Ryan Gravenberch stars in Liverpool win but Arne Slot transfer need clear - 5 things learned

PORTMAN ROAD, IPSWICH // It was always going to be loud and noisy. Ipswich Town has, after all, been outside of the Premier League for 22 years. In the end, though, it was Liverpool's quality that told .

Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota should both have opened the scoring before the latter did just that, firing into the back of the net when teed up by Mohamed Salah . Lesson number one in the top flight for Ipswich: you might be able to give the Portugal forward one chance, but definitely not two.

Salah made it 2-0 shortly after that and while Ipswich far from gave up hope, the host was now firmly on the back foot. Liverpool, which wasn't always the case last season, was able to see the game out.

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The Reds are off the mark not just in the 2024/25 season but also in the Arne Slot era. Here are the five things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded at Portman Road.

Arne Slot first win

Standing on a Premier League touchline for the first time (aside from the friendlies at Anfield last weekend), Slot looked relatively relaxed. That will be a theme of the post-Jurgen Klopp era, you suspect, with the Dutchman much calmer — even when Ipswich attempted to get physical and Wes Burns avoided a second yellow card after a handball offense.

There won't be many occasions where Slot can wear only his short-sleeved black T-shirt but he pointed and he coached from the touchline here and he needed to offer some advice. It seemed to work and whatever he said inside the dressing room appeared to work. Liverpool was much improved second half.

Liverpool midfield plan coming together

Selected as the number six here in the absence of Martin Zubimendi and ahead of Wataru Endo , it was Ryan Gravenberch who occupied the deepest position in midfield alongside Alexis Mac Allister . Dominik Szoboszlai was picked ahead of Harvey Elliott as the most advanced player in that department.

Both Gravenberch and Szoboszlai had moments where they needed to adjust to the pace early in the game, but their height and physicality was an advantage. Buoyed by the home crowd, Ipswich pressed well and Liverpool needed that speed and technique to escape on a few occasions.

Early season rust evident

Alexis Mac Allister and Trent Alexander-Arnold , like the whole Liverpool team, were much improved in the second 45 minutes, but neither is at peak sharpness just yet. Both looked rusty and in need of more action, particularly before the interval.

There were loose touches and passes from the pair and that is a rarity. In time, though, those will be ironed out. The only way to increase sharpness is by playing and winning will do no one any harm.

Dominik Szoboszlai leaves an impression

Szoboszlai started slowly but he played as a number 10 and a right-back here, swapping regularly with Alexander-Arnold and covering for the Liverpool number 66 when he went into midfield. As the game went on, the Hungary captain got better and better. His energy and physical qualities have never been doubted. He needs to get even better but this was a positive start.

Joe Gomez transfer need already clear

If there is transfer interest at the right price for Joe Gomez , Liverpool would absolutely have to get a replacement signed up before letting him leave in search of more minutes. He was absent from the matchday squad here and there is a conundrum to be solved.

On the one hand, Liverpool barely has enough cover as it is because one or two injuries would significantly alter the picture. On the other, Slot cannot guarantee minutes in any position, let alone in his favored central berth.

Before you get to Gomez, Ibrahima Konate could have faced a battle to win his place in the side back from the excellent Jarell Quansah. While Gomez spent much of last season playing at full-back, Liverpool will hope not to have so many injuries on either flank.

Quansah coming off at half-time, though, was a warning of quickly things can look different. It would take a big fee to be placed on the table for Gomez for Liverpool to accept an exit. This is why.