Alexis Mac Allister insisted that the principles instilled during Jurgen Klopp's tenure at Liverpool remain the same under the stewardship of Arne Slot. 

Liverpool overcame a lacklustre first half display to beat Ipswich Town on the opening day of the season courtesy of goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah. 

For large parts of the opening period, the Reds struggled to find their attacking fluidity that had come so natural during Klopp's time in the Anfield dugout. 

Liverpool managed just three shots in the first half, none of which were on target compared to their opponents' two, while also conceding 13 fouls, their most in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League game since 2009 against Chelsea (also 13). 

Despite their slow start, Mac Allister is confident the subtle tweaks introduced by the new head coach can lead to a successful campaign for the Reds. 

"I think this manager asks more to stay in the position, and that's maybe like a different structure," Mac Allister told Liverpool's official website. 

"But the principles are the same. We know that defensively we have to run, we have to give our 100 per cent, the last two steps are so important and that can make the difference.

"There is a couple of changes, not much, but I think Arne can help us to be a better team."

Slot's side improved after the interval, producing an expected goals (xG) tally of 2.56 compared to just 0.09 in the first half, registering 15 shots, five of which were on target. 

Mac Allister's influence also grew on proceedings, with his 18 passes into the final third only being bettered by Trent Alexander-Arnold (19) and Luis Diaz (21). 

Slot put the Reds' improvement in the second period down to the winning of more duels and better exploiting of the space in behind Ipswich's back line, something which the Argentine agreed with. 

"I think it was more about the last step when we were pressing," Mac Allister analysed.

"Maybe [in the] first half we were not at 100 per cent but in the second half we showed the team we can be and we are really happy with our second-half performance.

"It was good to start with a win – it's always important. We know that we came to a tough place.

"You could see how excited they [Ipswich] were to play football, to play in the Premier League again. It was a nice game for both. I think they showed good things as well.

"But the important thing is that we got the three points."

Erik ten Hag wants Manchester United to be difficult to beat, as they aim to build on their opening-day win over Fulham against Brighton on Saturday. 

Joshua Zirkzee made a mark on his United debut, scoring a late winner in a 1-0 win over the Cottagers to snatch three points.

It followed an up-and-down pre-season which finished with a penalty shootout defeat to Manchester City in the Community Shield.

Ten Hag has laid out high ambitions for the season and, with a team they have struggled against in recent years next up, he is keen to get United's style of play nailed down early on to set the tone for the campaign.

"The project is about building, working and constructing," Ten Hag told SuperSport.

"We talk also about what we want to achieve, and we are so highly ambitious, we want to go for the highest and do it in a certain way, playing football, so we're hard to beat, dynamic, proactive and aggressive. They are the words we want to hear after our performances."

Meanwhile, Brighton are the early leaders at the top of the Premier League after a resounding 3-0 win over Everton in their first game of the season.

It means they have now won each of their last five games including their impressive pre-season run, and despite being proud of his first game in charge, Fabian Hurzeler is not resting on his laurels.

"I'm very happy, it's a good start but nothing more, and it's important to stay humble after it," Hurzeler said.

"It's a very good feeling, but I don't want to talk about myself, the players deserved it.

"It was a good result, very intense. In the end, the clean sheet was important, and we showed attitude and character."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Brighton – Danny Welbeck

Danny Welbeck scored and assisted against Everton on the opening weekend, netting in a 15th consecutive Premier League campaign (16th overall).

He has also scored four Premier League goals against former side United, making him the highest-scoring player against the Red Devils to have previously played for them in the competition.

Manchester United – Joshua Zirkzee

Against Fulham, Joshua Zirkzee became the second player to come off the bench and score the winning goal on his Premier League debut for United, after Federico Macheda in April 2009.

The last player to score in his first two league appearances for the Red Devils was Antony in October 2022.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Brighton have won four of their last five Premier League games against United, though did lose the most recent meeting 2-0 at home on the final day of 2023-24.

The Seagulls have actually lost four of their last five Premier League games at home (winning the other), more than they had in their previous 25 at the Amex Stadium (won 14, drawn eight, lost three).

Brighton have won 10 of their 22 Premier League games in August (drawn three, lost nine). It is their highest win rate in a specific month in the competition (45%), while in no month have they won more games (also 10 in December).

United have struggled against Brighton in the Premier League, having lost 43% of their meetings with them (6/14), their highest loss rate against a single opponent in the competition's history.

Having beaten Fulham 1-0 in their opening match, United are looking to win both of their first two games in a Premier League campaign for the first time since 2017-18.

