Reds Revival: Jota and Salah Sparkle as Liverpool Conquer Ipswich in Historic Portman Road Return

Liverpool kicked off their new era under Arne Slot with a convincing 2-0 win over Ipswich Town in their opening Premier League fixture.

Diogo Jota and Mo Salah scored the goals in a five-minute spell in the second half, as Liverpool dominated the game after a spirited first-half display from the hosts.

Ipswich, playing their first top-flight game in three years, started brightly under new manager Kieran McKenna, but ultimately fell short against a Liverpool side that found their rhythm after the break.

The Tractor Boys, buoyed by a lively atmosphere at Portman Road, had chances of their own in the first half, with Jacob Greaves and Omari Hutchinson both testing Alisson in the Liverpool goal.

Liverpool began their 2024-25 campaign by winning away at Ipswich Town on Saturday

This was Liverpool’s first competitive game under the leadership of new manager Arne Slot

Diogo Jota scored the first goal of Liverpool’s Slot era with a sharp finish in the 60th minute

Mo Salah, after assisting Jota for Liverpool’s first goal, scored his team’s second on 65 minutes

But it was Liverpool who took control in the second half, with Jota’s clinical finish on the hour mark breaking the deadlock.

Salah then doubled the visitors’ advantage five minutes later, capitalizing on a deflected cross from Leif Davis to seal the win for Slot’s side.

Ipswich, meanwhile, will take heart from their spirited display, which showed they can compete against top-flight opposition.

Music star Ed Sheeran (centre) was among the Portman Road crowd but he left at half-time

MATCH FACTS

Ipswich (4-2-3-1): Walton, Greaves, Woolfenden, Davis, Tuanzebe (Szmodics 74), Chaplin (Myers-Harness 65), Luongo (Taylor 65), Morsy, Delap (Al-Hamadi 74), Hutchinson, Burns (Johnson 57)

Subs not used: Phillips, Slicker, Burgess, Townsend

Yellow cards: Woolfenden, Hutchinson, Burns

Manager: Kieran McKenna

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson, van Dijk, Quansah (Konate 45), Robertson (Tsimikas 79), Alexander-Arnold (Bradley 77), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jota (Gakpo 79), Diaz, Salah

Goals: Jota 60, Salah 65

Yellow cards: Gakpo

Subs not used: Kelleher, Endo, Jones, Nunez, Elliott

Manager: Arne Slot

Referee: Tim Robinson

Jota, 27, celebrated his goal on Saturday by performing an homage to the ‘Baby Shark’ song

Salah has now scored nine opening-weekend goals during his prolific Premier League career

Liverpool’s Luis Diaz (right) and Ipswich’s Jacob Greave (left) pictured battling for the ball

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna waved at the crowd following the final whistle on Saturday

Alisson (left) and Ibrahima Konate (right) congratulated each other on Liverpool’s clean sheet

Ipswich will look to build on their encouraging display when they host Brighton in their next Premier League fixture.

Liverpool, meanwhile, will aim to maintain their winning start when they welcome Chelsea to Anfield.

The Reds will be buoyed by their convincing win, which marked a successful debut for new manager Arne Slot.

And with Salah and Jota leading the charge, Liverpool fans will be optimistic about their team’s chances of mounting a strong title challenge this season.

MATCH FACTS

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