Ipswich made a tough return to the top flight with the opening two matches against Premier League giants Liverpool and Man City.
Ipswich Town have received a pair of unenviable Premier League openers against Liverpool and Manchester City to mark their return to the top flight.
He tractor boys will end a 22-year absence from the Premier League after finishing second in the Championship table and earning promotion.
But they could hardly have been greeted with two more difficult games as they look to get off to a good start next season.
They open their campaign with a home game against Liverpool on August 17 at 12:30 pm, live on talkSPORT, where they will welcome the Reds and the new coach. Arne Slotto Portman Road.
And things don't get any easier the following week, when they travel to take on the defending champions. city of manchester on August 24 at.
With Liverpool losing only four games last Premier League season and pep guardiolaAfter Manchester City have lost just three, Ipswich will know they are being thrown into the deep end straight away.
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Ipswich were last relegated from the Premier League in 2002, after winning just nine of their 38 games in a season in which they ultimately fell five points clear of survival.
But now that they're back, the Tractor Boys will be eager to stay there.
They will be buoyed by the success of their last two seasons – their promotion to the Premier League follows their promotion from League One the previous season.
They became the fifth team to achieve consecutive promotions by doing so.
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As Ipswich striker Conor Chaplin told talkSPORT Breakfast, the team are focusing on enjoying the experiences that await them.
The 27-year-old scored 13 crucial goals in 47 appearances last season and admitted he is feeling positive about the upcoming matches.
“Good start,” he told talkSPORT. “I'm really happy to be home too – obviously it's the first time we've been in the Premier League in 22 years as a club, so it will be an occasion.”
“Obviously Liverpool have a new manager too, so there's excitement from them and also from their fans. I'm really looking forward to it.”
Asked if he was any less excited about his clash with dominant Man City, he laughed before replying: “Obviously it will be one of the toughest of the season, if not the toughest. When you go into your first season in the Premier League during that time, the game is exciting.
“Obviously it's going to be a big challenge, but yeah, it's exciting. I think that's the prevailing feeling.”
For Chaplin, there is one match in particular that he is looking forward to, as well as some trips to some special stadiums.
“I think if you look at the big clubs in the league, I think Arsenal. I liked Arsenal when I was a kid too,” he said. “So Arsenal's Boxing Day is really exciting, a very traditional day for football in this country.” So it's probably a big day and it's going to be exciting.
“And probably the big clubs too. I'd love to go to St James' (Park) for the first time and Old Trafford, they're probably the ones that stand out.”
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Have a secured manager Kieran McKenna on new four-year contract Come May, the Ipswich side will be confident they are in the best possible position to avoid the fate of promoted Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town from last season.
Chaplin praised his manager and explained the impetus for McKenna to stay at the club, despite widespread interest elsewhere.
“It was huge that the club restricted him for a few more years,” Chaplin said. “And rightly so, there is speculation because he has done an incredible job since he has been at Ipswich.
“I can't speak highly enough of him, so definitely the most exciting part of my holiday was seeing the manager sign.”
After their difficult first two games, Ipswich host Fulham on August 31 before traveling to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton two weeks later on September 14.
An away game against also promoted Southampton will close out their first five games at 3pm on September 21.
A difficult November includes a visit to Tottenham and a home clash against Manchester United, while they also face a difficult Christmas schedule that includes a trip to Arsenal on Boxing Day and a home game against Chelsea on December 29.
Ipswich Town's opening Premier League matches
08/17/2024: ipswich town – Liverpool (12:30 p.m.)
08/24/2024: Manchester City v ipswich town (3pm)
08/31/2024: ipswich town – Fulham (3:00 p.m.)
09/14/2024: Brighton v ipswich town (3pm)
09/21/2024: Southampton v ipswich town (3pm)
talkSPORT will once again be the home of Premier League football on the radio in 2024/25. We'll bring you over 120 top-notch commentary across our network, including Ipswich vs Liverpool on the opening weekend.
