Liverpool supporters might want to enjoy the international break while they can because once the players return to club duty, the games are going to come thick and fast.
Just look at the schedule Liverpool have coming up.
Liverpool vs Manchester City – October 11
LASK vs Liverpool – October 14
Brentford vs Liverpool – October 17
Liverpool vs Villarreal – October 20
Liverpool vs Brighton – October 25
Liverpool vs Chelsea – Carabao Cup, date TBC
Liverpool vs Arsenal – November 1
That is a serious run of fixtures.
Manchester City straight into the deep end
Liverpool return from the international break with one of the biggest games possible.
Manchester City at Anfield.
There isn’t really any easing back into club football for Andoni Iraola’s side.
It’s a massive Premier League game and one that could immediately set the tone for the weeks ahead.
Then it’s straight into Europe
Three days later, Liverpool travel to Austria to face LASK in the Champions League.
That’s followed by Brentford away just three days after that.
And then comes another Champions League night at Anfield against Villarreal on October 20.
That’s four matches in the space of nine days.
And we’re only getting started.
Brighton and Chelsea follow
Liverpool then face Brighton at Anfield on October 25 before another huge home cup tie against Chelsea.
The date for that Carabao Cup fourth-round match is still to be confirmed, but it’s another game against a major Premier League opponent.
And after Chelsea?
Arsenal at Anfield on November 1.
You couldn’t really ask for many bigger domestic fixtures.
This is where squad depth matters
This is going to be a huge test of Iraola’s squad.
There are going to have to be changes.
Liverpool simply cannot expect the same XI to play every three or four days at this level.
And that’s why performances from players like Trey Nyoni, James McConnell, Lewis Koumas and Rio Ngumoha could become increasingly important.
We’ve already seen Iraola trust his squad in the Carabao Cup.
He’s going to need plenty of them again.
What a run of games
When you put the fixtures together like this, you really appreciate how demanding the season is going to be.
Manchester City. LASK. Brentford. Villarreal. Brighton. Chelsea. Arsenal.
Seven potentially huge games.
And that’s exactly why Liverpool need as many players as possible fit, confident and ready to contribute.
For supporters, though?
Bring it on.
This is what being involved in the Premier League, Champions League and cup competitions is all about.
The next few weeks could tell us an awful lot about this Liverpool team and about the direction Iraola’s side is heading.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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