On the 17th of August, 2024, Liverpool beat newly promoted Ipswich 2-0. It gave the new Reds boss, Arne Slot, the perfect start with the Dutch manager winning his first competitive game in charge of Liverpool. With Liverpool generally considered to be the third favourites for the Premier League title, and few giving the Tractor Boys any real hope of survival, there really ought to have been nothing remarkable about this outcome.
However, rather incredibly, the win meant Slot was the first permanent Liverpool manager this millennium to win the opening league game of his tenure. In fact, it had been 400 months, or well over 33 years, since a new (excluding caretaker and interim appointments) sole Liverpool boss had taken three points from their first game in charge of the Anfield giants.
Liverpool have not always been at their very best over the last three and a bit decades. However, given the calibre of the managers that have sat in the dugout for them, plus the fact they have finished no worse than eighth in the league in that time, it is an astonishing stat. So, how did Slot end the curse of the new boss, and who were the previous managers to have fallen foul of it?
Slot’s Liverpool Look Dangerous
Starting off at Anfield with a win 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Cof3S5XCOT
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 25, 2024
Ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season, many had spoken of a two-horse race, between Manchester City, seeking a fifth straight title, and Arsenal, the team they have beaten into second in each of the past two campaigns. After 45 minutes at Portman Road in the opening game of the new season, that view would have solidified. Liverpool were poor, with an Ipswich XI that earns a fraction of what the superstars in Red get paid, outplaying and outfighting them. Slot’s men had a first-half xG of 0.09 and failed to record a shot on target.
Come the final whistle though, Liverpool supporters were purring, having seen the game end 2-0 and their side produce some magical football. Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai – and indeed most of the team – were superb in the second period. They created a handful of good chances, managed 15 shots with five on target, and should have won more handsomely.
It represented a brilliant start for Slot and the football his men produced – in particular, the first goal was first rate. It also, of course, meant that he became the first permanent Liverpool manager since Graeme Souness, on the 20th of April, 1991, to win his first league game at the helm. So, the curse has ended, but which Reds bosses came in between Souness and Slot and how did their first league clash end?
King Klopp Starts with Spurs Stalemate
Jürgen Klopp may have left Liverpool a hero, icon and legend, having won just about everything with the Reds, including a much-coveted league title and the Champions League as well. However, things started more slowly for the German and, in his first league game – indeed, the first match he oversaw – was a 0-0 draw with Spurs.
That game took place on the 17th of October, 2015 at White Hart Lane – the Spurs’ old ground. The away side edged possession but only managed three shots on target in what was an even, but largely uneventful contest. A draw in a tough away game is never the worst result, and of course Klopp eventually turned Liverpool into a top side after years in the doldrums. But nonetheless, Slot will always have this one stat over the German.
Rodgers Starts with a Win But Not in the Premier League
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Klopp’s predecessor, Brendan Rodgers, actually began his Liverpool career on the 2nd of August, 2012 with a 1-0 win over mighty Gomel (of Belarus – but of course you all knew that) but that was in a Europa League qualifier. The Northern Irish manager also won his second match – this time at Anfield and also against Gomel.
However, his first PL game came on the 18th of August and he was brought crashing back down to Earth. His side lost 3-0 away at West Brom, which was a truly terrible start for the current Celtic gaffer.
2011: Dalglish 2nd Spell
Kenny Dalglish had an earlier, more successful spell as Liverpool boss in the 1980s and 1990s. However, he returned to the club as caretaker boss on the 8th of January, 2011, replacing Roy Hodgson. His first game saw the Reds lose to great rivals Man United in the FA Cup on the 9th. On the 12th of January, he faced his first league clash and that also ended in defeat, against minnows Blackpool.
However, the Scot’s first game once his appointment was made permanent did not come until May that year. Again Spurs were the opponents but this time the game was at Anfield. Spurs won 2-0 to move above the Reds in what was actually Kenny’s first home loss of his second spell.
Close But No Cigar for Roy
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Hodgson was far from a universally popular pick to be the new Liverpool manager in 2010 but he started well. The Reds won two Europa League qualifiers 2-0 to head into the PL campaign with confidence.
Arsenal were the visitors to Anfield on the 15th of August and Liverpool were 1-0 up in stoppage time. However, a cruel own goal from goalkeeper, Pepe Reina, denied Hodgson his opening league win.
Rafa Breaks Ground for Spanish Bosses
On the 16th of June, 2004, Rafa Benítez became the Premier League’s first Spanish boss. He enjoyed six largely successful years with Liverpool, delivering the Champions League and FA Cup, but he was unable to start with a PL win. His first league game in charge was, incredibly, once again against Spurs. The clash, at White Hart Lane, finished 1-1.
Evans and Houllier Start with a Win
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One key word to note about this whole story is that Slot is the first permanent manager to win on league debut this millennium. But he is the first such sole boss to do so since 1991. That is because, back on the 16th of August, 1998, the joint management team of Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier led the Reds to a 2-1 away win at Southampton.
Evans resigned in November and so Houllier’s first league game as the sole gaffer was on the 14th of November. Leeds beat Liverpool 3-1 at Anfield, the Reds’ third consecutive league defeat.
Evans Also Fails to Win
Before taking charge alongside Houllier, Evans had a spell in sole charge. Appointed in January 1994 after Souness resigned, the Bootle native took charge of his hometown club for four years. That spell began with a 2-2 draw away at Norwich, followed by two PL defeats, Evans finally getting off the mark at the end of February against Coventry.