Arne Slot’s dressing-room admission reveals early perception into Liverpool reign – Premier League hits and misses

Slot reveals his ruthlessness

Arne Slot revealed the away dressing room at Portman Street wasn’t a cheerful place at half-time.

Slot, taking cost of his first Premier League recreation, noticed his Liverpool staff not hit the depth ranges required to win on this division – irrespective of the opposition. Ipswich have been courageous, daring and aggressive as their in-your-face strategy wasn’t matched by the guests. He wasn’t impressed – and let his gamers know.

Of the 53 duels that have been competed within the first 45 minutes, Ipswich gained 58 per cent of them.

A excessive proportion of these duels have been being gained by Ipswich centre-forward Liam Delap, who gave Jarrell Quansah a troublesome time. Slot noticed that subject and wasted no time in changing Quansah on the break with Ibrahima Konate – it was not an harm associated substitution, it was purely tactical.

The Frenchman’s energy and affect helped Liverpool regain management by stopping the movement into Delap and supplied the launchpad for his or her second-half efficiency to rocket. Konate helped their duels-won ratio leap to 55 per cent after the break.

A haul of two.61 anticipated objectives from 15 photographs within the second half, 13 of them from contained in the field resulted in two objectives and three factors for Slot as Liverpool’s tactic of exploiting Ipswich’s very dangerous recreation of one-on-one defending up towards Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah was uncovered. It was a really encouraging begin for the brand new boss.
Lewis Jones

Centered Raya essential to Arsenal beginning robust

Successful participant of the match on the opening weekend of the season is low on David Raya’s 2024 honours checklist after his Premier League Golden Glove and Euro 2024 triumph, nevertheless it does really feel vital.

Regardless of Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka getting the objectives, the Arsenal goalkeeper was essential to their opening 2-0 win over Wolves. His three saves – essentially the most spectacular to disclaim Jorgen Strand Larsen, then second-half parries towards Matheus Cunha and Pablo Sarabia – have been very important to the victory. With out them, Arsenal might have slipped up.

They have been the one three actions Raya needed to do however that made his show much more spectacular. Arsenal give away so little to their opponents that focus when the opposition do come ahead might be difficult.

However whereas Raya is understood for his footwork and build-up capacity, his shot-stopping seems to be on kind as Arsenal intention to go one higher this season.

Reward for Arsenal’s defence primarily revolved across the partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel or the industrious nature of Ben White final season. Raya’s function was not mentioned an excessive amount of. Maybe which may change.
Sam Blitz

Newcastle’s miserly defence is a welcome comeback

Newcastle ended their first recreation of the season having confronted an xG of 1.79, 19 photographs and 30 crosses – however with a clear sheet from a stoic defensive effort.

After Fabian Schar’s first-half crimson card and Joelinton’s opener towards the run of play, Eddie Howe despatched his troops out from the break to defend what that they had.

Regardless of a number of shut shaves, they earned victory by sheer organisation and onerous work. It was a throwback to the type of stoic defending which noticed them attain the Champions League and concede solely 33 objectives in Eddie Howe’s first season in cost.

Accidents performed a component in delivery virtually twice that determine final season, although the Magpies misplaced one thing of their construction and solidity too.

Howe was effectively conscious of that want to enhance, and instructed Sky Sports activities after beating Southampton: “We were free-scoring last year and we prided ourselves on that, but without the ball we had to improve and we’ve done a lot of work on our defensive shape in pre-season.”
Ron Walker

Greaves one among many positives for Ipswich

Ipswich’s long-awaited return to the highest flight did not essentially go to plan. It is in all probability mistaken to imagine there have been any actual expectations for the Tractor Boys of their opening fixture towards Liverpool however there have been some positives to take.

Specifically, their first half was spectacular. Ipswich carried a higher menace within the first interval than Liverpool. They restricted the away facet to little or no in the best way of probabilities, making it awkward for the opposition. Ipswich additionally created some alternatives of their very own owing to their aggressive strategy earlier than the half-time interval.

Nobody in a blue shirt caught the attention greater than Jacob Greaves, who’s one among Ipswich’s summer time additions introduced in from Hull Metropolis. He was named within the Sky Guess Championship Staff of the Season for 2023/24 and picked up Hull’s Participant of the Yr award. It is simple to see why he is so extremely rated.

