Opening day: The last 10

2010 v Arsenal (home) - draw 1-1

The Reds opened their 2010-11 campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal. Roy Hodgson's first league game in charge saw marquee signing Joe Cole sent off for a lunge on Arsenal new boy Laurent Koscielny just before half-time. Despite this, the Reds took the lead at the start of the second-half, Frenchman David N'Gog latching onto an excellent Javier Mascherano through ball and firing into the roof of the net. However a last-minute mistake by Pepe Reina allowed Arsenal to snatch a draw, the Spanish 'keeper spilling the ball into his own net after Marouane Chamakh's header had hit the post. Arsenal were also reduced to 10 men in the last minute of stoppage time as Koscielny earned himself a second yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

2009 v Tottenham Hotspur (away) - lost 1-2

Liverpool travelled to London at the start of the 2009-10 season to take on Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. While Xabi Alonso had left for Real Madrid that summer, the Reds were still seen as major contenders for the Premier League title, but after a lacklustre opening day display, Rafael Benitez's men lost 2-1. Having dominated most of the first-half, Spurs went 1-0 up in the 44^th minute, Benoit Assou-Ekotto lashing the ball into the top corner after Tom Huddlestone's free kick had deflected off Emiliano Insua. Liverpool responded in the 56^th minute as Gerrard converted his spot-kick after Spurs 'keeper Heurelho Gomes brought down Glen Johnson in the box. However, Spurs got their winner just three minutes later as Sebastien Bassong, a new signing from Newcastle, rose highest to head home Luka Modric's free kick.

2008 v Sunderland (away) - won 1-0

Liverpool opened the campaign with a 1-0 win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. A game which saw Robbie Keane make his Liverpool debut, the Reds' goal came in the 83^rd minute as Fernando Torres drove a low 25-yard pile driver past a helpless Craig Gordon in the Sunderland net. The win was a much-needed boost for Rafa's charges after a turbulent couple of weeks during which our attempts to sign Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry had failed.

2007 v Aston Villa (away) - won 2-1

Fernando Torres's eagerly awaited Premier League debut came in a 2-1 win against Aston Villa on the opening day of the 2007-08 season. Liverpool took the lead on the half-hour mark as Villa's Danish centre-back Martin Laursen prodded into his own net from a Dirk Kuyt cross. But Liverpool looked to have dropped two points when the Villains equalised just five minutes from time via a Gareth Barry penalty after Jamie Carragher had handled in the box. However, just like on so many other occasions, captain Steven Gerrard stepped up to grab a late winner, scoring an excellent free-kick to secure all three points for the Reds.

2006 v Sheffield United (away) draw 1-1

The fixture computer paired Liverpool with newly-promoted Sheffield United for the first game of the new 2006-07 campaign and, having just beaten Chelsea in the Community Shield, Reds fans had every right to feel confident. However, Liverpool went a goal down early in the second half as striker Rob Hulse headed home on his Blades debut. Neil Warnock's men had to cope with a Liverpool onslaught for the rest of the game as the Reds pushed for an equaliser. They finally succumbed in the 70^th minute when Robbie Fowler converted a penalty after Steven Gerrard had been felled in the area by defender Craig Morgan

2005 v Middlesbrough (away) draw 0-0

As European Champions, the Reds' 2005-06 campaign had begun way back on July 13 after they'd started the season in the first round of Champions League qualifiers. Middlesbrough were the opposition for the Premier League kick off, with Boudewijn Zenden making his Liverpool debut against his former club. The game ended 0-0 despite Ugo Ehiogu being sent off for the home side 15 minutes from time, and Liverpool probably would have taken all three points had it not been for the acrobatics of Aussie 'keeper Mark Schwarzer who continually thwarted Steven Gerrard throughout the game.

2004 v Tottenham Hotspur (away) draw 1-1

This was manager Rafael Benitez's first Premier League game in charge as the season began away at Tottenham. Djibril Cisse scored on his Liverpool debut to put us ahead; the signing from French club Auxerre turned neatly to strike home Jamie Carragher's flick on. The Reds were disappointed not to double the lead as their strong penalty appeals were turned down after Steven Gerrard had been tugged down by Spurs youngster Phil Ifil. Tottenham later equalised with 20 minutes to go, the impressive Jermaine Defoe beating Jerzy Dudek at his near post to secure a point in Jacques Santini's first game in charge of the London side.

2003 v Chelsea (home) lost 1-2

Harry Kewell's debut and Liverpool's task on the opening day of the 2003-04 season was to halt Roman Abramovich's Chelsea revolution. Claudio Ranieri's side arrived on Merseyside with a host of new signings including Glen Johnson, Juan Sebastien Veron and Joe Cole. Former Man United midfielder Veron opened the scoring for the visitors on 25 minutes hammering home Jesper Gronkjaer's cross. On 76 minutes Michael Owen equalised for the Reds in controversial fashion as they were awarded a penalty after Wayne Bridge brought down El-Hadji Diouf in the box. Owen blazed his first penalty wide, however the referee ordered for a re-take claiming Cudicini had come off his line. Owen slammed home his second attempt, drawing Liverpool level. However, Chelsea's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink got the Blues' winner with three minutes left, controlling a Frank Lampard ball expertly and rifling the ball into the corner of Jerzy Dudek's net.

2002 v Aston Villa (away) won 1-0

Just one goal was enough for all three points as Liverpool dominated their first game of the season away at Aston Villa. Mark Delaney's slip allowed Danny Murphy room to find Norwegian John Arne Riise, who scored with a powerful low drive. El-Hadji Diouf, making his debut after starring for Senegal at the World Cup, was lively in attack and the Reds impressed going forward. Michael Owen could have doubled the Reds' lead but he smashed a penalty right down the middle allowing Villa 'keeper Peter Enckleman to save with his right foot after Gareth Barry had clumsily brought down Steven Gerrard in the box.

2001 v West Ham United (home) won 2-1

Liverpool were massive favourites going into the game with West Ham's pre-season injury crisis continuing to grow. Owen scored the Reds' first goal on 18 minutes, latching onto a Gary McAllister back-heel and the Liverpool faithful expected an easy afternoon. However, the Hammers fought hard and drew level on the half-hour mark. Following a miskick from Jamie Carragher, Stephane Henchoz then brought down Svetoslav Todorov in the area. Paolo Di Canio converted the resulting penalty with an audacious chip. Liverpool piled on the pressure in the second half but were often denied by Shaka Hislop in the West Ham net. With 13 minutes to go, though, Michael Owen got Liverpool's winner, darting past Christian Dailly and Nigel Winterburn and firing the ball into the net off the far post.