Our prediction for this Premier League match:
ewcomers Ipswich Town will look to claim a major scalp in round 1 when they take on Liverpool at their Portman Road. The Tractor Boys return to the Premier League following a 22-year-absence and, one thing is for sure, they are going to leave their hearts on the field. The club chiefs have signed the likes of Arijanet Muric (goalkeeper), Liam Delap (centre-forward), Jacob Greaves (centre-back), and Omari Hutchinson (right winger) in the summer transfer window, while managing to keep hold of key players from the last season.
The Reds, on the other hand, are determined to regain the trophy, but they will have to do it without Jurgen Klopp, who is no longer in charge of the Anfield outfit. Left-back Andy Robertson has yet to recover from an ankle injury, but new boss Arne Slot can count on other first-team regulars for the season opener. With the likes of Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah, and Darwin Nunez in the starting XI, Liverpool should defeat the newly-promoted side at Portman Road.
Highlighted Player (Mohamed Salah):
Mohamed Salah is considered one of the best African players. Salah began his senior career at El Mokawloon, scoring 11 goals in 41 league appearances for the club and in 2012 he moved to Europe, signing a four-year deal with Swiss side Basel.
The pacey winger, who is capable of playing as a striker as well was producing outstanding displays for the RotBlau from 2012 to 2014 and, as a result, Chelsea chiefs decided to sign him on 26 January, 2015 for a fee of £11 million. Mohamed Salah, though, failed to impress in the Premier league and one year later he was sent on loan to Fiorentina.
After making 16 league appearances for the Viola in the Serie A, the left-footed winger signed a loan deal with Roma on 6 August, 2015. The Romans made the contract permanent on 3 August, 2016. Speaking of his international career, Salah made his Egypt debut on 3 September, 2011 in a 2-1 loss to Sierra Leone. It has to be noted that he was named Roma’s player of the season (2015/2016).
Highlighted Team (Ipswich):
Ipswich Town are an English football club that was formed in 1878. Portman Road has been the home ground of Ipswich Town since 1894 and the capacity of the venue, which was expanded in 2002, is 30,311. The Tractor Boys compete in the Championship, but they used to play in the English Premier League in the past as well. Ipswich Town last appeared in the elite division in the 2001/2002 season.
Ipswich won the FA Cup in 1978, with the team beating Arsenal (1-0) in the title game. However, the club’s biggest success came in 1981 when they outplayed AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Cup final. It has to be noted that the Tractor Boys have yet to suffer a loss at home ground in the European competitions.
Norwich City are regarded as Ipswich Town’s bitterest rivals and it is well known that the two sides take on each other in the East Anglian derby.