Liverpool got the Arne Slot era off to a winning start on Saturday, with the Reds beating Ipswich 2-0 at Portman Road in their opening match of the Premier League season.
Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah were on the score sheet to make what was initially a nervous game more comfortable, with second half chances arriving at will.
For Ipswich, it was an encouraging-enough return to the Premier League in front of their home faithful, with Kieran McKenna's work evident in much of his side's play.
They will, however, have to wait for their first points back in the top flight, and it is Manchester City up next.
Mail Sport's LEWIS STEELE takes a look at some of things you may have missed at Portman Road.
Mohamed Salah was on the scoresheet as Liverpool won their first Premier League game under Arne Slot
Diogo Jota also netted in what was ultimately a comfortable 2-0 win for the Reds at Portman Road
Slot has taken over rom Jurgen Klopp and will start his home campaign next week when Liverpool take on Brentford
What a leg-end
Football in the summer sun means fans are unable to hide their excellent – and at times downright awful – choices in names printed on the back of their shirts. One at Portman Road for this match is already a shirt of the season contender, though.
The gentleman, who had one prosthetic leg and one able leg, enjoyed some dark humour as he wore an Ipswich home shirt with a number in the 50s – presumably his birth year or age – and the name, ‘Juan Leg’. Well played, Mr Leg.
In love with the Premier League
There were quite a few famous faces knocking around Portman Road as top pundits descended on Suffolk for the game of the day, but no one was picked out by the camera operators more than Ed Sheeran.
The singer-songwriter bought a minority stake in the club this week after being a lifelong Tractor Boys fan. Sadly, Liverpool were the A Team today as Sheeran, sporting an Ipswich shirt, was shown on the TV more than new Reds head coach Arne Slot.
Sheeran was just 11 the last time his team played at this level and will have loved the occasion – but he left at half-time as he needed to jet off to Belgrade, Serbia for a gig on Saturday evening. Some may call him a plastic fan!
Ed Sheeran, who has recently invested invested in Town, was in attendance for the first half
Sheeran was just 11 years old the last time he saw his side play in the Premier League and jetted off at half time
One man, meanwhile, who had one prosthetic leg and one able leg, had 'juan leg' on his shirt
Town show they belong
The words of the stadium announcer seconds before kick-off perfectly illustrated the sense of occasion at Portman Road. ‘The journey has been tough,’ he said. ‘But the journey continues… welcome to the Premier League.’
Ipswich train station was packed around three hours before kick-off and excitement was already building, with the beers flowing despite the early kick-off in the vibrant nearby fanzone. Many fans had paid extra for Premier League logos on the sleeves of their replica shirts.
Indeed, anything Premier League-related seemed to be going at a premium, with fans leaning over into the press box to ask if journalists would be kind enough to donate their team-sheets or purple lanyards with the top-flight logo on. Collectors’ items, clearly.
A banner at the back of the Sir Bobby Robson Stand read: ‘What is a club? It is the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging.’ After years in the wilderness, Kieran McKenna has given these fans a sense of belonging again – and they repaid him with an electric atmosphere here.
‘The supporters were fantastic,’ he said. ‘We’ve had some moments in the past years but this was right up there. In the second half when the game got away from us, the crowd kept pushing the team and that helped. They will have enjoyed it, they have seen the team go and compete.’
The Tractor Boys could not get over the line as they faded in the second half but plenty of teams will come to Portman Road this season fearing a tough task. Ipswich are solid at the back and have plenty of options in attack so will put up a good fight.
Kieran McKenna put in a good showing and thanked fans for their support after Saturday's tie
Joe Gomez, meanwhile, was suspiciously left out of the Liverpool squad having been linked with a move away
On the way out of Anfield
There was a suspicious absentee from Liverpool’s matchday squad as Joe Gomez did not travel to Ipswich as his future hangs in the balance amid interest from a number of clubs in the Premier League.
Gomez played less than 30 minutes of pre-season and was in talks with Newcastle earlier this summer in a move that would have seen Anthony Gordon go the other way until it ultimately fell through.
But it appears he is now strongly weighing up his options – though it must be said Liverpool will not force him out. There was also no spot on the bench for youngsters Ben Doak, Tyler Morton, Sepp van den Berg or Stefan Bajcetic. All have interest from clubs for moves away this summer.
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