Ipswich star reacts to playing Liverpool under Arne Slot in first Premier League game

Conor Chaplin is looking forward to kick-starting Ipswich's Premier League adventure against a new-look Liverpool side under Arne Slot.

Ipswich will welcome the Reds to Portman Road on Aug. 17 in a 9:30 am kick-off, with Premier League fixture schedules being released on Tuesday. "Good start," striker Chaplin said to talkSPORT on starting his top-flight campaign against Liverpool.

"Really happy it’s at home as well - obviously, it’s the first time we’ve been in the Premier League for 22 years as a club so that’s going to be some occasion. Obviously, Liverpool have got a new manager as well so it’s excitement from their part and their fans as well. Really looking forward to it.”

Chaplin will also relish taking on the defending Premier League champions, Manchester City. The 27-year-old expects the clash with the Sky Blues to be one of the toughest of the season.

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"When you’re going into your first season in the Premier League for that amount of time it’s exciting, the game," he added. "So it’s obviously going to be a big challenge but yeah, it’s exciting - I think that’s the overriding feeling.”

However, one trip tops the lot for Chaplin, who grew up an Arsenal fan. Ipswich will head to the Emirates on Boxing Day. “I think you look at the big clubs in the league, I think Arsenal - I liked Arsenal growing up as well," he said.

"So Arsenal on Boxing Day is a really exciting one, such a traditional day for football in this country so it’s probably fallen on a great day so that’ll be exciting. And probably the big clubs as well - I’d love to go to St James’ (Park) for the first time and Old Trafford, they’re probably the ones that stick out.”

Liverpool is yet to get started in the summer transfer market, with the window only recently opening. But according to according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, the Reds are eyeing defensive reinforcements first and foremost. center-back Leny Yoro of Lille, 18, is on the Reds' radar, as well as being tracked by several top clubs, such as Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid.

However, the report states that Real is Yoro's preferred destination. Yoro's release clause stands at a whopping $64.4 million. The Reds were reported to have bid $53.7m in order to steal a march on their rivals.

Liverpool's pre-season isn't scheduled to get underway until July, with scheduled fixtures coming against Real Betis, Arsenal, and Man Utd. More fixtures for early July could be announced at a later date.

Liverpool.com says: Ipswich will be wanting to make a big impression in Match Week 1 of the 2024/25 Premier League season and show off their impressive style of football under highly sought-after manager Kieran McKenna. The Reds could also be caught off guard by a potential teething period to Slot's methods, making the game a potential banana skin.