None of the 14 Premier League meetings between these sides have been drawn, with the Seagulls winning six to the Red Devils' eight. Only Manchester United against Wigan (16) has been played more often in the competition without ever finishing level.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Brighton – 38.8%

Draw – 24.6%

Manchester United – 36.6%

Chelsea have announced the signing of Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid on a permanent deal.

The winger, who played for Chelsea on loan for the second half of the 2022-23 season, has signed a six-year contract, with the option for a further year, for a fee in the region of £45million.

In his six-month spell with Chelsea in 2023, Joao Felix played 16 Premier League games, scoring four goals, finishing the season as the club's third-highest scorer in the competition.

The 24-year-old joined Atletico in 2019 from Benfica, scoring 34 goals in 131 matches in all competitions, but spent last season on loan at Barcelona.

He netted seven times for the Blaugrana in LaLiga, slightly underperforming his expected goals of 8.76, and provided three assists in the competition.

"I'm really happy to be back at Chelsea and I can't wait to get started," Joao Felix told Chelsea's website. "I can see some familiar faces from the last time I was here, which is always nice.

"I loved my time here before, and I told my friends and family that I'd love to return to the Premier League one day. To do that with Chelsea is a great feeling, and I'm excited to be back."

Chelsea opened talks with Atletico over Joao Felix following the collapse of their deal to sign Samu Omorodion. This opened the door for Conor Gallagher to go the other way, with that move also confirmed on Wednesday.

Joao Felix is the 10th signing for Chelsea in this transfer window, after Tosin Adarabioyo, Omari Kellyman, Filip Jorgensen, Marc Guiu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley, Aaron Anselmino and Pedro Neto. 

Conor Gallagher has completed a permanent transfer to Atletico Madrid from Chelsea, ending his 16-year association with the club. 

Gallagher, who made 95 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, has signed a five-year deal with the LaLiga side for a reported £36m transfer fee. 

The 24-year-old becomes only the second Englishman to play for the Spanish side after Kieran Trippier did so between 2019 and 2022, winning the league three years ago.

He captained Chelsea to European football last season, enjoying his most prolific campaign as he scored seven goals while adding nine assists in all competitions. 

The midfielder adds another solid option for Diego Simeone, after winning the most tackles (52) of anyone in the Chelsea squad last year.

He also completed more interceptions (43) and creating more chances (53) than midfield partners Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. 

Gallagher's move to the Wanda Metropolitano looked to have fallen through following the collapse of Chelsea's move for striker Samu Omorodion. 

However, the deal was revived after Enzo Maresca's side agreed to sign Joao Felix from the Spanish club. 

The England international becomes Simeone's fourth major signing of the transfer window following the arrivals of Julian Alvarez, Robin Le Normand and Alexander Sorloth. 

Reggae Girlz forward and captain Khadija "Bunny" Shaw continues to make history, adding the prestigious Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Women's Player of the Year award to her growing list of accolades. Shaw’s remarkable season with Manchester City Women saw her leading her team to a second-place finish in the Women's Super League, narrowly missing out on the title to Chelsea on goal difference.

Shaw’s performance throughout the season was nothing short of spectacular. She ended the campaign as the league's top scorer, netting 21 goals, including three hat-tricks, and providing three assists. This impressive tally not only made her the leading scorer but also marked a personal best, surpassing her total from the previous season by one goal.

After receiving the award, Shaw reflected on her journey and the significance of the honor. "I am both happy and proud to have received this award — to be recognized in such a way by my peers is a very special honour," Shaw said. "I also want to thank my teammates and the entire coaching staff because without them this would not be possible. I’d also like to congratulate all my fellow nominees who are such amazing players. To have been voted the player of the year means a lot."

The 27-year-old Shaw's journey to the top has been a testament to her hard work, determination, and unyielding belief in her dreams. Speaking with the BBC, she shared, "For me, it's been quite an interesting journey to where I am now, but from a young girl growing up, I always had a dream, and that dream was to be the best that I could be. Every day I try to do that not just on the field but off the field and to see if I can inspire young girls, not just in Jamaica but the Caribbean, to show that 'okay, if I can do it, it's definitely possible for you. You just have to believe in your dream.'"

Despite her success, Shaw is not content to rest on her laurels. She is already looking ahead to next season, determined to push her game to even greater heights. "I think for me, it's about keep having fun, embracing my journey, and pushing my levels even higher because when I look back at this season, there are a lot of goals I should have scored," she said. "But for me, it's just embracing the journey and keep working hard for the team, keep pushing my levels, and you never know where I will end at the end of the season."