On his Premier League debut, towards one of many division’s main sides, the 23-year-old centre-back gained 100 per cent of his floor duels and made essentially the most clearances within the recreation with eight.

Greaves additionally gained three fouls and made two interceptions in a efficiency worthy of the extent he is now taking part in at. Ipswich shipped two objectives, however the centre-back ensured it wasn’t an undeserving embarrassing end result at Portman Street.

Greaves is one to control going ahead as he might show to be the membership’s most essential participant of their hunt for survival.
William Bitibiri

West Ham’s attacking strategy excites – however leaves them open

After half-hour on the London Stadium, it was tempting to wonder if West Ham have been being bitten by what that they had wished for. An array of thrilling attacking summer time signings, speak of a brand new strategy underneath Lopetegui and the shackles of the David Moyes period forged off… However there was the sight of Aston Villa carving by the house facet at will.

The guests actually might have been effectively clear earlier than the penalty was awarded on the different finish. After Onana’s free header from a nook – amid defending which might have disgusted Moyes – Rogers was capable of cost by the traces, Bailey was free to run onto a ball excessive earlier than hitting a submit, and McGinn ought to have transformed on the finish of a swift counter which had the Hammers gamers all over.

However after the equaliser West Ham confirmed their attacking menace too. Mohammed Kudus was glorious, Tomas Soucek ought to have scored a pair – notably within the last seconds when he sliced over from shut vary – and Crysencio Summerville and Niclas Fullkrug excited off the bench.

The problem for Lopetegui can be to shore-up the backline whereas protecting the minimize and thrust of the attacking play seen on Saturday. Till he cracks that, it could possibly be a little bit of a bumpy journey into this new extra cavalier period for West Ham supporters.
Peter Smith

Promising indicators for Brighton underneath new man Hurzeler

Brighton followers can be heading dwelling south from Merseyside with excessive hopes for the season underneath new supervisor Fabian Hurzeler if their 3-0 destruction of Everton is something to go by.

Hurzeler, who was likened to former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp by James Milner, took cost of his first match at Goodison and it couldn’t have gone any higher for the youngest-ever Premier League coach.

The 31-year-old’s facet have been assured in possession, particularly when taking part in out from the again, snappy within the press and deadly on the counterattack, particularly thrilling summer time signing Yankuba Minteh and Kaoru Mitoma, who each mixed for the opening objective.

One other close-season arrival, Mats Wieffer, additionally impressed in midfield, whereas Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro have been a continuing menace in midfield because the guests ran amok within the second half, particularly after Ashley Younger’s sending-off.

There’ll clearly be tougher exams to return, beginning with Man Utd on the Amex on Saturday lunchtime, however for now the longer term seems to be very vivid for Brighton.

Ominous already for shot-shy Everton

Boos rung out round Goodison park on the full-time whistle after Everton recorded their third straight opening-day Premier League loss and in reality it was a dispiriting show that alerts a doubtlessly lengthy season forward for Sean Dyche’s facet.

The hosts really began brightly and have been unfortunate to not be forward early on, however as quickly as Kaoru Mitoma gave Brighton the lead, there was solely ever going to be one end result because the guests dominated.

Everton weren’t helped by having a penalty choice overturned, a lot to Dyche’s fury, proper in the beginning of the second half after which seeing Ashley Younger despatched off, however after having the sport’s first shot on track within the fourth minute, they didn’t register one other try on track for the remainder of the match as they once more struggled to create.

And Dyche’s greatest puzzle to resolve this season will once more how he will get his staff to attain sufficient objectives to keep away from one other relegation battle.
Richard Morgan

Man Utd stay unconvincing regardless of Zirkzee heroics

The No 7 is a digit seeped into the tradition of Manchester United and Outdated Trafford and it struck once more in Friday’s 1-0 win over Fulham.

Whereas Joshua Zirkzee wears No 11 for United, the deft flick from the Dutchman to win the sport – his seventh of the sport after approaching on the hour mark – has created a feel-good issue on the membership, for now.

