The Arne Slot era has begun.
After a difficult start at Ipswich Town, Liverpool comfortably won the opening day of the Premier League thanks to second-half goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah.
Tougher tests await Slot but it was a satisfying start as he strives to ensure Jurgen Klopp is not missed too much on Merseyside.
These were the main talking points at Portman Road.
Why were Liverpool so much better after half-time?
Slot’s team talk was supposed to be positive after a disappointing first half – and that’s what happened.
Liverpool managed just three shots, none on target, and an expected goals total of 0.11 in the first 45 minutes. It was an error-strewn performance, lacking pace, composure and confidence, as highlighted in the Opta first-half graphic below.
In the second half we got to see what slot ball really looks like. The pace picked up, the movements improved and the players gained confidence and accuracy in their decision making and passing.
The midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were more prominent and progressive and that made it easier for Ipswich to open up.
Without the ball, the intensity of the Ipswich players was much higher, which did not allow them to play as they had done in the first half. Having more ground allowed them to push the opponent further back and, as the manager noted after the match, they won many more duels.
In the first half, Liverpool only won 41.5% of their duels.
In the second case, this percentage rose to a more respectable 54.5 percent.
Kieran McKenna’s side were full of energy in the first half, as you would expect from a promoted side, but their level dropped over the next 45 minutes and Liverpool took full advantage.
When Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota missed golden chances in quick succession, last season’s poor finishing resurfaced, but once Jota and then Salah finished off quick, well-worked attacks, the result was assured.
If they had been clinical, their advantage could have been much greater in the long run.
Andy Jones
What did we learn about Slot on the sideline?
The locals had been excited by the speaker before kick-off.
“It’s our time. Welcome to the Premier League,” he said before starting to chant “Blue Army”.
Portman Road was buzzing with excitement over Ipswich’s return to the Premier League but, standing with his hands in his pockets, Slot was a figure of calm amid the din.
The contrast with Klopp could not have been greater. No uncontrollable gesticulation, no bitter confrontations with the fourth official when decisions went against his side.
The slot was largely held up on the touchline (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Even during an error-filled first half, where Liverpool looked vulnerable on the counterattack, conceded a succession of easy free-kicks and failed to trouble Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton, Slot kept his cool, repeatedly cheering and applauding his players.
On one occasion he shouted orders to Gravenberch to adjust his positioning in his defensive midfield role, then urged his back line to move up when he felt they had dropped too 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 more fluidity and control in the second half, but Slot did not celebrate Liverpool’s goals. Instead, he simply clenched his fist and then hugged his staff.
With the job done, Slot was able to enjoy the final minutes of the game as the jubilant visitors chanted his name, becoming the first Liverpool manager to win his first league game since Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier oversaw a 2-1 victory as joint managers in August 1998.
James Pearce
Why were Liverpool vulnerable from their own corners?
If Slot wanted more control and a reduction in the number of counter-attacks his team faced, then this was not a good start – especially when the opportunities followed Liverpool corners.
Ipswich’s best chance of the first half came when Alexis Mac Allister missed a duel on the edge of the box following an attacking free-kick. It took just one pass from Liam Delap for Omari Hutchinson to head towards the Liverpool goal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was the only man back and, alongside the recovering Szoboszlai, they managed to slow down the Ipswich forward and force a speculative shot from the edge of the box.
Omari Hutchinson had a chance after a Liverpool corner was missed (Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)
It was Alexander-Arnold who again thwarted another counter-attack from a corner with a vital interception earlier in the half.
That was at the top of Slot’s list of concerns at half-time, with Ipswich growing in confidence and Liverpool’s poor performance helping.
They won’t let themselves get away so easily against better opposition.
Andy Jones
How did Gravenberch perform in the role of number 6?
With Liverpool’s pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi having failed, the number six position remains unsolved, but Gravenberch has shown he could be the solution for now.
Slot wants a pressure-resistant midfielder to fill the position, capable of receiving the ball under pressure and progressing it. These are traits the Dutch midfielder possesses as he aims to revive his Liverpool career after an inconsistent first season.
The pressure was on and the first half was not easy, with Ipswich’s pressure making it difficult for Liverpool to build up their defence. When Gravenberch had the ball he used it well, but he didn’t do it enough and it forced his team-mates to search wide.
Ryan Gravenberch played his role as number 6 well (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
His performance in the second half was much better, as he helped control the game from deep and was much more involved. He was essential in starting Liverpool’s attacks and regaining possession.
Off the ball there remain some concerns as Liverpool looked open and were played on several occasions, especially in the second half, but without a perfect solution these are the growing difficulties Slot faces.
Andy Jones
What did Slot say?
Slot admitted Liverpool were seriously behind in the first half, accusing his players of losing too many duels against a red-hot Ipswich side.
“The first half wasn’t what I expected,” he told TNT Sports. “They were all on us and very aggressive. We couldn’t find any rhythm or any ball in the back. The second half was a joy to watch.”
“The first thing I said (at half-time) was that we don’t need to talk about tactics if we lose so many duels. And that’s what we did.”
Slot also explained that he replaced Jarell Quansah at half-time for tactical reasons, rather than a fitness issue.
“It’s not that Jarell lost all his duels – a lot of us lost too many duels – but I think we needed Ibrahima Konate to get those long aerial balls to the number 9. That gave us control.”
What next for Liverpool?
Sunday August 25: Brentford (H), Premier League, 4:30 p.m. BST, 11:30 a.m. ET
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(Top photo: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
