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LIVERPOOL FIXTURES: Reds kick off at Stoke, then face trips to Arsenal and Man Utd
BRENDAN RODGERS will revisit the scene of his greatest humiliation as a manager after Liverpool were handed an immediate return to Stoke City.
Liverpool’s 2015-16 campaign will begin at The Britannia Stadium where the 2014-15 season ended in rancour and recrimination following a 6-1 defeat.
Rodgers saw his shell-shocked side trailing 5-0 at half-time for the first time in a top flight game since a 5-1 defeat to Aston Villa in December 1976 and the Premier League’s fixture committee clearly has a sense of humour.
The manner - and the margin - of the defeat has left Rodgers’ tenure under huge pressure despite the backing of owners, Fenway Sports Group, at an end of season review. Many Liverpool supporters have lost faith in his regime.
Following the trip to Stoke, Rodgers’ side host newly promoted Bournemouth before travelling to Arsenal.
Liverpool must also go to Manchester United and Old Trafford in the opening weeks of the campaign and a solid start is critical in order to avoid coming up scrutiny straight away.
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Rodgers’ summit with chairman Tom Werner and FSG president Mike Gordon resulted in assistant manager Colin Pascoe and first team coach Mike Marsh both leaving.
No replacements have made yet and neither Pako Ayesteran nor Sami Hyypia, who are both interested in joining Rodgers’ backroom staff, have heard from the club to date.
Liverpool expect to make Charlton defender Joe Gomez their fourth signing of the summer by the end of the week.
Brendan Rodgers faces a season-opener at Stoke
Talks between the two clubs are ongoing and the 18-year-old looks likely to move in a deal that would initially be worth around £3.5m, with further add-ons depending on his development.
Arsenal have been tracking Gomez, who can play at right-back or centre half, but Liverpool have emerged as front-runners and are confident of closing the deal.
Gomez would follow James Milner, Danny Ings and Adam Bogdan to Anfield, while a deal for Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne also looks likely.
Liverpool have had a £9m bid rejected for Clyne, but Southampton are searching for replacements and the England full-back is set to follow Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren to Merseyside.
Liverpool's first five Premier League fixtures:
08/08/2015 Stoke City v Liverpool
15/08/2015 Liverpool v A.F.C. Bournemouth
22/08/2015 Arsenal v Liverpool
29/08/2015 Liverpool v West Ham United
12/09/2015 Manchester United v Liverpool
Fixtures subject to change
Read the full list of Liverpool fixtures here.
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