Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool: The most ridiculous record of Mohamed Salah’s Premier League career? | OneFootball

Following a successful preseason under their new head coach, Liverpool ensured Arne Slot had a winning start in the Premier League at Portman Road this afternoon.

Last season’s third-place side were frustrated by newcomers Ipswich, back in the Premier League after a 22-year absence, but their resolve didn’t last as Diogo Jota — netting the first official goal under Slot from a Salah pass — and the inimitable Mohamed Salah struck in quick succession as the Reds emerged as 2-0 winners.

“When they play at home, it is quite tough,” Salah told TNT Sports. “We knew before the game that it would be a tough game. I try to help the team all the time. I just need to carry on. New manager, new system. We just need to adapt, and know his way of playing. We just need to play football and enjoy our games. Let’s see in the end.”

A man of many records, Liverpool’s “number 11” can now claim another, as Salah boasts the most goal involvements on Matchday 1 in Premier League history (14 — nine goals and five assists), as well as being the outright top scorer in Premier League opening day matches with nine goals.

Before kickoff, Salah was level with Alan Shearer, Frank Lampard, and Wayne Rooney in terms of netting on Matchday One of a Premier League season, while only Rooney (13 – eight goals and five assists) has had more goal involvements on the opening matchday of the competition. Indeed, Salah has never failed to score or assist on the opening weekend of a Premier League season.

Furthermore, only Rooney (36) scored and assisted in more different Premier League games than Salah (32). It would be hard not to see that record fall to him this season. With a goal against the Tractor Boys, who reduced Liverpool to only three shots on goal in the first half, Salah has now scored against every team he has faced except for Swansea City, Sunderland, Luton, and the Reds themselves.

In his 350th Liverpool appearance in all competitions, Salah recorded his 300th goal involvement, ultimately getting Slot off to a winning start, which is rare for a Liverpool manager in England’s top division since 1992.

Of his eight predecessors to take charge of the Reds in the Premier League, one had won their first such game (four draws and three losses). Gérard Houllier beat Southampton while jointly in charge with Roy Evans in August 1998. However, Houllier lost his first game in sole charge of the club (against Leeds in November 1998).

“Arne Slot na na na na…Arne Slot na na na na,” the Liverpool faithful in the crowd of 30,014 chanted seventy-eight minutes into the match.

Whoever followed in Jürgen Klopp’s footsteps would always face an incredible task, but with Liverpool relatively the same as last season, it’s a case of evolution rather than revolution, or at the very least, continuing where the German tactician left off.

One such record Klopp has maintained is never losing on the opening Premier League weekend. With this success, Liverpool are now unbeaten in their last 12 matchday one fixtures in the Premier League (nine wins and three draws) since a 3-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion in 2012/13 under Brendan Rodgers.