrives on a season long loan.
If he can even produce half of his Euro 2020 performances that secured him England’s Player of the Year in 2021, then it will be an excellent signing for Ipswich.
Meanwhile, Szmodics was picked up from Blackburn Rovers and arrives in the Premier League off the back of an excellent 2023/24 campaign in the Championship.
Sammie Szmodics scored 27 goals in 44 Championship appearances for the Rovers last season and will look to make the step up in the Premier League this time around.
The East Anglian Times have relayed that McKenna expects Szmodics to be in contention to face Liverpool tomorrow, but no update was provided on Phillips.
The same outlet also adds:
“Kieran McKenna doesn’t believe that Liverpool will be an easier opponent due to their new manager, but says that the club wanted a home game against one of the best teams in the league.”
“Says the Reds are a fantastic team who appointed a ‘top, top manager’ and had a great pre-season. Under no illusions as to how difficult it’ll be.”
Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.