Liverpool star makes dressing room feelings on lack of new signings clear

The subs were Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo, Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas.

Darwin Nunez, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott never got off the bench. Joe Gomez didn’t even get on the bus to Ipswich as he ponders his future because he’s so far down the pecking order. That, according to Andy Robertson, is why there is no panic among the players about the lack of new signings this summer for new boss Arne Slot.

The Kop defender insists there’s more than enough strength in depth at the club to compete with the top teams after goals from Diogo Jota and Mo Salah saw off the plucky newly-promoted Tractor Boys.

“I think we have an unbelievably strong squad,” said the Scot. “You look at the bench today and even the lads who maybe didn't travel, we have a fantastic squad and the quality was shown a lot in the second half today. Certain positions are spoken about and things like that but I thought people were really good and stepped up to the plate.

“We have a lot of quality in every position and if that is the squad that we go forward with then I believe that is good enough to compete in the competitions we want to compete in.

“Everyone wants new signings - fans want new signings, people want new faces around the building - but I think the squad we have got just now is incredibly strong and if we don't make any signings, we're in a good shape to crack on for the rest of the season.”

That won’t be music to the ears of some fans. Liverpool missed out on Martin Zubimendi after he snubbed them to stay at Real Sociedad. It caused anger on social media. The Reds do indeed want another No.6 in the squad but sporting director Richard Hughes will only sign one if they’ll improve the squad.

Ryan Gravenberch’s impressive display in the position will only ease any worry about the position. While this squad won a trophy last season and was involved in a title race for the majority of the season, the current crop could be offended by the talk that they need new members.

“That's just football,” added Robertson. “We've been in the game long enough now that we know people want you replaced and people want new signings.

“People want younger faces after seeing a good 15 minutes in one game or whatever - that's the way football is. That's the industry that we're in. We just try and block that out.”

Jota and Salah got the goals in the space of five second-half minutes to get Slot off to a perfect start amid a raucous atmosphere at Portman Road.

Liverpool have been used to seeing wild celebrations and angry outburst from their manager on the touchline but Slot cut a different figure. When each goal hit the net, he simply offered a small fist pump and barely a smile. But while emotion was not on show there, he wasn’t shy in telling his players they weren't good enough in the first half when in the dressing room at the break.

“He can raise his voice and tell you he isn't happy but we're trying to get solutions of how we can do it better, showing clips and things like that,” Robertson said. “What we said at half-time will stay in there, of course, but you've seen a huge improvement second half and that's why we end up getting the result.”

Slot’s reign is underway. There’s less emotion off the pitch and less chaos on it as he focuses on passing football.

But some things never change and that’s the desperation for new signings. This win may at least quell some of that.