ANALYSING LIVERPOOL’S FIXTURE LIST FOR THE 2022/23 SEASON

The Premier League released the fixture list for the 2022/23 season and as expected, it’s a unique one. With the FIFA World Cup in Qatar crammed into November/December, all club football will be put on hold for over a month.

It will all resume after the World Cup, with the players expected to just keep going, with no regard for their well being. It’s going to be a long season, and the club that copes best will come out on top. Here’s a look at how the fixtures fell for Jürgen Klopp’s side.

August

• 6th (12.30pm) – Fulham (A)

• 13th – Crystal Palace (H)

• 20th – Manchester United (A)

• 27th – Bournemouth (H)

• 31st (8pm) – Newcastle United (H)

Liverpool kick off the season with a 12:30 BST kickoff away to newly promoted Fulham. It will mark the fourth successive season the Reds will face the Championship winners on opening day, after victories over Norwich (twice – 2021/22 and 2019/20) and Leeds (2020/21).

Summer signing Fabio Carvalho could make his debut for the Reds against his former side. The trip to Old Trafford comes very early this season, with Erik Ten Hag’s outfit the third game of the campaign. It could be advantageous to face them before they settle under their new manager.

September

• 3rd – Everton (A)

• 6/7th – Champions League Matchday 1

• 10th – Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)

• 13/14th – Champions League Matchday 2

• 17th – Chelsea (A)

September sees the commencement of the Champions League, with the group stages starting on the 6/7th. The month kicks off with the small matter of the Merseyside derby at Goodison, before concluding with a trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea.

Not an easy month that. It could get tougher depending on the group stage draw, with the opening group game swiftly following the derby. The first international break of the season then sees a two week pause.

October

• 1st – Brighton & Hove Albion (H)

• 4/5th – Champions League Matchday 3

• 8th – Arsenal (A)

• 11/12th – Champions League Matchday 4

• 15th – Manchester City (H)

• 19th (8pm) – West Ham United (H)

• 22nd – Nottingham Forest (A)

• 25/26th – Champions League Matchday 5

• 29th – Leeds United (H)

October is power packed to say the least. A whopping nine fixtures following the international break. Unfortunately for the Reds, their fixtures following midweek exertions in Europe are tough. In September, they travel to Chelsea straight after a midweek Champions League game.

This is compounded in October, with Arsenal and the no doubt crucial showdown with Manchester City both coming off the back of Champions League matches. It is imperative the Reds get a favourable draw, as it would allow the manager ring the changes between games.

November

• 1st/2nd – Champions League Matchday 6

• 5th – Tottenham Hotspur (A)

• 9th – League Cup 3rd Round

• 12th – Southampton (H)

November is pretty straightforward, with the Champions League group stages concluding. Once again, the Reds face a tough trip post European exertions, with Antonio Conte’s Spurs the trickiest fixture of the month. The league then takes a break after Southampton visit Anfield.

December

• 21st – League Cup 4th Round

• 26th – Aston Villa (A)

• 31st – Leicester City (H)

Following the World Cup final on 18th December, the club season resumes with a League Cup tie before two league fixtures to round off the month. Matip, Robertson, Keita, Salah, Diaz and a few others will enjoy a six week break as a result of missing out on the World Cup. That could prove pretty useful.

January

• 2nd – Brentford (A)

• 7th – FA Cup 3rd Round

• 11th – League Cup QF

• 14th – Brighton & Hove Albion (A)

• 21st – Chelsea (H)

• 25th – League Cup SF 1st leg

• 28th – FA Cup 4th Round

As it stands, the Reds are to contest two fixtures in 48 hours; Leicester on New Year’s Eve and Brentford on 2nd January. The FA Cup then kicks in as the Reds contest a third and (potentially) fourth round tie. The League Cup quarters and semis are also slated for January.

Jürgen Klopp will aim to once again go all the way after clinching the two Cup competitions last season. The romance of the Cups was truly reignited in 2021/22. Following Brentford, Brighton and Chelsea provide opposition in the league.

February

• 1st – League Cup SF 2nd leg

• 4th – Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)

• 11th – Everton (H)

• 14/15th or 21/22nd – Champions League Ro16 1st leg

• 18th – Newcastle United (A)

• 25th – Crystal Palace (A)

• 26th – League Cup final

The second Merseyside derby spices up the month of February, along with the knockout stages of the Champions League. The League Cup also concludes, with the final slated for the 26th. Further league clashes against Wolves, Newcastle and Palace will keep the Reds on their toes.

March

• 1st – FA Cup 5th Round

• 4th – Manchester United (H)

• 7/8th or 14/15th – Champions League Ro16 2nd leg

• 11th – Bournemouth (A)

• 18th – Fulham (H)

• 18th – FA Cup QF

March sees United make the trip to Anfield for what is sure to be a huge clash. The second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 also takes place, with the FA Cup fifth and sixth round also scheduled.

April

• 1st – Manchester City (A)

• 8th – Arsenal (H)

• 11/12th – Champions League QF 1st leg

• 15th – Leeds United (A)

• 18/19th – Champions League QF 2nd leg

• 22nd – Nottingham Forest (H)

• 25th (7.45pm) – West Ham United (A)

• 29th – Tottenham Hotspur (H)

April is where the fun starts as far as the run in is concerned. April Fool’s Day brings a blockbuster clash at the Etihad, before Arsenal visit Anfield. Both legs of the Champions League quarters comes off, with the month ending with challenging fixtures against West Ham and Spurs.

May

• 6th – Brentford (H)

• 9/10th – Champions League SF 1st leg

• 13th – Leicester City (A)

• 16/17th – Champions League SF 2nd leg

• 20th – Aston Villa (H)

• 28th (4pm) – Southampton (A)

May then sees the visit of Brentford and Villa, as well as trips to Leicester and Southampton, with the latter marking the final day of the league season. There could be drama if last season is anything to go by. Both legs of the Champions League semis are scheduled for the month as well.

June

10th – Champions League final

Istanbul beckons in June, should the Reds make it that far. After going so close last season, it would be therapeutic if the Reds could right the wrongs of Paris in a city famous for the ultimate tale of defiance to clinch Europe’s most prestigious trophy.

It promises to be another marathon season full of ups and downs. Jürgen Klopp will have to manage his squad skilfully through the packed fixture list. Hopefully we’ll have another grand old parade at the end of it, with the two biggest trophies to show for it.