Liverpool are a team with a lot to prove in the 2023-24 Premier League season. The Reds fell well below the bar of expectation last campaign, missing out on Champions League football for the first time since Jurgen Klopp’s maiden season in charge at Anfield in 2015-16 and they need to bounce back to form from the off if they are going to keep up with the likes of Arsenal and the Manchester sides in what looks set to be a very competitive campaign.
It’s hard to keep a good side down, however, and it seems somewhat inevitable that Liverpool are going to be back in contention for at least one of the lucrative top-four spots again this season. Klopp has rejuvenated his midfield with the signings of World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai and he will be hoping to make a couple more signings before the start of the season — with sights set on another centre-back and Southampton’s Romeo Lavia.
If Liverpool are to be back in contention next season, it’s imperative they have a good start to the campaign. There are just four fixtures between the opening weekend of the Premier League and the first international break, so let’s take a look at Liverpool’s fixtures in that time and assess their chances of winning those games.
13 August: Chelsea – Away
The Reds’ trip to Stamford Bridge is arguably the most intriguing fixture on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. Both sides underperformed last year and neither will want to start this season with a loss, but Klopp’s men are the favourites in the Chelsea v Liverpool betting.
Their 7/5 odds are only marginally shorter than Chelsea’s 9/5 and given that the pair have drawn their last six encounters in all competitions, it would be no surprise to see this likely chess match between the two sides end in another stalemate.
19 August: Bournemouth – Home
Liverpool’s first home game of the season will see them face Bournemouth in front of a reduced capacity as the planned expansion of the Anfield Road End has fallen behind schedule and isn’t set to be completed until October. Nonetheless, they will be confident of getting a victory over the Cherries on Merseyside.
Bournemouth were tipped for relegation last season, but Gary O’Neil guided them to safety. He’s since been sacked and replaced by Andoni Iraola, however, and the south coast side are once expected to be in danger of relegation. It’s worth noting that Liverpool won this fixture 9-0 last year.
27 August: Newcastle United – Away
Another difficult away day, Liverpool will travel to St. James’ Park at the end of August. Newcastle United have been on a meteoric rise since their Saudi-led takeover 18 months ago, qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years with a fourth-place finish last season and Eddie Howe will be keen to keep his side on that upward trajectory.
Liverpool did the double over Newcastle last season though, beating them 2-1 at Anfield before winning 2-0 in the north east in February, so they will be hoping to be a thorn in the Magpies’ side once again — especially as they are now a real challenger for the top four spots.
3 September: Aston Villa – Home
Liverpool will host Aston Villa at Anfield in the final game before the international break. The midlands side flew under the radar in the second half of last season as Unai Emery completely transformed them from relegation-threatened to qualifying for the Europa Conference League.
Villa have strengthened their squad this offseason, bringing in Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres and Youri Tielemans, and former Arsenal manager Emery isn’t going to rest on his laurels after last season’s heroics. He got a 1-1 draw at Anfield on the penultimate gameweek and won’t go into this game scared of the hosts.
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