‘Everything has to be bang on’ – new signing Zian Flemming’s concise summary of how a team can avoid relegation from the Premier League could also apply to the circumstances in which newly-promoted sides can beat top teams like Liverpool.
Sadly, this wasn’t the case against The Reds. Ipswich Town need to eliminate the errors that allowed Liverpool to score two simple early goals on Friday night, something Gary O'Neil acknowledged.
Taking points from their next three league games against Crystal Palace, Everton and Fulham is very achievable, and Town should be targeting four in my opinion.
Captain Dara O'Shea should play centrally. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Captain Dara O'Shea should play centrally. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Fans are asking questions of Kjell Scherpen, which is understandable for those still haunted by Arianet Muric's disastrous spell between the sticks in Ipswich's last top-flight campaign.
Scherpen should have done better for both Liverpool goals, but for now, I would stick with the Dutchman and give him time to settle.
Where I would like to see changes is in defence.
Full-back has become one of the most important positions on the pitch, and I am not a fan of shoehorning players into roles. Dara O'Shea has worked his socks off at right-back, but I’d like to see the skipper moved back to centre-back.
He does not have the pace needed against Premier League wingers, and Town have missed his long-range passing that can set up counter-attacks.
I’ve liked what I have seen from Abdoul Ouattara so far. He is good on the ball, picks the right passes and is mobile. I’d love to see him given a run in the team. Starting Ouattara and moving O’Shea inside would give O’Neil a big decision to make about whether to drop Issa Diop or Jacob Greaves to the bench, assuming the gaffer sticks to a back four in defence.
Diop’s strength against physical teams like Palace and Everton, I feel, gives him the edge.
Town have shown in their last three games, that they can compete against any side in the Premier League.
For their next three games, they need to show that they can get points over the line.