Ipswich vs Liverpool: Match Preview, Odds & Predictions

Liverpool have not had Jurgen Klopp as their manager for Premier League match preparation since 2015. From Brendan Rodgers to Arne Slot, the leadership has changed hands many times. The Dutchman takes charge of a talented Liverpool squad that finished third in the Premier League after losing ground in the fight for the championship.

Head-to-head and Previous Matches

The key issue will be how Slot maintains Liverpool as a title contender while imposing his ideas on the club. Many believe Slot is capable of pulling it off despite the difficulty of the task. Since losing 3-0 to West Brom on the opening weekend of the 2012–13 season, Liverpool has a solid record in Premier League openers, going undefeated in their last 12 such meetings.

After a 22-year absence, Ipswich will formally return to Premier League action with this match. After finishing fifth the previous season, the Tractor Boys were out of the Premier League for good in 2001–02, when they ended in 18th position. For seventeen years after their demotion, Ipswich was a member of the Second Division. They were further demoted to League One after that.

Ipswich spent four years in the lower leagues before returning to the promised land with consecutive promotions. The fact that Ipswich re-signed manager Kieran McKenna to a four-year contract despite interest from other clubs is icing on the cake.

Not since the Tractor Boys' 2002–03 Premier League relegation did Ipswich and Liverpool last meet; it was in the EFL Cup. While Liverpool have gone undefeated in their previous four encounters with Ipswich, both of their most recent wins have been at Anfield.

Ipswich x Liverpool Team News

In addition to re-signing McKenna, Ipswich made Omari Hutchinson's loan transfer from Chelsea permanent. The addition of Arijanet Muric, Jacob Greaves, and Liam Delap to the roster and Ben Johnson's free transfer has strengthened the group.

Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip, and Adrian were let go by Liverpool this summer despite having yet to be a part of the first team before they left. Slot follows Klopp's 4-3-3 formation, but fans hope for a summer of squad upgrades.

Our Predictions

Liverpool to win @ 1.35 on Sky247.ng

With less than a month to go before the game, it's difficult to gauge the strengths and weaknesses of either team. However, Liverpool's defense started showing signs of weakness as Jurgen Klopp's tenure ended. Although tactics were a factor, Liverpool's top defenders sometimes were off their game. Last season, Ipswich played in all competitions and only managed to score in six games.

Mohamed Salah, the First Goalscorer

In six of Mohamed Salah's seven seasons at Liverpool, he has scored in the first game of the season. Last season, against Chelsea, was the only season he failed to score.

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