Arne Slot’s dressing-room admission exhibits early perception into Liverpool reign – Premier League hits and misses | Soccer Information

Slot exhibits his ruthlessness

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

Slot, taking cost of his first Premier League recreation, noticed his Liverpool group not hit the depth ranges required to win on this division – regardless of the opposition. Ipswich have been courageous, daring and aggressive as their in-your-face method 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 tricky 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 circulate into Delap and offered 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 pictures 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 in opposition to 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 record after his Premier League Golden Glove and Euro 2024 triumph, but it surely does really feel important.

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 in opposition to Matheus Cunha and Pablo Sarabia – have been very important to the victory. With out them, Arsenal could 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 could be difficult.

However whereas Raya is understood for his footwork and build-up means, his shot-stopping seems on type 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 pictures 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 in opposition to the run of play, Eddie Howe despatched his troops out from the break to defend what that they had.

Regardless of just a few shut shaves, they earned victory by way of sheer organisation and arduous work. It was a throwback to the sort 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 an element in transport nearly 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 informed 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 certainly one of many positives for Ipswich

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

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

Nobody in a blue shirt caught the attention greater than Jacob Greaves, who’s certainly one of Ipswich’s summer time additions introduced in from Hull Metropolis. He was named within the Sky Wager Championship Workforce of the Season for 2023/24 and picked up Hull’s Participant of the 12 months award. It is easy to see why he is so extremely rated.

On his Premier League debut, in opposition to 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 consequence at Portman Highway.

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

West Ham’s attacking method 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, discuss of a brand new method below Lopetegui and the shackles of the David Moyes period forged off… However there was the sight of Aston Villa carving by way of the house facet at will.

The guests actually may 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 in a position to cost by way of the strains, 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 everywhere.

However after the equaliser West Ham confirmed their attacking menace too. Mohammed Kudus was glorious, Tomas Soucek ought to have scored a pair – significantly within the ultimate 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 might be a little bit of a bumpy trip into this new extra cavalier period for West Ham supporters.
Peter Smith

Promising indicators for Brighton below new man Hurzeler

Brighton followers can be heading dwelling south from Merseyside with excessive hopes for the season below 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 purpose.

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 assessments to come back, beginning with Man Utd on the Amex on Saturday lunchtime, however for now the long run seems very vibrant 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 probably 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 consequence because the guests dominated.

Everton weren’t helped by having a penalty choice overturned, a lot to Dyche’s fury, proper at first 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 largest puzzle to unravel this season will once more how he will get his group 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 Previous 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 ‘robust watch’, as Marco Silva’s facet seemed harmful each time they went over half method. Parallels could 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 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 purpose with 5 minutes to go, whereas Marcus Rashford, who didn’t have a single shot in opposition to Fulham regardless of taking part in the entire recreation, nonetheless seems removed from his finest.

Ten Hag’s problem is to verify 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 pissed off by Bournemouth once more

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

Forest are actually winless of their final 9 video games in opposition to the Cherries and so they 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 displaying large 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 purpose – 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 could have lots to ponder after this recreation His facet did not kill the sport off, they seemed weak defensively, and it seems like Danilo could 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, but it surely may all level to a busier than anticipated finish to the switch window for Nuno.
Dev Trehan

Wolves check ‘Plan A’ in opposition to the most effective

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

Wolves may 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 an excellent probability.

Bukayo Saka was allowed to chop inside and hearth dwelling on his left foot to kill the sport which was certainly one of a number of moments that pissed off 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 right this 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 could have been impressed by Aston Villa’s summer time enterprise. Amadou Onana was signed for a hefty £50m from Everton however proved his price 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 move into the trail of fellow substitute Jacob Ramsey crafted the sport’s decider.

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

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

Nevertheless it was the half performed by all three attacking substitutes – who mixed for the winner – that impressed most. Emery can be rubbing his fingers on the power 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