There were number of reasons why Liverpool ultimately ran away with a first victory of the Arne Slot era
But, speaking immediately after the game, Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna quickly pinpointed one change that proved pivotal.
McKenna
"There weren’t huge differences tactically,"
"But Trent played a little higher on the right. Liverpool showed their quality in the top line especially and their ability to use the space in behind and play the ball in for the fast runners."
New season, same old Alexander-Arnold.
The Reds man was back among familiar surrounds and - both in terms of position and team-mates - and once again underlined why he will be critical to the direction of Slot's team this season.
The first half, like so many of his team-mates, was a case of Alexander-Arnold finding his range
But the subsequent tweak in tactics from Slot and overall raising of intensity from Liverpool saw the right-back at the heart of the Reds' second-half transformation.
Moments after an inviting cross was glanced wastefully wide by Jota, Alexander-Arnold's perfectly-weighted pass sent Salah in behind the Ipswich defence to tee up the Portuguese opener.
Earlier still, Alexander-Arnold had brought the ball out of midfield and carried on his run into the area to set up a chance Luis Diaz lifted over the crossbar.
That was highlighted later by Slot as an example of the football he wants Liverpool to play,
That the Reds now ostensibly have two holding midfielders - will offer extra security will offer extra security for Trent to move forward
Perhaps there was a reason Slot's predecessor Jurgen Klopp was so reluctant to commit to Alexander-Arnold operating permanently in midfield
Any appearances in central midfield itself were as cameos from the bench.
And with Liverpool having not made any new signings, and sufficiently stocked with personnel in midfield
it seems unlikely there will be any great appetite, at least for now, for Slot to try out Alexander-Arnold in midfield.
Certainly, such calls have lessened since the player's harsh treatment at the Euros.
Which leaves only the elephant in the room, and a sizeable one at that - a contract situation that has seen the 25-year-old enter the last 12 months of his current deal without any suggestion of a being near to a new agreement
The player has already pledged his future to Liverpool for this season, similar to Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijkj
as it stands, all three are free to speak to clubs from abroad in January.
Unless a new contract reveal is being plotted behind the scenes, the situation will become an unnecessary distraction
There may have emerged last weekend some clarity over where Alexander-Arnold will be best served playing for Liverpool under Slot this season
But the sooner everyone knows his intentions after that - regardless of his choice - the better. The clock is ticking.
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