Ipswich Town manager Gary O'Neil has criticised match officials over timekeeping following his side's 2-0 Premier League home defeat to Liverpool. The loss leaves the club 14th in the table with three points from their opening three matches, six points behind leaders Manchester City.
What did Gary O'Neil say about the officials?
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo after Friday's match, O'Neil expressed frustration with how referee Darren England managed the game. He felt Liverpool were allowed to slow the game down more easily than his own team had been in previous fixtures. "We’ve been pushed on timewasting a lot," O'Neil said. "My goalkeeper is being hurried up at Old Trafford to kick the ball when we weren’t even set - and I felt they [Liverpool] were able to kill the game a lot easier here. That upset me a bit."
Despite his complaint, O'Neil acknowledged the officials did a good job overall and praised the VAR decision regarding a penalty incident. He also highlighted the positive response from his players after conceding two early goals to Alexander Isak. The manager said his team went "toe-to-toe" with Liverpool for large parts of the contest and were the "best side" for much of the game after the poor start.
How did the match unfold at Portman Road?
Liverpool secured their first league win of the season under new manager Andoni Iraola with two goals inside the first nine minutes. Alexander Isak was the scorer of both, capitalising on errors from Ipswich goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen. According to a BBC Sport player ratings article, Scherpen had a desperately poor game, while Isak finally shone for the Reds.
The predicted lineups from a Sports Yahoo preview were largely accurate. Ipswich lined up in a 4-2-3-1 as expected, with Scherpen in goal behind a defence of Dara O'Shea, Issa Diop and Jacob Greaves. Sasa Lukić started in midfield, supporting an attack featuring Abdul Fatawu and Daizen Maeda. Liverpool's 4-2-3-1 featured Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, and the match-winner Isak up front.
What is next for Ipswich Town?
Ipswich's immediate focus shifts to their next Premier League fixture, an away match against Crystal Palace on September 12. Palace currently sit 13th in the standings, one place above Ipswich. The club will be hoping to improve on a record of four goals scored and eight conceded this season.
Manager O'Neil must also contend with several injury absences. Midfielders Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor are currently sidelined, as is winger Jaden Philogene-Bidace. Their availability for the trip to Selhurst Park remains in doubt, and fans can check the latest squad news on the club's injuries page. The full schedule for the coming weeks is available on the fixtures list.
How did the manager assess individual performances?
O'Neil offered support to goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen despite his costly mistakes. "People will make mistakes. I am really clear on that with the group that mistakes are no problem," he told the Liverpool Echo. He pointed out that errors against players of Isak's quality are often punished severely. The manager also noted the positive reaction from the Portman Road crowd, who applauded the team's effort at the final whistle.
The defeat means Ipswich Town's recent form reads LLW, with the win coming in their opening home game. They face a Crystal Palace side also on three points in their next league outing on September 12.
