The FA released the official fixture list for the 2016-17 Premier League campaign, earlier this week, and it doesn’t make easy reading for Liverpool. It’ll be a tough start to Jurgen Klopp’s first full season in charge of the Reds, with a more favourable run of games towards the end of the campaign.
Liverpool are set to face the top 3 sides from the 2015/16 campaign along with 2014/15 champions Chelsea in their opening 5 games in a tough start to the season. The Reds kick-start their campaign away at the Emirates to face Arsene Wenger’s Gunners and in the subsequent weeks make trips to London, to face Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, on either side of Leicester’s visit to Anfield.
In a season where the Reds have nothing but domestic honours to look forward to, Liverpool have to ensure a decent start to their campaign if they are to challenge for the Premier League title and secure European football. After a dodgy start to the season, the Reds face a more pleasant run of fixtures in the following months with the big matches against Manchester United, West Ham, Everton and Manchester City all well spaced out between each other.
Evidenced by their run in 2013-14 and 2008-09, Klopp will be aware that a good start to the campaign proves to be a catalyst for a potential title challenge for Reds. If they can put in good performances and start the season positively amidst the tough run of fixtures and keep the level of consistency that was absent last season, then Klopp may just be able to challenge for silverware with Liverpool.
With a star-studded line-up of managers set to take their bows with new clubs in the Premier League next season, Klopp has quite a task on his hands to deliver the Reds the League glory he promised. Having ingrained his philosophy onto this Liverpool side, the German needs to work out on areas of the park that need fixing and lay down the foundation to put his ‘heavy metal’ football to full effect from next season. The presence of tactically sound managers like Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte means Liverpool will need more than Klopp’s charismatic presence on the sidelines to unlock opposition teams’ defence next season.
The months that could define the Reds’ season
From a preliminary observation of the fixture list we can concur that, apart from the beginning of the campaign, February and March could have a bearing on where the Reds stand at the business end of the season. That said, the crowded nature of fixtures in the month of December always make it a big factor in deciding where their season is headed.
August
With Liverpool reportedly submitting a request to Burnley to have their fixture reversed, the Reds could face three away games in August. The Merseysiders’ away form last season was touch-and-go, with a win and a loss quite equally plausible. That said, how they start their season away at the Londoners could indicate what we can expect from Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool through the course of the season. A positive result at both the North London clubs would be a tremendous boost for the Reds.
December
In a crowded run of fixtures, Liverpool are tasked with a cross-town visit to Goodison Park to face Everton, who have a new boss in Ronald Koeman. If the Dutchman’s work at Southampton is anything to go by, we can expect a couple of fiesty Merseyside Derbies this campaign. Klopp’s side also give an Anfield-sized ‘welcome’ to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in their last game of 2016 in what promises to be a tactical battle between the two erstwhile Bundesliga managers.
Besides that Liverpool also welcome Slaven Bilic’s West Ham. The Londoners have grown from strength-to-strength under the tutelage of their Croatian boss and with smart signings walking through the doors of their new Olympic Stadium, the Hammers could be a force to reckon with next season as well.
February and March
The Reds’ kick-start a tough run of games with a visit from last season’s fallen giants Chelsea who under new boss Antonio Conte will be a tough nut to crack. Games against all of last season’s Top 4 in the space of two months, makes February and March easily the season defining period for the Reds.
The Reds’ had a decent record against big sides last season. However their inability to finish off smaller opponents hurt them dearly, making their visit to Hull City and Burnley as important as any other fixture.
A decent run in the aforementioned list of fixtures could ensure a title challenge and European football in the subsequent season.
Liverpool’s debut at new-look Anfield to be delayed?
Liverpool looked set to take their bow at a renovated Anfield on 20th August when they welcome Burnley. However the club have sent a request to the Lancashire club to reverse the fixture. Since the completion of the new stand with all the finishing touches is expected to take a few weeks into the start of the Premier League season, Liverpool have requested Burnley to have the game played at Turf Moor instead. This means that Reds’ fans will have to wait until September 10, when they welcome defending champions Leicester City, to watch their team make their home debut for the 2016-17 campaign.
Complete Fixture List
August
13 – Arsenal (A)
20 – Burnley (H)
27 – Tottenham Hotspur (A)
September
10 – Leicester City (H)
17 – Chelsea (A)
24 – Hull City (H)
October
1 – Swansea City (A)
15 – Manchester United (H)
22 – West Bromwich Albion (H)
29 – Crystal Palace (A)
November
5 – Watford (H)
19 – Southampton (A)
26 – Sunderland (H)
December
3 – Bournemouth (A)
10 – West Ham United (H)
13 – Middlesbrough (A)
17 – Everton (A)
26 – Stoke City (H)
31 – Manchester City (H)
January
2 – Sunderland (A)
14 – Manchester United (A)
21 – Swansea City (H)
February
1 – Chelsea (H)
4 – Hull City (A)
11 – Tottenham Hotspur (H)
25 – Leicester City (A)
March
4 – Arsenal (H)
11 – Burnley (A)
18 – Manchester City (A)
April
1 – Everton (H)
5 – Bournemouth (H)
8 – Stoke City (A)
15 – West Bromwich Albion (A)
22 – Crystal Palace (H)
29 – Watford (A)
May
6 – Southampton (H)
13 – West Ham United (A)
21 – Middlesbrough (H)
