The 2017-18 Premier League fixtures are announced Wednesday, June 14. Who will Liverpool face as they hope to build on a promising 2016-17?
There’s plenty of optimism surrounding Liverpool’s 2017-18 Premier League season coming off the back of a top four finish last term. German coach Jurgen Klopp has the Reds playing his style of heavy metal football, and it’s resulting in highly entertaining soccer to watch for Liverpool fans and neutrals alike.
Despite finishing in the top four by only a single point, Liverpool have reason to be very pleased with the progress they’ve made in the past two seasons. But for an unlikely title challenge in 2013-14, they went from a perennial underperformer to a possible dark horse title candidate under Klopp.
Aside from the style of soccer being much more aesthetically pleasing, another thing that has improved under Klopp in comparison to the previous regime is the players they’re bringing in. From possible future starting goaltender Loris Karius to pacey attacking players like Sadio Mane, the signings have been smart since the German manager came to Anfield.
The difference between the two aforementioned signings is that they will be hoping for much of the same from Mane, and the total opposite from Karius. If Mane can continue to terrorize Premier League back lines and Karius can battle with Simon Mignolet for the starting spot in goal, Liverpool will be sitting pretty and hoping to challenge for a top three position, and maybe even the Premier League title.
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Moving onto this summer’s transfer window, it didn’t take Klopp and Liverpool very long to shake things up. The Reds have already signed another promising young attacking player in Dominic Solanke, who was never able to break through at Premier League rivals Chelsea. With Klopp’s reputation in developing young players into stars, Liverpool will be thinking Solanke was a bargain signing.
Liverpool’s full fixture list can be found below:
https://twitter.com/AnfieldEdition/status/874935010599501824
An opening day trip to Watford and first home match with Crystal Palace precede a difficult run of matches including games against Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham. Still, given the Reds’ record against other top sides, those may be the games they need to worry about.