0 Ipswich Town vs 2 Liverpool
Ipswich plotting revenge against Liverpool after 22-year absence.
Ipswich Town returns to the Premier League after twenty-two years, looking to avenge a historic 5-0 loss against Liverpool in a high-stakes season opener at Portman Road.
Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town will face Liverpool in Saturday’s early kick-off clash in what will be their first match of the 2024–25 season. This comes after their return to the Premier League following a twenty-two-year absence. The Blues finished in 2nd place in the EFL Championship following promotion from EFL League One.
With back-to-back promotions, their main objective will be to remain in the Premier League at the end of the season. Their activities in the summer transfer window reflect their intent to stay in the top flight, spending a total of £73 million, placing them 7th in Premier League transfer spending.
Notable signings include Omari Hutchinson from Chelsea for £24 million and Liam Delap from Manchester City for £18 million. Additionally, Kalvin Phillips is expected to join on a season-long loan.
While Ipswich Town remains unbeaten in their last 10 Match Day 1 games with 6 wins and 4 draws, their last encounter with Liverpool ended in a 5-0 defeat. Twenty-two years later, they have the chance to avenge that loss, which contributed to their relegation in May 2002.
Kieran McKenna is expected to field a 4-2-3-1 formation with new arrival Delap in attack for Saturday’s clash against Liverpool.
Liverpool
The Reds, on the other hand, are the only club in the Premier League yet to spend any money on transfers. Weeks ago, new boss Arne Slot was confident his side would make quality additions; however, no big name has emerged in Liverpool's colours yet.
After Liverpool's 3rd-place finish last season, Slot will have big shoes to fill, knowing the Reds are accustomed to competing on three fronts year after year. "We have to make sure that the style of play stays the same, and I’m 100 percent sure that the fans will be the same as the last 100 years or longer they have been in supporting Liverpool,” he said in a recent interview, hoping to emulate his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp.
An unbeaten pre-season tour has already seen the 45-year-old Dutchman follow in familiar footsteps, with victories over would-be Premier League rivals Arsenal (2-1) and Manchester United (3-0). On Saturday, he will be looking to extend Liverpool’s unbeaten record at Portman Road against Ipswich Town (3W, 2D, 0L) when he deploys the 4-2-3-1 formation with Darwin Núñez in attack.
Bobby Clark is Arne Slot's only confirmed absentee.
Team form
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