Ed Sheeran reveals why he walked off Ipswich's Premier League opener against Liverpool at half-time
In case you didn't know, Ed Sheeran is an Ipswich fan, but he had to leave the opening game of the Premier League early.
The newly promoted Tractor Boys were hosts Liverpool for their first top-flight game since 2002, and Sheeran, who grew up near Ipswich in Suffolk, was on hand for the occasion.
Celebrity singer Sheeran has been the club's shirt sponsor since 2021 and became a shareholder this week, buying 1.4 percent of the club.
He even handed out cakes before the match started, before taking his place in the stands.
Television cameras were regularly on the 'Perfect' singer as he watched Ipswich's first Premier League match in more than 20 years.
But unfortunately, they had to go into the break with the score at 0-0.
This is because he needs to travel to Belgrade for a sold-out show tonight.
Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the match, the pop star said: “I have to leave here at half-time because I'm playing in Serbia tonight. We almost couldn't make it to the game but we had to.”
He added: “I'm really excited. Driving around the city and seeing lots of people in Liverpool shirts and remembering that we're in the Premier League.
“Being able to watch top-level football is fantastic. Coming from League One to the Championship and getting to this point will make us see the difference in everything.”
“People like success stories like this. It's a grassroots club and it seems to have lifted the town up. Ipswich has been through some tough years, it's great for the area and the county.
“I started sponsoring them in League One and then continued to do so in the Championship. When it came to the Premier League, obviously the price of sponsorship is crazy. I said I would do a season in the Premier League and then Mark (Ashton) basically invited me to invest as a natural progression of being a sponsor.
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“I'm not signing players, it's more of a gesture but it feels good to be involved in the club.”
But shortly after Sheeran left, Ipswich found themselves trailing 1-0.
Liverpool's Diogo Jota scored from the box Mohamed SalahArne Slot's cross just after the hour mark gave the Arne Slot era a perfect start.
Moments later, the Reds doubled their lead.
Salah eluded Leif Davis and charged into the box with the ball, before passing the ball to Dominik Szoboszlai.
After suffering some detours on the way back to the Egyptian, the winger broke another record by scoring his team's second goal.
Sheeran, who is currently en route to Serbia, is listed by the club and has been assigned the number 17.
That means no Town player can have that number on the back of their shirt.
“This is crazy, isn't it? When they told me this in Ipswich I thought they were joking, but I love the idea,” he said at the time.
“I think this is going to be a great season and I'm honored to be a part of it.”
