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Gary O’Neil claims Ipswich were the “best side” for most of their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool

Gary O’Neil claims Ipswich were the “best side” for most of their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool, and took issue with his opponents ‘timekeeping’.

A quick-fire double from Alexander Isak gave Liverpool and Andoni Iraola their first Premier League win of the season.

Whilst the Tractorboys gave it a good go, a competitive display, but their quality was lacking. They did however get cheered off by the Portman Road faithful at the end of the game.

MATCH STATS:

Goals
Ipswich – 0
Liverpool – 2

Shots
Ipswich – 14
Liverpool – 10

Shots on target
Ipswich – 5
Liverpool – 7

Possession
Ipswich – 44.8%
Liverpool – 55.2%

Successful passes
Ipswich – 357
Liverpool – 471

Long passes
Ipswich – 41
Liverpool – 54

Corners won
Ipswich – 4
Liverpool – 3

Gary O’Neil said in his press conference: “We were in that game at Manchester United until a couple of moments took it away from us.

“We were in it, so that’s what we need to do. We need to make sure that no matter who it is, whether it’s Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, when they come to Portman Road, we need to make sure we’re right in the game to give ourselves opportunities.

“We’ll always be a threat. We’ve scored four goals in two games. That’s really good for a promoted side. We look a goal threat, and we need to keep that going and that will be tested.

“The Premier League has hardly any clean sheets now. It’s really difficult to keep the opposition at bay, the ball’s in play a lot longer, the set-plays are huge, there’s more and more attacking threat on the pitch, so you have to be able to score goals.

“It’s really important that we keep that threat up. We’re looking forward to the challenge. It’ll be a tough one for us and they’re going to be fired up, but it’s Portman Road under the lights and I know the fans will be looking forward to it.”

He said to Sky Sports: “Proud of the group. I thought we were excellent.

“Two mistakes in the first 10 minutes made it difficult, but we were the best side for large parts after that. More shots, some real good chances. And a test.

“I spoke about the setbacks at Man Utd and wanting to respond to them better, I thought we did that very, very well. Of course, we won’t take any points tonight which is always difficult against Liverpool and it’s what we’re here for. But a lot of very good signs. To go toe-to-toe with them, I’m very pleased.

“The mistakes are big, punished heavily by world-class players in the first 10 minutes, but an excellent response. We gave our best, the fans appreciated the performance. But we are here for points, so next week we have to make sure next week we take some.”

On Liverpool being able to ‘kill the game’ with their timekeeping, he added:

“We’ve been pushed on timewasting a lot. 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. They could have been hurried up a little bit more. But I thought the officials did a good job though. VAR arrived to a good conclusion for the penalty.”

O’Neil fumed when Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet, just booked, appeared to take out Emersonn, he said per Ipswich Star:

“I thought that was a possible yellow card, but it wasn’t given as a foul, was it?” said a fairly sanguine O’Neil when asked about the incident afterwards.

“It could have gone another way, but no complaints from me.

“Maybe just timekeeping. We’ve been pushed on time-wasting a lot. My goalie’s been hurried up at Old Trafford to kick the ball when we’re not even set and I felt like they were able to kill the game much easier here.

“So that upset me a bit. I felt like they could have been hurried up a little bit more. But no, I thought the officials did a good job.

“VAR arrived on a good conclusion for the penalty (a Davis foul in the box not counting due to an earlier offside).”

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola said to Sky Sports:

“It’s nice, we needed this one. The way it has been with the clean sheet, controlling the game quite well. We started really strong. It was another kind of second half, not as good as the first half, but we didn’t concede any clear chances.”

On Isak: “It’s a massive player for us. My demands will not be about the goals: he’s fit, in a good shape and he will produce the numbers. But my fights with him are more about other stuff, how to help the team in other situations. But it’s good he has played two full games and today a good amount of minutes, scoring the goals.

“Today we were much, much better in our press. We were recovering very high and then we can contact him in good positions. If we recover the ball lower, it will be more difficult to find him to have less spaces. So we need more quality effort to put our No 9 in situations like he had today.”

Here’s how fans reacted while Gary O’Neil claims Ipswich were the “best side” for most of their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool…

@Archie17057994: Do you know what second half was good. Need to sort the final third out but otherwise eyes on palace. Outara needs to start

@FinleyG17: I thought we improved as the game went I but you are kidding yourself if you think we were even close to the better side

@russclaydon: Shot ourselves in the foot early on with some woeful defending. Did well to get into the game thereafter, and if Davis headed in at the far post, it could have been a different game. Great debut from Palacios; the ball stuck to his foot. Enciso again showed his class #itfc #lfc

@wolvesayywe: This interview is giving me PTSD as a wolves fan. He don’t half talk some utter garbage

@LewisClarry: Terrible start and not clinical enough in final third, but this season won’t be defined by today’s result. Believe the squad looks like it can complete for the full 90 compared to last time in the prem and majority of new signings have massively improved us from last season #itfc

@ITFC20O5: Wasn’t even that bad of a game, had our chances and we were the better side in the second half… These big 6 clubs (excluding Spurs) are not for us to win, the teams we need to win against are the teams not in the big 6. Onto Palace 👊

@BenNotley: @LFC started the game like a champions league team, both goals were fast, well taken and well made. Since then we certainly didn’t disgrace ourselves tonight. Last time we were in the prem we would lose that by 4 or 5. Some more good performances and positives to take #ITFC

@jacobrevillneil: Why are people turning against O’Neil already? Greaves too. Get behind them ffs. We’ve just lost to United & Liverpool (UCL sides) but because we’ve spent £200M we are now expecting to beat United AT Old Trafford and Liverpool? Our fans are unbelievable 😂😂😂 #itfc

@KJstrike_: I’ll take that after the first 9 mins, these games won’t define our season

@GlennComms: Sobering start to the game. Ipswich didn’t capitulate. Still think this #itfc just looks far more comfortable at this level than previously, so not too disheartened. Disappointing by their own standards last season, there’s genuine quality in that Liverpool squad. Palace next.

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