O’Neil: We were best team for most of the game
Ipswich head coach Gary O’Neil admitted he was proud of his players after a difficult start of the game – and were the “best side” in the match for most of the contest.
The Tractor Boys fell two goals down inside the first nine minutes to an Alexander Isak double but O’Neil felt his team went “toe-to-toe” with the Reds after that.
“Proud of the group. I thought we were excellent,” O’Neil told Sky Sports.
“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
O’Neil and Ipswich ‘looking forward’ to Liverpool challenge
Gary O’Neil has insisted Ipswich will relish the challenge of facing Liverpool on Friday, live on Sky Sports, and preserving the club’s 20-match unbeaten run at Portman Road.
The Tractor Boys finished off a remarkable summer transfer window with the signing of forward Zian Flemming from Burnley on deadline day in a £20m deal and the Dutch attacker could make his debut against the Reds.
Flemming’s arrival follows the big-money transfer of Exequiel Palacious and Julio Enciso’s return this summer. Whilst O’Neil watched Ipswich lose 5-2 at Manchester United last Sunday, he is still positive – especially after an opening-day victory over Sunderland.
“We were in that game at Manchester United until a couple of moments took it away from us,” O’Neil told a press conference.
“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.”
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