Shaw’s impact goes beyond her on-field achievements. As the first Jamaican woman to win the PFA Women’s Player of the Year award, she continues to be a beacon of inspiration for young athletes, particularly in the Caribbean.

In addition to the PFA award on Tuesday, Shaw had previously been named the Women’s Super League Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season and Player of the Year at the Women’s Football Awards, further cementing her status as one of the top players in the world.

Cole Palmer scooped the PFA's Young Player of the Year on Tuesday but emphasised that helping Chelsea win trophies is more important than individual accolades. 

Palmer, who scored 22 goals in 34 Premier League appearances in his debut season at Stamford Bridge, beat off competition from Bukayo Saka and Kobbie Mainoo to claim the award. 

The 22-year-old is the third Chelsea player to win the award after Scott Parker and Eden Hazard, signing a contract extension last month that will keep him at the club until 2023.

Palmer recorded the most goal contributions in the league last season (33), while also converting all nine of his penalties for the Blues. 

And despite missing out on the PFA Player of the Year crown to former team-mate Phil Foden, Palmer was happy to be acknowledged by his fellow professionals. 

"It is really special [to win the award] and I just want to say thank you to all of the players for recognising me," Palmer said.

"I have never really done anything like that before but it is a special award and it was a reminder to keep going no matter what. It was something I wanted to win."

Palmer was involved in Gareth Southgate's England team that reached the final of Euro 2024 last month, scoring the equaliser against Spain in the showpiece match. 

He returned to Cobham later than many of his Chelsea team-mates and played 45 minutes in their final pre-season encounter against Inter before being thrust into the starting line-up in their 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on the opening day of the new season. 

Palmer said he set the Players' Player of the Year trophy as his telephone wallpaper last season as motivation but emphasised that his focus is on team success.

"The (last) whole season was a great season for me personally and hopefully, we can kick on this season," Palmer told Sky Sports.

"I want to win trophies with Chelsea, that is the main thing, and then the individual awards are nice. It's on me to produce for Chelsea and that's what I plan to do.

"[The picture] was on my phone as a reminder every day of something to work towards so to win this award is nice."

Villarreal have signed Brazilian goalkeeper Luiz Junior from Portuguese club Famalicao, the LaLiga side announced on Tuesday.

Junior, who kept eight clean sheets in 33 Liga Portugal appearances last season, has signed a six-year deal for a reported £10.2m transfer fee. 

The 23-year-old made 111 saves last year, a total only bettered by Boavista's Joao Goncalves (112) and Farense's Ricardo Velho (140). 

He conceded 39 times in the league, averaging a save percentage of 73.47%, the second highest of any goalkeeper to make over 30 appearances last year.

Junior made 140 appearances for Famalicao, keeping 42 clean sheets and conceding 178 goals across his four-year stint with the club. 

The Brazilian will replace Filip Jorgensen at Villarreal, who joined Chelsea last month in a £20.7m deal on a seven-year contract. 

Villarreal return to LaLiga action on Friday following their opening day draw with Atletico Madrid at the Estadio de la Ceramica, travelling to take on Sevilla. 

Rodri predicted Phil Foden could go on to become England's greatest-ever player after he was crowned PFA Players' Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season on Tuesday.

Foden added the top men's PFA prize to the Premier League Player of the Season award he won in May, having inspired Manchester City to their fourth straight league title last term.

He scored 19 league goals and added eight assists in 2023-24, including vital hat-tricks against Brentford and Aston Villa and a stunning final-day strike versus West Ham.

Rodri was also considered among the contenders for the PFA prize after going unbeaten through all 34 of his Premier League appearances last season (27 wins, seven draws), but the Spaniard believes his team-mate was a worthy victor. 

"I'm so, so happy about Phil. To be honest he's a very good kid, a very shy kid. For me, he has the ability to be the best English player in history when he finishes his career," Rodri said at Tuesday's award ceremony. 

"He needs to keep the level up in his game, already he's one of the best players in the league and in Europe.

"I think he could get even better. The quality, ambition and hard work he has every day listening to old people like me is very important. 

"He was outstanding last season and it's the first season I saw him carrying the team on his back."

Foden is the first Englishman to win the PFA Player's Player of the Year award since Wayne Rooney in 2010, and the first to do so in the same year as winning the Premier League title since John Terry in 2005.

Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland, who joined Rodri and Foden in being voted into the PFA Premier League Team of the Year, was also effusive in his praise for the England man.

"He's a great guy, I really enjoy playing with him and joking with him," Haaland said. 

