Arne Slot has revealed his first competitive starting lineup as Liverpool’s head coach, with Andy Robertson chosen as the starting left-back for the Premier League opener against Ipswich.
The wait is over – the Premier League is back! After a 91-day hiatus, Liverpool returns to action under the guidance of their new head coach, Arne Slot. Slot had the rare advantage of selecting from a fully fit squad at Portman Road, and his choices for the starting XI are largely as expected.
In goal, Alisson takes his usual spot, with a back four consisting of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarell Quansah, Virgil van Dijk, and Andy Robertson, who starts over Kostas Tsimikas.
Ryan Gravenberch will operate in the No. 6 role, paired with Alexis Mac Allister in a deeper midfield position, while Dominik Szoboszlai plays in a more advanced role. Leading the attack, Mohamed Salah – making his 350th appearance for the club – is flanked by Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota.
With no injuries affecting the squad, Slot has the luxury of a strong bench, which includes the likes of Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez, ready to make an impact if needed.
Ipswich’s lineup features Walton in goal, with a defense of Tuanzebe, Woolfenden, and Greaves. The midfield includes Davis, Morsy, Luongo, and Burns, while Chaplin, Hutchinson, and Delap lead the attack. Their substitutes include Slicker, Johnson, Burgess, Townsend, Phillips, Taylor, Szmodics, Harness, and Al-Hamadi.
Liverpool’s bench is equally formidable, featuring Kelleher, Konate, Tsimikas, Bradley, Endo, Jones, Elliott, Gakpo, and Nunez.
In terms of historical context, Slot has the chance to become the first Liverpool manager since Graeme Souness in April 1991 to win his debut league match. Interestingly, that victory was also against an East Anglian team, with Liverpool defeating Norwich 3-0 at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah, who is marking his 350th appearance for Liverpool, has scored 211 goals during his time with the club. Notably, Salah has netted in six of Liverpool’s last seven opening day fixtures, with the only exception being last season’s match against Chelsea. However, this will be his first encounter with Ipswich in a Liverpool shirt.
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