It was one other removed from convincing show from United. It was final season’s ranges of ‘powerful watch’, as Marco Silva’s facet seemed harmful each time they went over half approach. Parallels might be drawn between how they opened final season – a tense 1-0 win over Wolves the place Andre Onana was lucky to not concede a penalty late on. Their season didn’t take off from there however must now.

And it seems to be like Erik ten Hag was proper: his facet aren’t fairly prepared for this season but. Diogo Dalot nonetheless continued to battle in a left-back function that misses Luke Shaw, two centre-backs have been tactical substitutions whereas chasing a objective with 5 minutes to go, whereas Marcus Rashford, who didn’t have a single shot towards Fulham regardless of taking part in the entire recreation, nonetheless seems to be removed from his greatest.

Ten Hag’s problem is to ensure this win doesn’t paper over the cracks – and as his new-look squad and membership hierarchy proceed to gel, they be taught from their errors and present errors.
Sam Blitz

Forest annoyed by Bournemouth once more

Nottingham Forest can be kicking themselves after letting their lead slip as their poor run of outcomes towards Bournemouth continues.

Forest are actually winless of their final 9 video games towards the Cherries they usually have now gone seven years with out profitable on the opening day of the season.

It was a constructive begin from the house facet, with Forest exhibiting super character after a fairly terrible harm sustained by midfielder Danilo, who required prolonged therapy earlier than he was stretchered off and changed by Ryan Yates.

Yates was concerned within the build-up to the objective – a well-taken effort from Chris Wooden – and Forest had probabilities to place the sport to mattress, solely to be undone late on by Antoine Semenyo’s strike.

Nuno Espirito Santo can have so much to ponder after this recreation His facet did not kill the sport off, they seemed weak defensively, and it seems to be like Danilo might effectively now face a prolonged spell on the sidelines after it was confirmed that he had sustained a damaged ankle.

Forest have already introduced in six gamers this summer time, nevertheless it might all level to a busier than anticipated finish to the switch window for Nuno.
Dev Trehan

Wolves take a look at ‘Plan A’ towards the very best

Gary O’Neil admitted he would normally change his techniques when arising towards an opposition as robust as Arsenal however needed to check his “Plan A” – and Wolves can be inspired by what they noticed.

Wolves might have been blown away by a dominant Arsenal within the first half however held on earlier than giving the title hopefuls a scare within the second, with a rusty Matheus Cunha losing a great likelihood.

Bukayo Saka was allowed to chop inside and hearth dwelling on his left foot to kill the sport which was one among a number of moments that annoyed O’Neil.

“I have spoken to them because carrying [the plan] out well, coming up short on a few details is obviously not good enough,” he stated.

“When your mate is through on goal, being able to make sure the pass is right. When you get a look at (David) Raya in a 1v1, can we find a corner? Some details in the defending, like the two goals and Saka coming inside.

“The gamers perceive the significance of it and for what they’ve given at the moment, I can positively join it.”

O’Neil can preserve Plan B up his sleeve for now.
David Richardson

Power from the bench issues for Emery

Most onlookers can have been impressed by Aston Villa’s summer time enterprise. Amadou Onana was signed for a hefty £50m from Everton however proved his value inside 4 minutes of his debut on the London Stadium.

Then got here the second-half introduction of Ian Maatsen, signed for £37.5m from Chelsea, whose scrumptious reverse go into the trail of fellow substitute Jacob Ramsey crafted the sport’s decider.

Villa have been shrewd of their dealings, and sagacious in the best way they’ve been used on opening weekend. Nothing in need of what now we have come to count on from the sharpest of operators in Unai Emery.

Jhon Duran has now scored six Premier League objectives from simply 616 minutes performed, a mean of 1 each 103 minutes, and essentially the most of any participant from the bench within the league (5) because the begin of final season. Solely Erling Haaland can boast a greater goals-per-minute ratio.

But it surely was the half performed by all three attacking substitutes – who mixed for the winner – that impressed most. Emery can be rubbing his palms on the energy in depth he is been afforded this time period.

Soccer is in fact a squad recreation, and solely by utilising his accurately can Emery hope to have the ability to full ably within the league whereas concurrently fronting a European marketing campaign too.
Laura Hunter