"Phil is unbelievable, some of the stuff he does in training that no one sees is also incredible, I'm lucky to play with him."

Juventus have revealed midfielder Khephren Thuram and winger Timothy Weah both suffered hamstring injuries in their season-opening victory over Como in Serie A.

Juve began their first campaign under former Bologna coach Thiago Motta with a 3-0 win over Cesc Fabregas' newly promoted side in Turin.

Forward Samuel Mbangula put the Bianconeri ahead with a fine solo goal before Weah blasted home off the underside of the crossbar to make it 2-0 shortly before half-time.

However, the United States wideman was substituted at the break after appearing to suffer a hamstring strain, while Thuram – signed from Nice last month – was also withdrawn before Andrea Cambiaso added a late third.

The Italian giants have now confirmed both players sustained hamstring issues and will be reassessed in around 10 days, ruling them out of Monday's trip to Verona and potentially the September 1 clash with Roma.

"Following muscular problems suffered during last night's match, Khephren Thuram and Timothy Weah underwent diagnostic tests this morning at the J Medical Centre," a club statement said. 

"They revealed for the former a low-grade hamstring injury in his left thigh and for the latter a low-grade hamstring injury in his right thigh. 

"New examinations are scheduled for both players in approximately 10 days' time."

Phil Foden and Cole Palmer won the top men's prizes at the PFA Awards for the 2023-24 season on Tuesday.

Foden took home the Players' Player of the Year award for the first time, while Palmer was named the Young Player of the Year.

Two-time Young Player winner Foden had already been announced as the Premier League Player of the Season and the FWA Footballer of the Year.

Following the midweek ceremony, he has now also been recognised by his fellow professionals after starring in Manchester City's fourth straight title triumph.

Ex-City man Palmer had likewise been nominated for the top award after an outstanding first season at Chelsea, in which he netted 22 league goals.

However, Palmer was not included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.

Foden made the cut alongside City team-mate Erling Haaland and Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins in attack.

There were four City players included, with Kyle Walker and Rodri selected, but the champions were outnumbered by Arsenal's five representatives.

David Raya, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard earned recognition, with Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk completing the XI.

The PFA WSL Team of the Year included both Players' Player of the Year Bunny Shaw and Young Player of the Year Grace Clinton.

Shaw was one of six City stars in the XI despite her side being pipped to the title by Chelsea, who could count only three players in the team.

Jonathan David and Edon Zhegrova again came up with potentially pivotal goals to put Lille in control of their Champions League play-off tie against Slavia Praha on Tuesday.

Both David and Zhegrova had netted against Fenerbahce in the previous round, with the Canada forward's extra-time penalty eliminating Jose Mourinho's men, and the pair were on target once more in a 2-0 win at Valenciennes' Stade du Hainaut.

It initially looked as though this might not be David's night, with last season's 19-goal Ligue 1 star passing up two very presentable openings in the first half.

David would have been particularly disappointed with the second of those, firing over after Zhegrova's effort was blocked by Antonin Kinsky, but he made amends in the 52nd minute when a first-time finish from a Hakon Haraldsson pass crept past the goalkeeper into the bottom-right corner.

The scorer of the first turned provider for the second, albeit David's flick to Zhegrova left the winger with plenty to do as he shimmied into the box and calmly shot beyond Kinsky.

It was not all one-way traffic in the second period as Slavia twice had the ball in the net, but Igoh Ogbu's scrambled goal shortly after the opener was struck off for handball, then substitute Mojmír Chytil's response to Zhegrova's dazzling second was ruled out for offside.

Data Debrief: Slavia slowed

Lille have the stronger team on paper, but Slavia had form on their side, unbeaten in 14 matches, with seven of those coming since the start of their domestic season last month. The Czech side had won their previous six games.

Ultimately, however, Lille's quality told – particularly in the case of Zhegrova.

He accounted for six of Lille's 16 shots and three of seven on target, also creating two chances as he was eventually rewarded for his endeavour with a 77th-minute strike.

Slavia will hope to recover their momentum in the return match in Czechia next Wednesday, with hopes of a place in the Champions League's new league phase waning.

Phil Foden and Cole Palmer won the top men's prizes, while Reggae Girlz and Manchester City striker Khadija "Bunny" Shaw won the top women's prize at the PFA Awards for the 2023-24 season on Tuesday.

Foden took home the Players' Player of the Year award for the first time, while Palmer was named the Young Player of the Year.

The women's Players' Player of the Year honour went to Shaw, with the Young Player of the Year award copped by Grace Clinton.

