EPL: 2013/2014 fixtures released, Liverpool handed nice run-in

Well folks, if you’re like me you always spend the majority of the summer after the season has finished counting down the days until the fixture list is released. Some people are desperate to decipher how difficult a start we will get, others are dying to see when we face Everton or Manchester United, some even check the clash closest to their birthday… Not that I do that… Ahem. Either way it’s worth waiting for and today Liverpool have learnt their Premier League order.

Starting with Stoke at home, Liverpool I would say have received quite a nice first fixture. With Mark Hughes getting used to his position, who knows what could happen. Next in August for Liverpool is another nice fixture, travelling to Birmingham to face Aston Villa. The Reds will then begin their League Cup run and end August by facing Manchester United at Anfield. I personally think this is a great start for Liverpool, some nice fixtures and a massive clash with United. I love watching the United games and although it will obviously be difficult (maybe not as difficult now Fergie has gone), I still relish the chance to face them early on.

Liverpool are also pretty lucky because, after the United game, they don’t really face a massive side until November when they meet Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal at the Emirates. They also face Everton in that month.

The Christmas period is a pretty exciting one for Liverpool and could go a long way in determining the Reds’ fate in the league. The Reds face Spurs, City and Chelsea all away and almost on the trot in December. January sees the second clash with local rivals Everton, this time at home and in March we play United again at Old Trafford.

Liverpool’s end to the season is also quite satisfactory, with an away tie at Crystal Palace and then Newcastle United at home.

I must admit I’m pretty happy with this year’s layout. I usually find something to complain about relating to the start and end of the season but we’ve been gifted a nice one here. The massive run of fixtures in December, although slightly scary, I feel will provide us with a great attitude. The lads and manager will know that if they crumble in this period it could put and end to the season (if we are in a good position); however they also know if we do well, it could become a catalyst. Either way, I am actually quite excited now to get the season underway. With Liverpool also being surprisingly active in the transfer window, I sincerely hope this is a season where Brendan Rodgers can really push his side forward and find some consistency.

Below is the fixture list in full (INFORMATION TAKEN FROM WWW.LIVERPOOLFC.COM)

AUGUST

17 Stoke – H24 Aston Villa – A31 Manchester United – H

SEPTEMBER

14 Swansea – A21 Southampton – H28 Sunderland – A

OCTOBER

5 Crystal Palace – H19 Newcastle United – A26 West Brom – H

NOVEMBER

2 Arsenal – A9 Fulham – H23 Everton – A30 Hull – A

DECEMBER

3 Norwich – H7 West Ham – H14 Tottenham Hotspur – A21 Cardiff – H26 Manchester City – A28 Chelsea – A

JANUARY

1 Hull – H11 Stoke – A18 Aston Villa – H28 Everton – H

FEBRUARY

1 West Brom – A8 Arsenal – H12 Fulham – A22 Swansea – H

MARCH

1 Southampton – A8 Sunderland – H15 Manchester United – A22 Cardiff – A29 Tottenham Hotspur – H

APRIL

5 West Ham – A12 Manchester City – H19 Norwich – A26 Chelsea – H

MAY

2 Crystal Palace – A11 Newcastle United – H