Slot Praises Liverpool’s “Almost Perfect” Display in 4-1 Ipswich Victory | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Dominance Continues Under Arne Slot with 4-1 Ipswich Victory

Liverpool’s relentless march at the top of the Premier League table continued as Arne Slot’s men delivered an emphatic 4-1 win over Ipswich Town. In front of a record-breaking crowd of 60,420 at Anfield, the Reds showcased a performance their head coach described as “almost perfect.” This victory not only solidified their six-point lead but also demonstrated their ability to adapt and dominate against varying styles of play.

High-Intensity Start Sets the Tone

The match began in the best possible fashion for Liverpool. For once, they avoided conceding an early goal at home – a pattern that has troubled them in recent games. Reflecting on the first half, Slot remarked, “Today is the way you want to start a game. We were aggressive, dominant for 85 minutes, they had hardly been in our half.”

Liverpool’s pressing game entirely flowed, nullifying Ipswich’s counter-attacking threats. Slot added, “It is a counter-attacking threat with the wingers they have, but we managed to control that because of the amount of work we put in.”

By half-time, Liverpool were cruising at 3-0. Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, and Mohamed Salah – scoring his 100th Premier League goal for the club – highlighted the Reds’ attacking prowess. Although Ipswich managed a late consolation through Jacob Greaves, it hardly dented Liverpool’s overall dominance.

Salah’s Impact Beyond Goals

While Salah’s milestone goal grabbed headlines, Slot was eager to highlight the Egyptian’s defensive contributions. A pivotal moment in the second half saw Salah sprinting back into his half to break up an Ipswich counter-attack.

“Mostly about Mo, it’s his contract or his goals, and now it’s his defensive work rate. I think that stood out,” Slot said. “It’s so difficult to control a counter-attack, and the only way to do so is what Mo did in this moment, and other players in different moments.”

This work ethic epitomised Liverpool’s collective effort throughout the match. Slot lauded his side’s commitment, stating, “If you look at almost all the times we have lost the ball, I saw a reaction of many players. That’s why I was pleased with the performance today.”

Ipswich’s Resilience Offers Encouragement

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna found positives despite the heavy loss. “We started the game well but then from little, we found ourselves a goal down and then a few goals down,” McKenna admitted. However, his side’s second-half response offered encouragement.

“We take a lot of positives from the second half. We managed the game pretty well and finished the game strong. We made some mistakes, but if we take the lessons in the right way, we can be stronger.”

Photo: IMAGO

Ipswich’s efforts were further hindered by an injury to Wes Burns, who was carried off in the first half. McKenna is hopeful the damage isn’t severe but remains cautious. “We have our fingers crossed, but the knee looks swollen. We hope it is not as bad, but it looks serious,” he added.

Looking Ahead for Liverpool and Ipswich

Liverpool’s emphatic performance under Arne Slot reinforces their position as title favourites, while Ipswich will aim to regroup and build on the resilience shown in the second half. With Salah’s form and the team’s collective effort, Liverpool are setting the pace for the rest of the league to follow.