Liverpool start the 2026-27 Premier League season away at Newcastle, a first game that gives Andoni Iraola very little room to settle in. The opening months are even harsher. Liverpool host Manchester City on October 10 and Arsenal on October 31, with Manchester United at Anfield on November 21 before the first Merseyside derby of the season at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on November 28.
Why this opening run matters
The timing matters because Liverpool are not starting from a comfortable base. They lost 12 of their 38 league games last season and finished fifth on 60 points. They were only three points ahead of Bournemouth in the final standings, which says plenty about how thin the margin was after a damaged title defence.
Mirror's report also says the hope at Anfield is that Iraola can oversee a far better campaign after Arne Slot's disastrous title defence. Mohamed Salah is no longer at the club, and Liverpool have already moved to reshape the attack with Victor Munoz while also pursuing Yan Diomande.
That is why the fixture list feels so unforgiving. Newcastle away is awkward enough on opening weekend. Add City, Arsenal and United across the first four months, and Liverpool's new manager gets a proper early read on whether the reset is working.
Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →