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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Paul Hayward at Portman Road

Resurgent Ipswich electrify ‘Sleepy Suffolk’ before costly defensive lapses

Ipswich’s Sammie Szmodic battles for the ball against Liverpool full-back Conor Bradley
Ipswich’s Sammie Szmodics, shown battling the Liverpool full-back Conor Bradley, caught the eye after coming on as a substitute. Photograph: David Klein/Reuters

Alf Ramsey or Bobby Robson would have thought a religious festival had broken out at Portman Road. For a 12.30 kick-off, swarms turned up closer to breakfast time. In the milky August sun many Ipswich fans were like awestruck travellers to an uncharted land.

It was all going beautifully until the promoted team in the tale flipped from upwardly mobile warriors back to being Ipswich, and Liverpool displayed the soft shoe defence-slicing skills you need to be Champions League regulars. Focus frays, the mind tires, Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah go to work. The next thing you know, you’re getting a standing ovation for losing 2-0.

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