Liverpool first six Premier League games compared to Man City and Arsenal give Arne Slot advantage

It is often said when the Premier League fixtures are announced that the whole exercise proves the same thing every year - you play everyone twice. It's true, of course, but the order of the games and when they fit in with Champions League commitments makes a substantial impact.

With a new head coach coming in to replace Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool is set for a transition period of some sort, but the expectation for Arne Slot will be to qualify for the Champions League at the very least. Given the squad that he inherits, a title push in his first campaign in charge cannot be out of the question.

But starting well will be important for momentum and creating a positive situation on which to build the rest of the season. In that regard, Liverpool has been handed a Premier League advantage.

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In its first six games, Liverpool will play Ipswich Town (A), Brentford (H), Nottingham Forest (H), Bournemouth (H) and Wolves (A). Liverpool's third game is a trip to Manchester United but generally, that is a relatively kind beginning to the campaign compared to what it could have been.

In the same period, Manchester City will face Chelsea (A), Ipswich (H), West Ham United (A), Brentford (H), Arsenal (H) and Newcastle United (A). Arsenal has Wolves (H), Aston Villa (A), Brighton (H), Tottenham (A), Manchester City (A) and Leicester City (H).

Of course, it is feasible that Manchester City and Arsenal could win every game they face in that spell aside from the one in which they face one another. But it will help Slot get his feet under the table at Anfield that Liverpool's first game against a title rival doesn't come until the end of October.

There will be other matches to fit in too. With Liverpool being back in the Champions League, there will be heavyweight clashes in that competition — more so than in previous seasons now there are two extra games that run into January. But in the Premier League, at least, there should be enough winnable matches there to make a positive start.

The visit to Manchester United, while being a big game, is winnable, and Liverpool should be confident of getting close to maximum points elsewhere in that run of fixtures. Starting well could be vital and there is a distinct chance that could be how it plays out.