Liverpool have been handed a tricky opening fixture list as they prepare for the defence of their Premiership title. The Reds will have played only three friendlies (Stuttgart, Salzburg and Blackpool) plus a Charity Shield game against Arsenal when they lineup against newly promoted Leeds at Anfield next week.
Here is a look at Liverpool’s first few fixtures, and our view of them.
September- Leeds United (h), Chelsea (a) and Arsenal (h)
Newly promoted Leeds, returning to the top flight after a gap of 16 years, are Liverpool’s first league opponents of the 2020/21 season. The Whites will be keen to prove that they belong in the Premiership after such a long absence, and in Marcelo Bielsa, they have one of the game’s strongest tacticians at the helm of affairs.
Chelsea had a transition season in 2019/20 under Frank Lampard, but have spent heavily in the summer, acquiring the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell and Timo Werner. The Blues have an embarrassment of riches, especially in the attacking department, and will prove formidable foes, especially at Stamford Bridge.
Rounding off September is a fixture against Arsenal at Anfield. The Gunners have traditionally been poor travellers this decade, but Mikel Arteta seems to be a manager in the Pep Guardiola mould, and they’re coming off a win in the Community Shield against the Reds with an under-strength side.
Next seven- Aston Villa (a), Everton (a), Sheffield United (h), West Ham (h), Man City (a), Leicester (h), Brighton (h)
Well begun is half done, and if Liverpool negotiate these opening ten fixtures well, they could then sit back and enjoy the benefits of a reasonably nice set of festive fixtures (Crystal Palace, West Brom, Newcastle, Southampton).
With at least five of the opening ten for Liverpool being potentially tough fixtures on paper (Chelsea, Arsenal, Merseyside derby, Man City and Leicester), it probably comes as no surprise that the likes of Betway have Pep Guardiola’s City as early league favourites.
Research appears to show that the most recent winners of the league have generally been quick off the blocks. In 2017/18 and 2018/19, Manchester City (champions on both occasions) had 28 and 26 points respectively to their name after 10 rounds. Liverpool’s 19/20 campaign had them at 28 as well.
No Merseyside derby will ever be a gimme, Guardiola and City will have a point to prove following their league and European disappointments in 19/20 and Leicester (managed by former Liverpool gaffer Brendan Rodgers) are a potential banana skin as well. Sheffield United were very impressive last season despite having just earned promotion, and were in contention for an European spot for most the year.
Liverpool do have the benefit of a settled squad, but their rivals have spent heavily in the market to match the Reds. No match in this league can be taken for granted, and it becomes even more difficult when you’re the defending champions- the lower ranked teams will be keen to snag a big name scalp, and some of them (West Ham for example), always tend to lift their game when they play against tougher opponents.
At the time of writing, the Reds have been heavily linked with Bayern star Thiago Alcantara, but there are also rumours of Gini Wijnaldum swapping Anfield for the Nou Camp to be re-united with former Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman, who has taken over at the Blaugrana from Quique Setien. There is also some talk about Sadio Mane, one of the key figures in the Klopp era, being wanted by the Catalan giants as well.
But with most of the squad having already won both the Prem and the Champions League, will this group of players have the same urge to win it again this year? Only time will tell.
