Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool team are struggling to build momentum as their disappointing start to the Premier League season continued with a draw against Everton on Saturday afternoon.
Whereas a point at Goodison Park in the Merseyside derby can often be considered an acceptable result, this was the Reds' third draw of the season after just six matches. Defeat to Manchester United means that Jurgen Klopp's only victories so far this campaign have come in the 9-0 demolition of sorry Bournemouth and a last-gasp triumph over Newcastle United last Wednesday evening.
It leaves the 2021-22 Premier League runners-up with just nine points from their first six matches, currently placing them sixth in the early standings. With Arsenal and champions Manchester City already building up a head of steam, a decent run of results is required to try and make up some lost ground.
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Here's a look at who the Reds will face in their next five league matches.
Wolverhampton Wanderers (h) - Saturday, September 10 - 3pm
Bruno Lage will bring his Wolves team to Anfield next Saturday looking to do better than Liverpool's last two opponents - Bournemouth and Newcastle - who have given the Reds their only two wins of the season so far. The Midlands club recorded their first Premier League victory of the season on Saturday, beating Southampton 1-0 at home.
Prior to that, three draws and two narrow defeats had made up a slow start, but a victory this weekend puts them just three points behind the Reds heading to Anfield next weekend. Home supporters will want to keep a close eye on new signing Matheus Nunes, who was linked with a move to Liverpool throughout the summer.
Chelsea (a) - Sunday, September 18 - 4.30pm
Much like Liverpool, Chelsea have not had the start to the season that they would have expected. Surprise defeats to Leeds United and Southampton have ramped the pressure up on Thomas Tuchel, but a late goal against West Ham on Saturday, plus a contentiously disallowed Hammers' equaliser moments later, handed the Blues their third victory of the season, leap-frogging the Reds in the process.
Last season, the two side played out an epic 2-2 thriller at Stamford Bridge and you wouldn't bet against this year's fixture producing a similar outcome.
Brighton (h) - Saturday, October 1 - 3pm
Perhaps the surprise package of the season so far. The Seagulls are off to a flyer, wining three of their first five matches. With only one defeat against Fulham and rock-bottom Leicester to play on Sunday afternoon, Graham Potter's side are currently fourth and looking to solidify their lofty standing.
Regardless of their current decent form, Brighton are not a team Klopp would be likely to take lightly. The Seagulls came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the Reds last season and and a year earlier left Merseyside with all three points thanks a 1-0 away win courtesy of Steven Alzate. A tricky home tie for sure.
Arsenal (a) - Sunday, October 9 - 4.30pm
Liverpool are yet to win a game away from home this season, and if they fail to triumph at Stamford Bridge, things won't get any easier against high-flying Arsenal.
Sitting at the top of the tree, The Gunners are the only team to boast a 100% record after five matches, which will be tested by Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Gabriel Jesus is a summer signing from Manchester City and he is already up and running in North London, finding he net three times in his first five outings.
Manchester City (h) - Sunday, October 16 - 4.30pm
The best way to chase down the Premier League champions is to take points directly off them. Liverpool will have the chance to do that in the last of their next five fixtures when Pep Guardiola's team come to Anfield.
New signing Erling Haaland has already shown what he is capable off, firing back-to-back hat-tricks, so Darwin Nunez will be keen to show the the Reds' investment in him is just as crucial to their title hopes. City and Liverpool drew both of their encounters last season - results that eventually cost the Reds the title - so a home win is going to be something of a must if Klopp's side can muster another serious challenge this time round.
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