The Premier League kicks off on August 17th at 7:30 PM with a clash between newly promoted Ipswich Town and Liverpool.
Ipswich spent last season in the Championship, but they’re back in the top flight as a newly promoted side. This is the club’s return to the Premier League after 22 years, a significant milestone given that they were founding members of the league. Their most recent stint in the Premier League was back in 2000-01, followed by a swift relegation.
In last season’s Championship, Ipswich secured a second-place finish with a record of 28 wins, 12 draws, and 6 losses, trailing Leicester City by just one point. They earned a direct promotion to the Premier League. In those 28 matches, they scored a staggering 92 goals, the highest in the Championship. Their defense, however, conceded 57 goals, a respectable figure but somewhat weaker compared to other top-ranked teams in the Championship.
Ipswich underwent substantial roster changes in preparation for the Premier League. They parted ways with players like Mèxes, Ndaba, and Mizuno, bringing in new recruits like Johnson, Grieves, Draper, Townsend, and Mourich. While the additions might not be big-name players, they have certainly strengthened their squad. However, the team faced a wave of injuries during their preseason, with players like Clark, Hurst, Broadhead, Humphreys, and Donacien ruled out for at least a month.
Liverpool spent a significant portion of last season vying for the Premier League title, but they eventually fell behind in the latter stages. They finished third with a record of 24 wins, 10 draws, and 4 losses, accumulating 82 points. Manager Jürgen Klopp departed the club at the end of the season, and the team appointed Jürgen’s close associate, Jurgen Klopp, as their new head coach. This season, they are determined to mount another title challenge.
Last season, Liverpool finished nine points behind the champions. Klopp hinted at the difficulty of discussing title aspirations before the first match, stating, “It’s hard to talk about the title race before the first game. We need to see how our competitors do. We were too far behind the champions in the last two seasons.” Despite this, Liverpool’s performance was undeniably impressive. They scored 86 goals and conceded just 41 goals in their 38 matches, demonstrating dominance on both ends of the field. They also suffered the fewest losses in the league, with just four defeats. Their ability to pull off numerous come-from-behind victories highlighted their resilience.
The core of the squad remains unchanged for this season. Virgil van Dijk anchors the defense, while Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, and Darwin Nunez lead the attack. Despite constant transfer rumors surrounding these players, Klopp confirmed in a press conference that “They will all be on the roster for this match,” effectively putting an end to the speculation. The team is fully healthy and ready to compete in their first game of the season.
The two teams have met four times in history, all during the 2000-02 Premier League seasons. This means the last encounter was over two decades ago. During those seasons, Liverpool emerged victorious twice, drew once, and lost once. However, this historical record holds little relevance today. Both teams are known for their offensive prowess and strong defenses. Expect a thrilling and intense match where both sides will be looking to attack.
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