Key events
Arne Slot talks to TNT. “I’m definitely looking forward to it … it’s all about getting a result … it’s all about preparing the team … not thinking too much about first game or new stadium or whatever it is … the job is the same whether you work in Holland or here, you want to prepare in the best possible way and that’s what we’ve tried to do … Jurgen [Klopp] and Pepijn [Ljinders] left the team in a really good place … full of energy … I do think our results [in pre-season] were a bit better than the way we played … we had some wins where the game was not as clear as the result might look … but very positive with the way we have worked until now … we have to be competitive against a good Ipswich team … there will always be one or two differences [in playing styles] which is normal because we are not the same people but I’m hoping and expecting that many things will still be the same … Ryan Gravenberch has the attributes to play [number six] but has to develop in that position … he is comfortable with the ball and can keep running.”
Kieran McKenna speaks to TNT. “We’re excited … it’s a great occasion for the club … we want to make the most of it … Kalvin [Phillips] is a very experienced player and will be a good addition … Sammie [Szmodics] is a goalscorer who takes his opportunities really well and is an all-round worker … the squad is getting there … we’re still going to keep building … we’re in a good position … we’re going to have to find a balance … we’re going to have to find ways to adapt … but we keep our core essence to be brave and bold … we’re going to try to press high and be aggressive … other times we’ll be really compact … as brave as we can … it’s going to be a big step up … we know Liverpool have fantastic things as a team already … Arne [Slot] will be adding new patterns … we’ll have to deal with things collectively … I wanted to be the one to lead the team in the Premier League … it feels the right place to be … I’m so excited.”
Ipswich keeper Arijanet Muric has a calf injury so misses out. Christian Walton takes his place. Jacob Greaves and Liam Delap make their debuts, while fellow new signings Kalvin Phillips and Sammie Szmodics are on the bench. “Other than that, it’s the core of the group that we’ve had,” Kieran McKenna tells TNT Sport. “We’ve got ten of the starting team making their first start in the Premier League today, and seven of the group have been with us since League One.”
Arne Slot makes his first big decision: Jarell Quansah partners Virgin van Dijk in the centre of defence, consigning Ibrahima Konaté to the bench. Diogo Jota, who scored a screamer against Sevilla in pre-season, is preferred to Darwin Nunez up front. Ryan Gravenberch is tasked to fill that Martín Zubimendi-shaped gap in midfield.
The teams
Ipswich Town: Walton, Tuanzebe, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis, Luongo, Morsy, Burns, Chaplin, Hutchinson, Delap.
Subs: Slicker, Phillips, Taylor, Burgess, Al Hamadi, Johnson, Townsend, Szmodics, Harness.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz, Jota.
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Konate, Nunez, Jones, Gakpo, Elliott, Tsimikas, Bradley.
Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex).
Preamble
Ipswich Town are back, baby! The Tractor Boys return to the big time pretty much where they left off. The final match of their doomed 2001-02 Premiership campaign was a 5-0 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield, and what do you know, they’re up against the very same club in their very next top-flight fixture, a mere 22 years on. That it’s on their own turf at Portman Road may not necessarily give them succour, given Liverpool beat them on it 6-0 that same relegation-haunted season … but if we’re going to bang on about history, it’s only fair to point out that the previous season in the Premiership, 2000-01, newly-promoted Ipswich drew 1-1 against Liverpool at home and beat them 1-0 at Anfield. So history either informs us or teaches us absolutely nothing, depending on which way you look at it. You’re welcome. Kick-off is at 12.30pm BST. It’s on!