Liverpool set fortunate Premier League record with opening day fixture draw

Liverpool will travel to Fulham on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, and have set a new record following the fixtures announcement.

It will be a familiar sighting for many stars, with Fabio Carvalho playing his first game back at his old ground after making the switch from Fulham to Liverpool this summer. It will also be a warm occasion for Harry Wilson, Neco Williams and Harvey Elliot, who have all recently donned both red and white.

When they travel to Craven Cottage, the Merseysiders will become the first team in top-flight history to face a newly promoted side in their first league game of the season in four consecutive campaigns. The run began during the 2018/19 season when Liverpool faced Norwich, and have since faced Leeds and then Norwich again, following their tussle with promotion and relegation, and now Fulham.

Jurgen Klopp may be very public in slamming certain fixture schedules, and the German is usually angry at being given 12:30pm matches on a Saturday. And Liverpool's first game is coincidentally scheduled at that time, although they've been handed a favourable start.

Their record is quite the opposite to the likes of West Ham, who have played Manchester City or Liverpool 3 times out of the last 5 opening days. Of course, you have to play each team twice, so on paper no team has an advantage.

But timings of matches can be crucial, and getting off to a good start can massively improve your chances of success. It's not all plain sailing for Liverpool though, as Klopp will have a tricky test against Manchester United on matchday three.

After Liverpool thrashed United 9-0 across the two games last season, the Red Devils will be out for revenge. And there will be an ego battle on the sidelines as Erik ten Hag looks to establish himself.

Liverpool's first Merseyside derby of the season gets underway at the start of September, with an away trip to Goodison Park. But Everton fans will be grateful that this game is taking place at all, as they were almost relegated last season.

And it's not until October that Liverpool face title rivals City for the first time, and just like last season it's the Reds that will host the first game before visiting the Etihad later in the season. Like all Premier League sides, Liverpool play six games on October, as the league stockpiles games before the winter World Cup.

After the international tournament is over, Liverpool meet with Steven Gerrard on Boxing Day - providing he is still in charge of Aston Villa. And it kicks off a busy three-month spell which is dominated by away matches.

Between December and the start of March, six of Liverpool's nine games are away from home, but it does make for a favourable run-in. From March, only one of their games against the 'big six' falls away from home, although it is City.

Should Liverpool be competing for the Premier League title at this stage, it could be a crucial factor. And unlike last season, City's final few games are more difficult on paper than Liverpool's.