English Premier League results: Chris Wood scores in opening draw ...

17 Aug 2024

On opening day, second-half goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah have allowed new Liverpool coach Arne Slot to get off to a 2-0 winning start at newly-promoted Ipswich Town in the English Premier League.

Liverpool - Figure 1
Photo New Zealand Herald

Ipswich, cheered by their pop star superfan Ed Sheeran, went toe-to-toe with Liverpool in the first half but failed to take their chances.

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz during the Premier League match between Ipswich Town FC and Liverpool FC. Photo / Getty Images

Slot’s new side improved after the break, taking the through Jota, before a fine move was finished off by Egyptian forward Salah to  kill off Ipswich, for whom former Australia star Massimo Luongo came on as a second-half substitute and current Socceroo Cameron Burgess was left on the bench.

Liverpool had a host of chances to make the result even more emphatic, but two goals were enough to navigate Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp’s replacement Slot past a tricky first game of the campaign.

“It’s quite different for all of us (playing under Slot), we need to adapt,” Salah told TNT Sports.

“We just need to know his way of playing and enjoy the football. We don’t need to put more pressure on him, we just need to play football and enjoy our games.”

Salah, playing in his 350th appearance for the club in all competitions, now has more goals in the opening rounds of Premier League seasons than anyone else.

Arsenal eased to a 2-0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers as goals by Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka got their title challenge up and running.

It was far from a fluent display but Mikel Arteta’s side, once again regarded as the team most likely to halt champions Manchester City’s domination, deserved the points.

Havertz headed in from Saka’s cross in the 25th minute but the hosts never looked completely comfortable until Saka’s clinical finish doubled their advantage in the closing stages.

“I am really happy. With the first game you have some uncertainty in how you will respond,” Gunners boss Arteta said.

Joelinton’s goal earned Newcastle a 1-0 win over promoted Southampton at St James’ Park despite going down to 10 men in the first half when Fabian Schar was sent off on 28 minutes for retaliation.

Danny Welbeck scored one goal and set up another as Brighton eased to a 3-0 victory at 10-man Everton in a perfect start for Fabian Huerzeler who, at 31 is the Premier League’s youngest ever permanent manager.

Brighton’s team featured James Milner, who, at 38, was starting his 23rd season in the Premier League, beating the record of 22 he held jointly with Man United great Ryan Giggs. Milner is seven years older than Hurzeler.

Kaoru Mitoma netted after excellent work from Yankuba Minteh, before Welbeck profited from sloppy Evertyon play to add a second and Simon Adingra grabbed a late third. Ashley Young was sent off midway through the second half for the hosts.

In the late game, Amadou Onana scored four minutes into his Aston Villa debut and Jhon Duran netted the late winner as Unai Emery’s men kicked off their campaign season with a 2-1 victory at West Ham.

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