As Arne Slot started his Premier League tenure with a 2-0 win at Portman Road, Ipswich Town’s manager Kieran McKenna noted that Liverpool “showed their quality” in the match’s second half. On their first visit to Ipswich since February 2002, Liverpool secured three points with goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah in a Saturday lunchtime game.
After a balanced first half, Liverpool stepped up their performance in the second half and capitalized on their opportunities, with Jota scoring in the 30th minute and Salah in the 65th. Despite failing to convert other chances, Liverpool’s quality was evident.
Post-match, McKenna commented on the difficulty of matching Liverpool’s elevated level of play. He highlighted the positives, mostly from the first half, saying, “We had an impressive first half, making it a tough game for Liverpool with effective pressing, strong organization, physicality, and ball control. We balanced boldness and composure well and utilized our physical presence effectively. However, we need to maintain this level of performance for the full 90 minutes or find ways to control the game when we’re not at our best.”
The game slipped away in the second half as Liverpool found their rhythm and we struggled to keep pace. Despite this, the players should take pride in their effort and gain confidence in their ability to compete at this level, though they must also recognize areas for improvement.
McKenna, who has guided Ipswich to consecutive promotions to the Premier League, praised the fans and noted that the support in the first half was among the best he has experienced. He acknowledged that several factors influenced the result.
Although tactical adjustments were minimal, with Trent Alexander-Arnold positioning slightly higher on the right, many of our players were making their Premier League debut and had to adjust to the increased intensity. Our physical performance declined, which is understandable given our first-half efforts and the early stage of the season.
Liverpool particularly showcased their dominance in the attack, effectively exploiting space and utilizing their fast players. McKenna noted that during Liverpool’s strong second-half performance, we needed to manage the period better. They clearly demonstrated their quality and were the superior team.
