Liverpool faces a challenging opening fixture on the first day of the new Premier League season.
Liverpool are embarking on a new chapter under fresh leadership, hoping for a seamless start to the 2024/25 season. Despite optimism among some at Anfield, their opening fixture poses a significant challenge. A Saturday lunchtime kickoff away at newly-promoted Ipswich Town demands respect, marking both Arne Slot’s debut as Liverpool manager and Ipswich’s return to the top flight after a 22-year absence. Ironically, Ipswich’s last Premier League match was a 5-0 defeat at Anfield over two decades ago, a game Michael Owen recently weighed in on with his predictions.
“For me, as a manager or a fan, an away game against a promoted team would be the toughest draw,” Owen remarked to Sky Sports. “Promoted teams come up full of confidence from a successful season and with tremendous enthusiasm. Home advantage can make it tricky.” Despite the gap in class, Owen believes Liverpool should prevail, but acknowledges the opener’s potential pitfalls.
While the fixture order may seem inconsequential to some, the introduction of a new coaching regime underscores its significance. For Jurgen Klopp, a seasoned Premier League campaigner, familiarity mitigated such challenges. However, Slot’s debut requires a strong start. An away fixture against a newly-promoted side offers opportunity and risk alike.
Slot’s initial home game, originally hoped for, will have to wait until Liverpool hosts Brentford on August 24th. Ideally, a positive result against Ipswich would set a promising tone for Slot’s Anfield debut. With confidence from a Portman Road victory, Liverpool could look forward to the support of a fervent Anfield crowd against Brentford, before facing Old Trafford in subsequent weeks.
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