Liverpool could profit from curious Pep Guardiola problem as fixtures truth emerges

After missing out on the title by a single point last season, Jurgen Klopp will be desperate for his Liverpool side to go one better next time around. And they now know their schedule for the 2022/23 campaign after their Premier League fixtures were released on Thursday.

Liverpool will travel to newly-promoted Fulham on the opening day, but that fixture isn't what will decide the destiny of the championship.

Throughout the calendar, the Reds will be faced with a number of difficult hurdles to overcome. But the same can be said for Manchester City, who won the 2021/22 title by a point on the last day.

So, on the back of the fixtures release, let's take a look at the decisive periods of the season. Where might the championship be won and lost?

Liverpool's start appears favourable. They will face Fulham, Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Bournemouth, Newcastle United and Everton in their first six games.

The clash at Old Trafford stands out as difficult, but that could be the perfect time to face the Red Devils. New manager Erik ten Hag will still be coaching his players to perform how he wants, the pressure will be on at the beginning of his tenure, and Man United tend to leave it late before signing players in the transfer market.

Facing them after two matches under Ten Hag rather than after 30 is a solid positive for Liverpool, especially considering they have been working under Klopp for nearly seven years now.

January looks particularly tricky, though. The Reds are scheduled to make two away trips to Brentford and Brighton before facing Chelsea at Anfield. Last season all three of those sides took points from Liverpool, who failed to beat Chelsea in 90 minutes on four separate occasions in all competitions.

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