As the Premier League returned for another year, much of the focus on Sunday was still on Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Ipswich Town the previous day.
Following the game, new head coach Arne Slot made it perfectly clear that Liverpool ‘needed’ one player to win at Portman Road: half-time substitute Ibrahima Konaté.
“The first thing I said [at half-time] is that we don’t need to speak about tactics if you lose so many duels,” Slot told TNT Sports.
“And that’s what we did, not that Jarell [Quansah] lost every duel – many of us lost too many duels but I think we needed Konaté to win these long balls through the air from their no.9.”
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Shearer praises “incredible” Alexander-Arnold
Pundit Alan Shearer, meanwhile, singled out another Reds defender for praise.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – Liverpool
It was a comfortable victory in the end for the Merseyside giants, but the Newcastle legend picked out the precise moment that got the ball rolling, and that was Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pre-assist for the opening goal of the game.
“When Trent gets his ball here, I mean, the pass is just incredible,” Shearer said on Match of the Day. “How you want it, where you want it? Thank you very much.
“In behind, running towards the Ipswich goal, and, as I said, good players are going to finish you off.”
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Bad news for Darwin?
That said, the result wasn’t good news for every Liverpool player.
Darwin Nunez and Liverpool
“Not good for Darwin Nunez. Not good that Jota scores,” said former Reds defender Steve Nicol on ESPN.
“If you’re Darwin Nunez you’re now wondering how you get a start.
“It’s beginning to feel like he’s not happy sitting on the bench. It’s sort of a carry-on from last year, where he pretty much disappeared from the team. It smells a little bit like that.”
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Szobo not a fan of early kickoffs
Dominik Szoboszlai has offered no excuses for Liverpool’s lethargic first-half display against Ipswich Town, but did aim a sly dig at the kick-off time.
Dominik Szoboszlai – Liverpool
“I think we are at the maximum fitness, we just need to use it,” Szoboszlai told OptusSport. “It’s not an excuse, but 12:30, you know it’s still morning actually.
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Liverpool ‘exploring options’ in the market
Less than two weeks remain until the summer transfer window closes and Liverpool are “exploring options” as Arne Slot aims to bolster his squad, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
It’s well-documented that the Merseyside giants are yet to make a single signing this summer. Having said that, there’s still time for acquisitions to be made. Amid links with Giorgi Mamardashvili, Liverpool have been tipped to sign Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio, while talk of a move for Anthony Gordon refuses to go away despite a deal breaking down earlier in the summer.
“There’s the Giorgi Mamardashvili story still on for the future, for 2025; then for sure we could see some movement for the final two weeks this summer,” Romano said in his Daily Briefing.
“Liverpool are exploring options, it could be on different positions, so there’s movement and there could be things to happen these two weeks.
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Mamardashvili stumbling block
Liverpool’s short-term plan if they get a deal for Giorgi Mamardashvili over the line has hit a major stumbling block.
The goalkeeper has been identified by the Reds as the perfect long-term successor to Alisson Becker and recent reports have gone as far to suggest a deal in the region of £35million has been agreed in principle with La Liga outfit Valencia.
However, Premier League rules do not permit the Reds’ plan to loan him out to Bournemouth.
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Real Sociedad boss still has Zubimendi FEAR
Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil has suggested he still fears losing Martin Zubimendi despite the midfielder rejecting a move to Liverpool.
“He has rejected an offer,” Alguacil confirmed, as per the Daily Mirror. “There is no doubt that Liverpool is a big club and the fact that he said no to them, even though they put in what they put in, is something to be proud of.
Having said that, the La Real boss hasn’t exactly ruled out an exit for his star player due to the fact the summer window doesn’t close until August 30, amid fears another big club could come knocking on the midfielder’s door.
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Fresh Koopmeiners twist
After a move for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi collapsed last week, Liverpool’s hunt for midfield reinforcements has just taken another intriguing twist.
Teun Koopmeiners during UEFA EURO, EM, Europameisterschaft,Fussball 2024 qualifying game between national teams of Gibraltar and Netherlands, Estadio Algarve, Loule, Faro, Portugal. Maciej Rogowski Faro Estadio Algarve Portugal Copyright: xMaciejxRogowskix gib-ned-21-11-2023-097
After the Basque midfielder opted to remain with his boyhood club, the Reds have been forced to explore alternative options. However, while several internal solutions to the number six role have been mooted—including Ryan Gravenberch, who excelled in the role in the Premier League opener against Ipswich on Saturday—it’s Teun Koopmeiners who is the Reds’ top alternative to the Spaniard, according to Tutto Mercato Web.
Now, the 26-year-old Netherlands international has been left out of the squad for Atalanta’s opening Serie A match against Lecce on Monday, sparking speculation that a move could be imminent.
