Liverpool kicks off their 2024/25 Premier League campaign with a visit to Portman Road to face newly promoted Ipswich Town on August 17, 2024.
This match marks Ipswich’s return to the topflight after 22 years, and they will be eager to make an impression against one of the Premier League’s elite teams.
For Liverpool, this fixture will also be significant as it marks Arne Slot’s first competitive match in charge of the club. After a slow transfer window, Slot will be looking to make an immediate impact.
The Reds enjoyed a strong pre-season, including victories over Manchester United and Arsenal, and the attacking players in particular appear to be in good form heading into the season.
Of course, Slot will know that the real test is against the Suffolk side, who themselves have made back-to-back promotions under Kieran McKenna in the past two seasons.
The Tractor Boys 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 tomorrow afternoon.
McKenna’s side are also bolstered by two new signings in the form of Kalvin Phillips, who arrives on a season-long loan, and Sammie Szmodics who was brought in from Blackburn Rovers.
The East Anglian Times summarized McKenna’s words on Liverpool in his own press conference, saying:
“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.”
Liverpool Predicted XI vs Ipswich Town
We predict that Arne Slot will field a team not too different to the one that started against Sevilla in a pre-season friendly.
Andy Robertson is a doubt having missed most of the pre-season with an injury.
Predicted XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gakpo, Jota, Salah.
The last Ipswich Town XI that beat Nice 1-0 in a friendly on 10 August was: Muric, Tuanzebe, Edmundson, Burgess, Davis, Morsy, Luongo, Johnson, Hutchinson, Harness, Delap
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