On August 17th at 19:30 Beijing time, the first round of the Premier League will usher in a much-anticipated match, in which Liverpool will host promotion rivals Ipswich. The match will not only be Liverpool's Premier League debut under new manager Arne Slaughter, but also an important moment for Ipswich's return to the Premier League since 2002.
It is worth noting that former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction with the arrangement of early matches immediately following midweek European fixtures in the Premier League, believing that such an arrangement seriously affects the health and performance of players. During Klopp's time in charge of Liverpool, the team had played in the early Saturday session on several occasions, and this scheduling arrangement was considered to be one of the reasons for the team's poor performance in certain matches.
However, with Klopp's departure, new manager Sloter was relatively relaxed about this early game. He jokingly stated that the league organizers once again chose this time slot for the match probably because Klopp is no longer there. Slotter also expressed his expectation for this match, believing that Ipswich, as a promoted team, will bring a great challenge to Liverpool.
Liverpool have yet to complete any signings this summer, but they are still actively seeking opportunities to strengthen their squad. According to reports, Liverpool are looking to sign two or three more players before the transfer window closes, with the midfield and striker positions being their top targets. Previously, Liverpool were close to signing Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Subbimendi, but unfortunately he ultimately chose to stay with the Basque club. In addition, Liverpool have also been in contact with Valencia goalkeeper Gyorgy Mamardashvili to discuss a possible transfer.
