Ipswich Town's Ali Al Hamadi becomes first Iraqi to play in Premier League

Striker comes on in second half as newly-promoted side are beaten 2-0 by Liverpool

Ali Al Hamadi enjoyed a lively cameo off the bench in Ipswich Town's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool. Getty Images

Ipswich Town forward Ali Al Hamadi made history on Saturday as he became the first Iraqi to play in the Premier League.

Al Hamadi entered the action on 74 minutes at Portman Road as his side lost 2-0 to a Mohamed Salah-inspired Liverpool.

Newly promoted Ipswich competed well in the opening 45 minutes but the visiting Reds, who were led by new manager Arne Slot for the first time, went through the gears after the break to emerge as comfortable winners on the opening Saturday of the season.

Al Hamadi produced a lively cameo with his movement earning him a couple of looks at goal. Twice he tested Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker although he was marginally offside on both occasions.

The game would have been extra special for Al Hamadi who grew up in Liverpool having fled Iraq with his parents as an infant.

He had trials at both Liverpool and Everton before joining Tranmere Rovers and then moving to Swansea City's academy.

From there he signed professional terms at Wycombe Wanderers before a move to AFC Wimbledon ignited his career. A return of 27 goals in 48 games for the Dons caught the eye of Ipswich who paid around £1 million to sign him last January. Al Hamadi has three goals in 12 international appearances for Iraq.

There was further Middle East and North African interest in the game, with Ipswich skippered by Egypt midfielder Sam Morsy and his Pharaohs teammate Salah stealing the show with a sparkling second-half performance.

Salah was a menace as he looked to run in behind throughout. It finally paid off as he set up Diogo Jota for the opening goal and then slotted the second himself.

Remarkably, it was the ninth time Salah has scored on the opening weekend of a Premier League season for the Reds.

"Hopefully I keep going like this for the whole season. I always try to help the team all the time, I'm always happy to score goals or assist," Salah told TNT Sports after the game.

"It was quite tough today to be fair, the weather was really warm. It's a tough team, I'm glad we won today, I'm always happy to make a difference.

"When they play home especially it's quite tough. The crowd is always up. We knew that before the game, we're experienced, so we expected a tough game.

"It's quite different," added Salah when asked about playing under Slot.

"Jurgen was in the team for eight years, he gave everything, now it's a new manager and new system. It's quite different for all of us, we need to adapt. We just need to know his way of playing and enjoy the football.

"We don't need to put more pressure on him, we just need to play football and enjoy our games. Let's see in the end."