Andoni Iraola will have envisioned a raucous, white-hot atmosphere for his first Premier League match as Liverpool boss, but the fervent fanbase will be wearing Newcastle United's black and white stripes. The Reds' reception on Sunday, August 23, promises to be hostile.
Transfer Tensions Fuel Rivalry
Perhaps only Sunderland now surpass Liverpool on Tyneside's enemy list, given recent transfer market events. Last year, Liverpool unsettled star striker Alexander Isak, whose head was turned by the prospect of joining the then champions. He went on strike before sealing a bitter £125m departure on September 1. Between that saga's start and end, Liverpool also coaxed Hugo Ekitike to Anfield for £79m, after Newcastle had an offer rejected by Eintracht Frankfurt.
Fast-forward a year, and Liverpool again thwart Newcastle's recruitment. Newcastle thought a deal was in place for Osasuna winger Victor Munoz to replace Anthony Gordon, who moved to Barcelona. But Iraola and his recruitment department quickly activated a £34.5m release clause for the Spain international. Claims of a 'hijack' have been downplayed at Anfield, with interest said to be long-standing, but little denial that Liverpool gazumped their Premier League counterparts.
Isak's Return Adds Fuel
The din will be ratcheted up ten-fold on August 23, 363 days since Liverpool's last visit to St James' Park, when Rio Ngumoha scored a dramatic 100th-minute winner after Eddie Howe's 10 men fought back. Barring injury, this will be Isak's first appearance against his former club since forcing his way out. The reception for the Sweden international will likely be off the scale, and how he handles it will be crucial.
Fireworks are promised, and if Iraola and a new-look Liverpool can secure maximum points, it would be a huge start to life at Anfield. The Reds head into the new term on the longest unbeaten run on opening weekend, 14 years since their last first-match defeat, a 3-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion in Brendan Rodgers's first league game. Liverpool haven't lost any of their last 19 games against Newcastle, and Iraola's unbeaten run in the division stands at 18 games.
Key Fixture Clusters
If this campaign is to be a significant improvement on Arne Slot's troubled second season, a cluster of fixtures around late November and early December could shape things. Liverpool host Manchester United on November 21, a week before the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium against Everton, then visit Chelsea on December 5. The corresponding fixtures last year yielded just three points from nine. An important October includes home games against Manchester City and champions Arsenal; positive results would boost the feel-good factor.
Another area for improvement is results against newly-promoted clubs. Under Slot last season, fixtures against Leeds United, Burnley, and Sunderland returned just 10 points from 18. Liverpool must be more productive against Ipswich Town (September 5 away, March 3 home), Coventry City (January 2 home, February 10 away), and Hull City (Boxing Day away, February 20 home).
Away Form Key
Slot pinpointed Liverpool's away return as key two years ago. In Jurgen Klopp's final season, the Reds picked up 34 points from 57 away, with three defeats and seven draws, lagging Manchester City by 10 points on the road. A year later, Liverpool finished nine clear of City for away points as they swept to the title by 10. If Iraola targets an immediate upturn, results against newly-promoted teams could be ripe for big improvement.
