Gary O’Neil is at the centre of a growing storm following Ipswich Town’s 2 0 defeat to Liverpool, with claims that the manager was furious over comments involving Daizen Maeda after the match.
The Tractor Boys suffered a difficult night at Portman Road as Alexander Isak struck twice inside the opening nine minutes to give Liverpool a commanding advantage. Despite Ipswich improving considerably after their disastrous start, they could not find a way back into the contest and ultimately suffered their second Premier League defeat of the campaign.
Maeda started the match on the left side of O’Neil’s attacking formation, but the Japanese international was replaced by Jack Clarke in the 66th minute.
The defeat itself was frustrating enough for O’Neil, but the situation has reportedly become even more heated following comments attributed to a former Celtic star about Maeda and his performance.
According to the emerging storyline, O’Neil was unhappy with what he regarded as unnecessary criticism at a time when his players needed support rather than blame. The Ipswich boss is understood to have been particularly protective of Maeda, having played a major role in bringing the former Celtic forward to Portman Road during the summer.
Maeda joined Ipswich from Celtic in a reported £10 million deal after an outstanding spell in Scotland. He scored 79 goals in 212 appearances for Celtic and arrived in England with a reputation for relentless running, aggressive pressing and an ability to contribute goals and assists. O’Neil previously praised those qualities when the transfer was announced, describing the Japanese forward as someone who could become a valuable member of the squad.
That makes any suggestion that O’Neil would publicly turn against his own player particularly striking.
However, the available post match evidence paints a different picture from the sensational claims circulating online. Speaking after the Liverpool defeat, O’Neil reportedly said he was proud of his players and believed they had responded strongly after conceding twice so early. He admitted the opening mistakes were costly but insisted Ipswich were competitive for large periods of the game.
The manager also pointed to the quality of Liverpool’s players as a major factor. Isak punished Ipswich ruthlessly, scoring in the sixth and ninth minutes, with Cody Gakpo providing the assists for both goals.
For Maeda, the match represented another difficult test in his first Premier League campaign. His arrival from Celtic was seen as one of Ipswich’s major summer moves, and expectations are naturally high because of what he achieved in Scotland.
The Japanese international had already made an encouraging start to life at Ipswich. He featured prominently in the club’s opening league victory over Sunderland and demonstrated the work rate that made him such a popular figure at Celtic.
But Liverpool presented a completely different challenge.
O’Neil will know that Maeda cannot be judged solely on goals or assists. His pressing, movement and defensive contribution are central to the manager’s system. Against Liverpool, however, Ipswich were punished before they could establish any rhythm.
That is why the manager’s reported anger over criticism of Maeda would make sense from a footballing perspective. O’Neil appears determined to judge his players over a sustained period rather than one difficult evening.
Liverpool’s victory also highlighted the enormous challenge facing Ipswich this season. The promoted side have spent heavily to strengthen their squad, with Maeda among a long list of summer additions. Liverpool’s official preview noted that Ipswich had added 14 senior players during the transfer window.
The pressure will therefore remain intense.
For now, there is no reliable confirmation that O’Neil actually launched a furious public attack on Maeda or that a former Celtic star triggered a dressing room confrontation. What is confirmed is that Ipswich lost 2 0, Maeda started and was substituted in the second half, and O’Neil defended the overall response of his team despite the result.
The next Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace now becomes hugely important. O’Neil will want his players to turn encouraging performances into points, while Maeda will have another opportunity to show why Ipswich invested heavily to bring him to England.
If the Japanese forward responds with a decisive performance, the noise surrounding him could disappear very quickly.
For O’Neil, that would be the perfect answer to anyone questioning his decision to put faith in the former Celtic favourite.