Two-time Young Player winner Foden had already been announced as the Premier League Player of the Season and the FWA Footballer of the Year.

Following the midweek ceremony, he has now also been recognised by his fellow professionals after starring in Manchester City's fourth straight title triumph.

Ex-City man Palmer had likewise been nominated for the top award after an outstanding first season at Chelsea, in which he netted 22 league goals.

However, Palmer was not included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.

Foden made the cut alongside City team-mate Erling Haaland and Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins in attack.

There were four City players included, with Kyle Walker and Rodri selected, but the champions were outnumbered by Arsenal's five representatives.

David Raya, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard earned recognition, with Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk completing the XI.

The PFA WSL Team of the Year included both Players' Player of the Year Shaw and Young Player of the Year Clinton.

Shaw was one of six City stars in the XI despite her side being pipped to the title by Chelsea, who could count only three players in the team.

Bruno Fernandes believes Manchester United's transfer business is arming them to "compete with the best", which was his aim before agreeing to a new contract at Old Trafford.

Midfielder Fernandes is the captain and star man at United and committed his long-term future to the club last week ahead of the start of the new Premier League season.

This was despite United falling to eighth last season, their lowest finish in the Premier League era.

Erik ten Hag's men did win the FA Cup, beating Manchester City in the final, but they were unable to consistently compete with their rivals at the top of the table.

That needed to change for Fernandes to remain happy in Manchester, but he is encouraged by the early signs, with United signing Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.

Zirkzee scored a dramatic winner on his debut against Fulham on Friday, ensuring United made a victorious start to the new campaign.

"The club knew that I want to compete with the best teams," Fernandes told MUTV. "They knew that we needed to improve the team. I think we're doing that.

"Obviously, I said to them: 'I don't need you to promise me that we're going to win the league'. No-one can promise that.

"But at least that we will have a team to compete and be competitive through the season, to try to achieve silverware and to compete in the highest levels.

"I think the club is doing that, trying to bring people in to get more players with quality in the team, to get more competitive, so everyone is fighting for your place.

"But my first choice was always to stay at the club. It was not even demands, but the things that I wanted to see: the club going forward, so I could see a future on that.

"To be honest, I look now and I see that the club is making an effort for that."

Southampton have completed a £12.8million move to bring Sporting CP midfielder Mateus Fernandes to the Premier League.

Fernandes, who has been capped seven times by Portugal at under-21 level, spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Estoril, making 28 Primeira Liga appearances and scoring once.

The 20-year-old, who came through Sporting's youth system, has penned a five-year deal with Southampton, who began their Premier League campaign with a 1-0 defeat to 10-man Newcastle United. 

Fernandes is the 14th arrival at St Mary's since their promotion back to the top flight, with Flynn Downes, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Cameron Archer among their more expensive acquisitions. 

"I'm very happy to be here, it's a dream come true to come to England and play in the Premier League," Fernandes told the club's website. 

"It's the best league in the world, in my opinion. It has the best coaches, the best players, the best teams. It's good for me, for my growth and I'm happy."

Fernandes ranked second among all Estoril players for chances created in the Portuguese top flight last season, with 39, also leading their charts for successful passes in the opposition half (534).

Mason Mount has been backed to improve on a disappointing first season at Manchester United by Dimitar Berbatov, who feels the midfielder needs to take more risks in his play.

Mount joined the Red Devils from Chelsea in a £60million move last year but failed to make an impact in his first campaign at Old Trafford, which was marred by injuries and inconsistency.

He only made 14 Premier League appearances in 2023-24, being limited to five starts and just 513 minutes as United finished a disappointing eighth in the Premier League.

Mount only managed one goal involvement in those matches – a goal in a 1-1 draw at Brentford in March – and created just six chances.

Berbatov, who won two Premier League titles, the EFL Cup and the Club World Cup with United between 2008 and 2012, expects more of the midfielder this campaign.

"The first season was disappointing for him and something to forget. But he can learn from that and what he can learn is to get better," he said in an interview with Futbin.

"If you give him the opportunity he has to go out and give the best he can. He didn't manage to do that last season, unfortunately. 

"But the talent and the quality are there. Everybody saw what he did at Chelsea, but he didn't produce it at United."

Berbatov does feel Mount needs to show greater self-confidence if he is to nail down a spot in Erik ten Hag's team, adding: "My only wish for him is to get through the thought that he is new and that he doesn't want to take responsibility.

"It is his second season now and he needs to have a good season. This is the moment to make or break, so he has to go out there and be brave. 

"Take some chances and risks. He has the quality, so don't be afraid, Mason."