Ipswich v Liverpool LIVE: Team news and line-ups ahead of Premier League clash in Arne Slot’s first match

It promises to be an entertaining game at Portman Road, with Ipswich looking to lay down a marker in McKenna’s first game in the Premier League. Nevertheless, Liverpool’s preseason performances under Slot, coupled with the underlying quality in their squad, suggest that the Reds should have enough to come away with an opening win. Ipswich 1-3 Liverpool.

Ipswich XI: Muric; Tuanzebe, Burgess, Edmundson; Johnson, Morsy, Luongo, Davis; Hutchinson, Delap, Harness.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.

New Ipswich signings Arijanet Muric, Ben Johnson and Liam Delap both started the Tractor Boys’ final preseason game last week, so they are all in line to start.

However, the trio of Nathan Broadhead, Harry Clarke and George Hirst are unavailable due to injury.

Arne Slot has no new injury concerns, and has welcomed back Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo after their extended breaks. Andy Robertson managed 60 minutes against Las Palmas on Sunday, so he may be fit enough to start at left-back after missing the tour of the US through injury.

Whether the Dutchman prefers Jarell Quansah to Ibrahima Konate at the back remains to be seen, while Diogo Jota could start upfront for the Reds as he did several times in preseason.

Nevertheless, Slot will feel he has a squad capable of challenging for the league title – all he needs to do now is prove its credentials.

Meanwhile, Ipswich have attempted to make shrewd signings as they bid to ensure Premier League survival in their first season in the top flight since 2001/02, with McKenna’s decision to stay in charge providing an early boost at the start of the summer.

And both managers will back themselves to make an impact at either end of the table, with Saturday’s match an excellent opportunity to lay down a marker to their closest rivals.

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the first early kick-off of a new Premier League season!

The second game of the season pits newly promoted Ipswich against Arne Slot’s new-look Liverpool side at Portman Road, and it promises to be a cracker.

We’ll have all the build-up, team news and live updates as they come.

All the next great managers tend to be described in the same way: obsessive, a perfectionist, a details guy with a personal touch who always remembers the kit man’s birthday.

Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna is certainly one of those: he has amassed more points than any manager in English football since taking charge in League One in 2021 and has now led Ipswich to back-to-back promotions. A win against Huddersfield on Saturday sealed their return to the Premier League after 22 years away.

McKenna has big tactical ideas and a distinctive way to play. He conveys energy and enthusiasm and earns the trust of his players. But what stands out is that, first and foremost, McKenna is a coach: he doesn’t just get the best out of players, he makes them better.

Liverpool goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros believes new head coach Arne Slot has done a good job in getting his tactical plans across to the squad.

Slot has insisted there would not be a huge style change from his predecessor Jurgen Klopp – that was one of the factors which elevated the Dutchman to the top of the list when the club was choosing a replacement.

In an interview on Wednesday he said he was working to “find the balance between trying to create chaos at certain moments and trying to keep possession of the ball a bit longer in other moments”.

Jaros has been elevated into the squad as third-choice behind Alisson Becker and Caoimhin Kelleher after a successful loan spell at Sturm Graz last season and featured in games on the tour of the United States, while also making his first appearance at Anfield in Sunday’s friendly victory over Sevilla.