FeatureOpener, Boxing Day trip and a new ground: Liverpool's fixture list assessed

The fixture list for the forthcoming top-flight campaign was released on Friday morning.

Here is the Reds' calendar assessed...

Liverpool's opening-day record

Andoni Iraola's first competitive game as head coach will be away at Newcastle United on Sunday August 23 (4.30pm BST kick-off).

He is hoping to extend Liverpool's unbeaten run on the opening weekend of a Premier League campaign to 14 matches.

Victory No.13, of course, came against his AFC Bournemouth side last season in a memorable Friday night clash at Anfield.

West Bromwich Albion in 2012-13 are the last team to defeat the Reds on such an occasion.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have won 20 and drawn 10 of their 34 Premier League openers, averaging 2.06 points per game – level with Manchester United for a competition high.

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Iraola's first six

Newcastle (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Ipswich Town (A), Fulham (H), Bournemouth (A) and Manchester City (H) are Liverpool's first six opponents.

With three Premier League terms under his belt, Iraola improved season upon season with his points return from the opening six while in charge of Bournemouth.

After defeat in that 2025-26 opener in L4, the Cherries went unbeaten in their next eight league outings, five of which ended in wins.

Boxing Day trip

Liverpool are scheduled to travel to Hull City on Saturday December 26.

Should it remain as is, it means the Reds will have been on their travels in four of their last five Boxing Day matches.

Liverpool last took to the pitch on December 26 in 2024, when they defeated Leicester City 3-1 at Anfield.

The three times before that were all away from home and saw them beat Leicester (2019), Aston Villa (2022) and Burnley (2023).

A new ground to tick off

Liverpool and newly promoted Coventry City will meet for the first time in just shy of 25 years.

Frank Lampard's Championship winners head to Anfield at the start of 2027, with that match currently in for Saturday January 2.

The return fixture takes place the following month in midweek (Wednesday February 10) and will see the Reds make their inaugural visit to the Coventry Building Society Arena, which opened in 2005.

The Reds' last away encounter with the Sky Blues was staged at Highfield Road in April 2001.

Late goals from Sami Hyypia and Gary McAllister snatched the points for the visitors that afternoon.

Champions League scheduling

Liverpool have qualified for the league phase of the 2026-27 Champions League.

Take a look at how its eight-match slate slots into the Reds' domestic schedule below...

• Ipswich Town (A)

• Champions League matchday one (September 8/9/10)

• Fulham (H)

—

• Manchester City (H)

• Champions League matchday two (October 13/14)

• Brentford (A)

• Champions League matchday three (October 20/21)

• Brighton & Hove Albion (H)

—

• Arsenal (H)

• Champions League matchday four (November 3/4)

• Crystal Palace (A)

—

• Manchester United (H)

• Champions League matchday five (November 24/25)

• Everton (A)

—

• Chelsea (A)

• Champions League matchday six (December 8/9)

• Leeds United (H)

—

• Crystal Palace (H)

• Champions League matchday seven (January 19/20)

• Manchester United (A)

• Champions League matchday eight (January 27)

• Everton (H)

The third round of the Emirates FA Cup is due to be played on the weekend of January 9/10, while dates for the Carabao Cup are still to be confirmed.

• Get fixture news and updates directly via our official eCalendar here

Home comforts

Liverpool's Premier League campaign will end at home to Bournemouth on Sunday May 30.

By then, the Reds will have closed out nine of the last 11 top-flight seasons at Anfield.

The last occasion on the road was the 4-4 draw at Southampton in 2023 and before that a 3-1 win against Newcastle in 2020.