Kieran McKenna makes blunt Liverpool admission after Ipswich Town defeat

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna admitted Liverpool simply "showed their quality" in the second half at Portman Road as Arne Slot kicked off his Premier League career with a 2-0 win.

Goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah on Saturday lunchtime were enough for the Reds to emerge with three points on their first visit to Ipswich since February 2002.

After a largely even first period, the visitors went through the gears in the second half and missed a hatful of chances either side of the goals from Jota and Salah, which came on 60 and 65 minutes, respectively.

And speaking after the game, McKenna conceded there was little his players could do about the step up in class from Liverpool, saying: "There were a lot of positives to take, mostly in the first half.

"I thought it was a really strong first-half performance. We made it a really difficult game for Liverpool, we pressed really well, our organisation was really good, we were physical and good in possession.

"We showed a good mixture between our bravery and composure and use our physical presence in the top line. We gave a really, really strong team a lot of problems.

“The challenge then is that we have to be able to do that for 90 minutes or in the periods where we can’t be like that we have to find ways to manage the game and be how we want to be.

“The second half was difficult and Liverpool kicked into their stride and the game got away from us.

"But the players should be proud of their effort. They should feel more confident they can competed at this level but know there are areas where they need to improve."

McKenna, who has led Ipswich to back-to-back promotions to the Premier League, added: “The supporters were great, there were moments in the first half where it was as good as it has been when I’ve been here. There were a number of different factors.

"There weren’t huge difference tactically, Trent (Alexander-Arnold) played a little higher on the right. But our physical level dropped and that was the reality of it, and that’s understandable given the efforts of the first half and the fact we are very early on (in the season) and we had a lot of players playing their first ever game at Premier League level and there’s an adjustment to that intensity.

“Liverpool showed their quality in the top line especially and their ability to use the space in behind and play the ball in for the fast runners.

“We had to learn how to manage the period in the second half when Liverpool were in full flow and playing really well. They are a fantastic team and were much the better team in the second half.”