On the day of the fixture release, Kieran McKenna and Mark Ashton of Ipswich Town
CEO Mark Ashton acknowledged that the release of Ipswich Town’s fixture list makes their Premier League status feel very real. The Blues will kick off the season at home against Liverpool, followed by a trip to defending champions Manchester City.
With matches against Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur also on the schedule, Ipswich can now plan for the next 11 months, facing the clear challenge of surviving in the top flight.
“It’s become very real, very quickly,” Ashton told Town TV. “Opening against Liverpool is huge. It gives us a real focus and a timeline to the first game. Wow – it just got real.”
“It’s a fantastic start,” he continued. “These are the big challenges we want. Of course, we’re diving in at the deep end, but any game would be tough. Liverpool at home at Portman Road is a fantastic opener, and everyone will be excited.”
Hosting Arne Slot’s team will be a unique experience for fans, with significant renovations ongoing at Portman Road. Ashton mentioned that the club could have asked to play their first fixture away but chose to stay home, confident in completing the upgrades on time.
“When we reviewed all the work needed at the end of last season, the easiest option was to request playing the first game away, but we said no,” he revealed. “We want to open the season at Portman Road, and hosting one of the biggest clubs in the world is fantastic for everyone involved.”
When asked about standout fixtures, manager Kieran McKenna said, “There are so many. Every game will be challenging, but there are great opportunities. It’s going to be a wonderful season.”
Ashton echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the relentless nature of the Premier League. “Every match takes ‘relentless’ to another level. These are all big clubs, but we’ve earned our place, and I’m looking forward to each game.”
McKenna, ambitious about managing at the top level, acknowledged the tough start. “They’re all big games with different challenges, but I can’t wait to get started.”
For now, focus turns to pre-season. Ipswich has announced one home friendly against Fortuna Düsseldorf and plans to return to Austria for training. McKenna noted that while the fixtures won’t significantly alter their preparations, they will focus on the key threats posed by Liverpool and Manchester City.
“Most of our pre-season is already planned, but we will tailor some parts to prepare for our early opponents. It’s clear we face a big challenge in the first couple of games,” he said. “We’ll emphasize certain aspects in pre-season to be as ready as possible for those fixtures. Beyond that, we’ll prepare for the many different challenges throughout the season, focusing on the various attributes needed for each game. That’s our approach from the start of pre-season.”