Sir Bobby would be so proud that we're back! Mail Sport readers' greatest ever Ipswich player JOHN WARK gives his verdict on the Tractor Boys' first game since their Premier League return
- Ipswich Town played their first game back in the Premier League on Saturday
- They lost 2-0 against Liverpool, but showed positive signs throughout the game
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I woke up at 5am and couldn't get back to sleep with the excitement of Ipswich being back in the Premier League after 22 years. It was like that for the rest of the day. Despite the result, nobody at Portman Road could be disappointed with how the boys performed against one of the best teams in England.
It felt emotional when we were promoted against Huddersfield in May and it was exactly the same on Saturday. The atmosphere was incredible. I was working in the Sir Bobby Robson Suite with some corporate guests and all I could think was, 'We're back in the big time, Boss. You'd be so proud and happy'.
I also played for Liverpool during my career but my loyalties were towards the Blues on this occasion — I'm sure they would understand.
Ipswich did so well in the first half, Kieran McKenna must have been delighted. Then, after the break, you saw the levels that these top Premier League teams can reach.
Liverpool went up a gear with Trent Alexander-Arnold starting to ping passes about for fun and it was a good lesson for our lads. But there is no reason to be pessimistic: Ipswich equipped themselves well and we'll have a fighting chance I'm sure to stay in this league if we play like we did throughout the first 45 minutes.
Kieran McKenna led Ipswich in their first match of Premier League football for 22 years on Saturday against Liverpool
The Tractor Boys put in a good account of themselves but fell to a 2-0 defeat by the Reds
Former manager Bobby Robson would have been proud of the club being back in the top flight
Mail Sport readers' greatest ever Ipswich player John Wark gave his verdict on the opening day
The new signing, centre half Jacob Greaves, was voted Ipswich's man of the match, so I was able to meet him afterwards in the sponsors' lounge. He seemed a really nice guy and my message to him was simple: 'You played great, keep it going like that.'
Nobody thought the Premier League would be easy. Liverpool have proved it. But Ipswich came away with a lot of credit and we can all be optimistic for the future.
