MO SALAH loves the opening day of the Premier League season.
The Liverpool striker almost has to wake up every morning before kick-off, like a child does on Christmas Day.
He celebrated his 350th game with the Reds, scoring for a record NINTH time on the opening day of the season.
His goal in the 65th minute ended a game that at one point began to look very worrying for coach Arne Slot in his first game in rhythm since replacing the legendary Jurgen Klopp.
This now represents 212 Liverpool for the 32-year-old Egyptian. And with no new signings yet to bolster the Anfield ranks, fans are breathing a sigh of relief that talk of a move to the big-money Saudi league has subsided.
His goal, following Diogo Jota’s opener five minutes earlier, ended what had until then been an impressive Premier League debut for Ipswich after 22 years.
In the end, it was the difference in quality in the most sensitive part of the pitch that spoke. Ipswich wasted some wonderful chances while Liverpool, once they started after the break, took advantage of theirs.
It is ironic that the Tractor Boys hosted the Reds on their return to the Prem, as their last top-flight match took place at Anfield in May 2002.
Ipswich were beaten 5-0 that day, but Kieran McKenna fared much better this time.
McKenna has done something close to a miracle since arriving at the Suffolk club two and a half years ago.
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A little over a year ago, they were in Liga Uno. . . and McKenna presented SEVENS from the team that won promotion from League One.
They are riding the crest of a wave, compiling 194 issues in their last two seasons. You can bet your life that McKenna will be satisfied with forty-five this time.
Slot has much higher expectations. Anything less than being in the top 3 or 4 most sensible will be a disaster.
And Liverpool failed from the beginning.
Virgil Van Dijk took possession of the ball and passed it directly to the trail of Omari Hutchinson, who grabbed it but his shot charged.
Then, Conor Chaplin saw a threaded pass that Andy Robertson failed to cut, with the ball headed for Wes Burns. The Liverpool defender received the ball from the Ipswich boy from 20 yards, but referee Tim Robinson saw nothing wrong. .
Hutchinson then attacked hard forward but his pass was poorly worked out with Conor Chaplin loose on the left overlap.
However, Liverpool caused problems when Jota brought in Salah, but Jacob Greaves, a summer signing from Hull, was there to block.
Ipswich had a chance to take the lead after Robertson fouled down the right.
And Sam Morsy’s free-kick headed through Greaves, but the defender’s effort went over Alisson on his goal line.
Nothing was going well for Liverpool. Slot would have been disappointed if, when they won a corner on the left, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick could equal goalkeeper Christian Walton’s drill.
Ipswich, who were devastating on the counterattack last season, almost caught Liverpool after breaking the corner routine.
Delap pushed Hutchinson back, but Liverpool managed to temporarily capture two defenders to prevent him from making a return pass to his unmarked teammate.
Walton, one of the heroes of Ipswich’s promotion in League One, was injured and lost his shirt to Vaclav Hladky and did not play last season, playing a good game.
He controlled magnificently to extinguish Luiz Díaz when he seemed to be in a position to attack.
Axel Tuanzebe then saw a headed pass off the bar after Leif Davis’ cross from the left.
Alexander-Arnold, after locating the bag at 25 yards, fired over the crossbar.
Ipswich made a number in their illustrious clashes, to the point that Liverpool controlled 3 shots in the entire first half, none on target.
Slot brought on Ibrahima Konate in place of Jarrell Quansah at half-time. We can only assume that the defender won a blow because the 21-year-old had been decent.
Ipswich’s hearts were in their mouths when Diaz discovered the box in a corner, but he saw his shot loaded and then effort moments after the flash.
Ipswich fans were calling for a penalty when Delap went down in the box after a tackle, but the offside flag was raised with Davis offside.
And then it was Liverpool’s turn to ask for a penalty when Alexander-Arnold played against Diaz, who shot over the bar before being cut off by Walton.
Liverpool increases the pressure.
Jota scored at the end of a magnificent cross from Alexander-Arnold, but it went slightly wide a centimetre.
And then came the reason why it was going to happen.
Alexander-Arnold passed the ball to Salah who played a lovely ball for Jota to head home.
And then provider Salah ended the game with his brilliant opening day record.
After recovering a great long pass from Van Dijk, he exchanged a one-two with Dominik Szoboszlai before firing in a shot on goal.
Ipswich were struggling at this level and Salah missed the chance to score again, but his effort was too measured for Walton.
Liverpool were opening up their warring sides at will and, without Walton’s heroism, it could have been embarrassing – making another major save to deny Conor Bradley.
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