Ipswich Vs Liverpool: Promotion Team Try To Surprise Arne Slot

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is optimistic about the inaugural Premier League match against Ipswich Town. (X/@LFC)

JAKARTA - Ipswich Town, which has the status of a promotional team, met Liverpool, the English Premier League giant, in the first match at Portman Road Stadium, Saturday, August 17, 2024 evening WIB. Hoping to make a surprise or even return to being a field for the Reds' massacre under new manager Arne Slot?

Ipswich have not competed in the highest caste for a long time after being relegated in 2002. They are more involved in the Championship Division or the league under the Premier League and have even almost dropped to the third caste.

But the dream of returning to the Premier League finally came when The Tractor Boys finished second in the Championship champions Leicester City. They also promote unconditionally, aka they don't have to go through the play-offs.

Only football fans in Indonesia cannot watch defender Ipswich Elkan Baggot compete in the Premier League. Because Indonesian national team defenders are more often loaned to other clubs.

This season, Baggot was loaned to Blackpool, a League One club or Division Three in England so he could not strengthen Ipswich. Previously, this 21-year-old player played in the Bristol Rovers.

Ipswich himself hopes that it doesn't just pass through the Premier League. When they last played in the highest caste in 2002, they did face elite teams.

At that time, in a meeting with Liverpool in the league, Ipswich were beaten 6-0 and 5-0. Not only that, Ipswich also lost the biggest 9-0 against Manchester United who were going crazy.

Now, Ipswich hopes to make a surprise in their first game. Moreover, the team played at home. They are also still being handled by Kieran McKenna who became increasingly popular after bringing Ipswich to promotion. Even McKenna was said to be dealing with MU and Chelsea. Including replacing Gareth Southgate as manager of the England national team.

But all the rumors disappeared after he signed a new contract with Ipswich. McKenna also got a good capital to fight in the Premier League after the club signed no less than nine players.

Some of them will start against Liverpool such as Arijanet Muric, Liam Delap, Jacob Greaves and young Omari Hutchinson, former Arsenal, who were recruited from Chelsea. Previously, Hutchinson was loaned Ipswich which was later permanent.

While the match became Arne Slot's first test. Replacing Jurgen Klopp who resigned after nine years of handling The Pool, Slot will make a difficult debut.

How could I not, some pillar players like Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and captain Virgil Van Dijk have not fully focused on the competition. Their contract will expire next year and there is no certainty whether to accept an extension or even sell it.

However, Van Dijk remains optimistic that Liverpool will be able to pass the first test. The center-back of the Dutch national team also welcomed his former Feyenoord coach.

"So far it's been quite good. Pre-season training and tours in the United States are going very well," Van Dijk said in response to Slot's performance.

"The team's performance is quite good and promising. However, the team still has to develop. Moreover, we still need improvement," he said.

Liverpool themselves have not purchased players. By relying on the old squad, Slot still puts goalkeeper Alisson Becker under the bar. He was fortified by Van Dijk who duets with Jarell Quansah. Meanwhile Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will play full back.

Di tengah yang menjadi kekuatan The Reds akan berbelakan kepada Dominic Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch dan Alexis Mac Allister. Sedangkan Diogo Jota akan bermain di depan bersama Salah dan Luis Diaz.

Forecast Of Lineup Of Players Ipswich Town (3-4-3): Muric; Tuanzebe, Goodsson, Greaves; Johnson, Luongo, Morsy, Davis; Hutchinson, Delap, Harness

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jota, Diaz