Arne Slot starts his era as Liverpool FC boss with a trip to Portman Road to face Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town.
The Reds are heavy favourites going into the game and the two teams will inevitably be at different ends of the table. The Tractor Boys, making their long awaited return to Premier League, are massive underdogs but have nothing to lose.
For the Blue Army optimism is at an all time high, the Blues are closing in on a statement loan signing in the form of England international Kalvin Phillips. The signing of long term target Sammie Szmodics is imminent. This will take Town up to eight signings this summer, in comparison to Liverpool who are yet to make a signing.
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Will the Tractor Boys get the opportunity to unleash their key attacking threats?
There are question marks over what system the boys in blue will set up with. Will Town look to be aggressive, attack the boys in red by going for a back four shape. Or will the Blues show Liverpool respect and look to set up in a back five, which was experimented with in the final pre-season game against OGC Nice.
If the Blue Army set up in a back four then the opportunity to unleash Leif Davis down the left touchline and doubling up with Omari Hutchinson is a mouth watering prospect. Trent Alexander-Arnold can be defensively frail despite his abundant attacking qualities.
Counter attacks and threats on the transition could also be an avenue the Blues look to attack. If the boys in red commit too many bodies forward in attack then Wes Burns' pace and directness could be another area in which Town can profit from and he may fancy his chances against Kostas Tsimikas.
The physical attributes Liam Delap has to offer will ensure that he will be a handful for any Premier League defence. Virgil Van Dijk and Jarell Quansah may find they have had their hands full at the end of the contest, if the boys in blue are able to get Delap in the game. Delap has been bullying defenders all through pre-season.
McKenna likes to fully utilise his bench with 3-4 changes in the attacking unit a regular feature last season and a key factor in the Blues finishing games strongly (23 goals from subs last season, the highest in the Championship). Their ability to do this at the start of the season is limited by the long-term injuries to George Hirst and Nathan Broadhead (both out for at least two months months), placing more dependency on the starting 11.
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Will Town be able to handle the Reds wealth of attacking riches?
The prospect of Mohamed Salah strutting his stuff at Portman Road will instil fear into the Ipswich defence. Especially Leif Davis, who has been harshly criticised for his defensive capabilities. Unfortunate own goals in big games away against Leeds United and Leicester City last period has certainly not helped his cause and Salah will be his biggest test ever.
Diego Jota will be a much more preferable striker to face than Darwin Nunez. The centre back duo of Luke Woolfenden and Jacob Greaves is not exactly blessed with pace. Nunez's end product has always been questionable but his channel running and pace in behind makes him a serious threat to unsettle the Tractor Boys' backline.
The Reds' biggest threat will be Luis Diaz. Ipswich right backs found it tough last season against direct wingers. Crysensio Summerville and Luis Sinisterra both tormented Ipswich and Diaz is at another level to them. Ideally one v one specialist Axel Tuanzebe will be the man tasked with the tough ask of keeping the lively Diaz quiet. If Ben Johnson is to be picked however, Diaz may get a lot of joy. Johnson has been far from convincing defensively in pre-season.
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How the midfield battle could shape up
The midfield could be where the game is won and lost. The Liverpool midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Macalister and Dominic Szoboszlai has serious potential to overrun the Blue Army's double pivot of Sam Morsy and Jack Taylor or Massimo Luongo. If the combination is Morsy and Luongo there may be mobility issues at this level, despite their brilliant partnership in the Championship. Taylor may offer more dynamism despite not being a regular starter in the previous campaign.
Whilst a shock inclusion of Kalvin Phillips could help even out the odds, the potential of seeing Phillips is extremely unlikely given it will take time to integrate him into McKenna's system.
