Diogo Jota kickstarts Arne Slot era as Liverpool outclass bullish Ipswich
There was to be no Suffolk sucker punch. Arne Slot’s Premier League bow with Liverpool was safely negotiated, avoiding the fate that befell Brendan Rodgers in 2012, a 3-0 defeat to West Brom. Jürgen Klopp’s October 2015 debut was a 0-0 draw with Tottenham remembered for the vigour of his players. How will this be recalled? Probably with mixed feelings. After a first half where a circumspect, slow buildup Liverpool were frequently caught cold by Ipswich playing superior, far more inventive football, something like normal service was resumed by a team playing a direct style rather like that under Klopp.
Despite Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah’s second-half goals, it will take some while to shake that looming shadow. Where, 50 years ago, Bill Shankly haunted the Melwood training ground, Klopp’s ghostly presence stalks Instagram, a background hum to Slot’s attempt to install fresh doctrines. That presence will only grow if results go awry, as they did for Manchester United and Arsenal when their respective emperors stepped aside. For now, first assignment completed, Slot forges on with the same bunch of players as Klopp, Martín Zubimendi’s snub having raddled summer plans.
