Liverpool are off to a winning start in the 2024/25 Premier League after beating Ipswich Town 2-0.
It was important that a new era got underway with a win for the Reds and they duly delivered one against the newly-promoted side.
Liverpool did not have things all their way, though. The first-half was a bit of a slog, with Ipswich perhaps even having the better of things.
But after a half-time pep talk from Arne Slot, the Reds turned things around. The second-half was so much better, with Liverpool clearly showing Slot’s style of play.
There were a number of top performers. Mohamed Salah grabbed a goal and an assist and Trent Alexander-Arnold was at his creative best. But the pair were also given some extra help down the right-hand side.
Dominik Szoboszlai praised for Liverpool display
Salah was probably Liverpool’s outstanding player on the day. Having had a hand in both goals, the Reds wouldn’t have won without him.
Mo’s strike to put his team 2-0 up was also a record-breaking one, with the Egyptian now the outright leading goalscorer in Premier League history on opening day fixtures.
That he was able to get the goal was not solely down to Salah himself though, of course.
Although there was no official assist given after his through ball got a little nick off the defender, Dominik Szoboszlai played a big part in Salah putting the game beyond Ipswich.
READ MORE: Peter Crouch says one Liverpool player ‘will not be happy’ after being left on the bench vs Ipswich
Like most of his teammates, Szoboszlai struggled a little in the first-half. One dangerous giveaway in midfield in particular almost led to an Ipswich goal.
But the Hungarian roared back in the second period, dominating play from his new attacking midfield role in the right half-space.
And taking to Instagram after the game, Szoboszlai was clearly pleased. “A proper start of the season, well done lads!” wrote the 23-year-old.
Virgil van Dijk and Luis Diaz were both seemingly impressed. Van Dijk left a fire emoji, with Diaz going for a magic wand for his own response.
Arne Slot gives Ryan Gravenberch verdict
Szoboszlai had a really good second-half for Liverpool and deserves the praise from his teammates. In this kind of form he’s going to be really important to Slot’s Reds.
However, the £60m man was not necessarily the player in the Liverpool midfield who supporters will have been watching most closely on Saturday.
That dubious honour probably lay with Ryan Gravenberch, who was playing the ‘Martin Zubimendi role’ alongside Alexis Mac Allister.
Slot was happy with Gravenberch, claiming that the Dutchman ‘helped’ Liverpool with his forward passing.
Between them, a three of Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai finally looks like one that can be a mainstay for the Reds.
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