The Arne Slot era is up and running.
After a stodgy start at Ipswich Town, Liverpool eased to an opening-day Premier League victory courtesy of second-half goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah.
Tougher tests await but this was a satisfactory start for Slot as he sets about ensuring Jurgen Klopp is not overly missed on Merseyside.
These were the big talking points from Portman Road.
Why were so Liverpool so much better after half-time?
Slot’s team talk needed to be a good one after a disappointing first-half display — and so it proved.
Liverpool only managed three shots, none on target, and an expected goals total of 0.11 in the opening 45 minutes. It was an error-strewn performance lacking tempo, composure and confidence, as the Opta first-half graphic below underlines.
In the second half, however, we got to see what ‘Slot-ball’ actually looks like. There was an increased tempo, better movement and more confidence and precision with their decision-making and passing.
The midfield three of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were more prominent and progressive and it made it easier to open Ipswich up.
Off the ball their intensity was much better, too, not allowing Ipswich to play out as they had in the first half. Having better territory allowed them to force the opposition further back.
Kieran McKenna’s side were full of energy in the first half, as you would expect a newly-promoted side, but their levels dipped in the second 45 minutes and Liverpool took full advantage.
When Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota missed golden opportunities in quick succession the poor finishing of last season threatened to rear its head, but once Jota and then Salah finished off well-worked, pacy attacks, the result was secure.
Had they been clinical, their advantage could have been much bigger by full-time.
Andy Jones
What did we learn about Slot on the touchline?
The locals had been whipped into a frenzy by the PA announcer prior to kick-off.
“It’s our time. Welcome to the Premier League,” he boomed before starting a chant of ‘Blue Army’.
Portman Road was bouncing on Ipswich’s return to the top flight, but amid the din Arne Slot was a rare figure of calm, stood in his technical area with his hands deep in his pockets.
The contrast with Jurgen Klopp could hardly have been greater. No wild gesticulating, no angry confrontations with the fourth official when decisions went against his side.
Arne Slot was largely restrained on the sideline (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Even during an error-strewn first half when Liverpool looked vulnerable on the counter-attack, gave away a succession of cheap free-kicks and didn’t muster a single attempt on target, Slot kept his composure — repeatedly encouraging and applauding his players.
On one occasion he bellowed orders to Gravenberch about adjusting his positioning in his holding midfield role and then urged his backline to push up when he felt they had dropped to deep.
As Slot headed straight to the dressing room at half-time, it was his assistant Sipke Hulshoff who approached referee Tim Robinson to voice Liverpool’s complaints about the officiating.
Liverpool played with much greater fluency and control in the second half but there were no wild celebrations from Slot to greet Liverpool’s goals. Instead, he simply clenched his fist and then embraced his backroom staff.
With the job done, Slot could enjoy the closing stages as the jubilant away end chanted his name, having become the first Liverpool manager to win his opening league game since Graeme Souness in 1991.
James Pearce
Why were Liverpool susceptible from their own corners?
If Slot’s aim was for more control and reducing the number of counter-attacks his team faced, then this was not a good start – especially when the opportunities came from Liverpool corners.
Ipswich’s best opportunity in the first half came when Alexis Mac Allister lost a challenge on the edge of the box following an attacking set-piece. All it took was one pass from Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson was bearing down on Liverpool’s goal.
Alexander-Arnold was the only man back and, alongside the recovering Szoboszlai, they managed to slow the Ipswich attacker down and force a speculative shot from the edge of the area.
Omari Hutchinson had a chance after a Liverpool corner broke down (Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)
It was Alexander-Arnold who again thwarted another corner counter-attack with a vital interception earlier in the half.
It was high on the list of a number of concerns Slot had at half-time, with Ipswich growing in confidence and Liverpool’s poor performance helping.
Against better opposition, they will not be let off the hook so easily.
Andy Jones
How did Gravenberch fare in the No 6 role?
With Liverpool’s pursuit of Real Sociedad Martin Zubimendi ending in failure, the No 6 position remains unresolved, but Gravenberch offered encouragement that he can be the solution for now.
Slot wants a press-resistant midfielder to occupy that role, comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and progressing it forward. They are characteristics that the Dutch midfielder possesses as he aims to kick-start his Liverpool career after a stop-start first campaign.
The pressure was on and it was far from easy in the first half as Ipswich’s press made it difficult for Liverpool to build from the back. When Gravenberch was in possession, he used it well, but he didn’t get on it enough and it forced his teammates to look long.
Ryan Gravenberch did well in his No 6 role (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
His second-half display was much improved as he helped control the game from deep and was much more involved. He was key to starting Liverpool attacks and recovering possession.
Out of possession there remains some concerns as Liverpool looked open and were played through at times, especially in the second half, but without a perfect solution these are the growing pains Slot has to deal with.
Andy Jones
What next for Liverpool?
Sunday, August 25: Brentford (H), Premier League, 4.30pm BST, 11.30am ET
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(Top photo: Marc Atkins/Getty Images))
