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The Reds had a highly disappointing season under Kenny Daglish last season, finishing a distant 8^th, which led to the sacking of the legendary Scot. New Manager Brendan Rodgers would have to make sure that they hit the ground running as they entertain last season’s top three at Anfield in their first three home games.

Liverpool travel to the Hawthorns to open up their campaign, and three points from that fixture seems a must considering the games against top clubs to follow. Manchester City and Arsenal then travel to Merseyside in successive weeks as Anfield gears up for blockbuster ties just a few weeks into the new campaign.  A trip to the Stadium of light follows before arch-rivals Manchester United come to town, against whom the Reds usually do well at home. A trip to Carrow road to face Norwich concludes the month of September.

Two home games against Stoke and Reading start the month of October, and anything other than a victory would be a poor result with three tough games coming up. The first Merseyside derby takes place away from home, and would be followed by the visit of a Newcastle side that finished above them last season and a trip to Stamford Bridge to face the Champions League winners.

Brendan Rodgers’ side has a relatively easy calender till the New Year, with a visit to Tottenham on the 27^th of November and a trip to the Britannia Stadium on Boxing Day being the only tough matches. The fixture line-up includes Wigan (h), Swansea (a), Southampton (h), West Ham (a), Aston Villa (h), Fulham (h), QPR (a) and Sunderland (h). Close to Maximum points from these games would greatly pile on the pressure on the top teams.

A trip to Manchester United kicks off an important 3-week period which includes trips to Emirates and Etihad as they face the top three in a short period once again. A home game against Norwich in between is the only consolation.  Home games against West Brom and Swansea then complete the month of February.

March begins with a trip to the DW stadium, followed by a crunch home game against the entertaining Spurs. Trips to the newly promoted Southampton and Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa are next, which would be followed a visit of playoff winners West Ham and a trip to Championship winners Reading.

A trio of tough games follows, with Chelsea and Everton visiting Anfield, with a visit to Newcastle sandwiched between the two. The Merseyside club has a trip to London to face Fulham in their last away game of the season. They end their season against a decent QPR side, which ran the Premier League winners Manchester City close on the last day of last season. Liverpool have an easy two-three month spell after their intimidating start, but they would have to make a great start to ensure a Champions League place at the least.

Fixture Summary:

Opening Day: West Brom (a) 18-08-2012

Major Fixtures: Man City (h) 25-08-2012, Arsenal (h) 01-09-2012, Man Utd (h) 22-09-2012,  Everton (a) 27-10-2012, Chelsea (a) 10-11-2012, Tottenham (a) 27-11-2012, Man Utd (a) 12-01-2013, Arsenal (a) 29-01-2013, Man City (a) 02-02-2013, Tottenham (h) 09-03-2013, Chelsea (h) 20-04-2013, Everton (h) 04-05-2013

Boxing Day: Stoke (a)

New Year's Day: Sunderland (h)

Final Day: QPR (h) 19-05-2013