Liverpool’s opponents for the first day of the new season have been confirmed.

The Reds are preparing for their title defence as they look to prove to the rest of the division that it was not a fluke and their domination is here to continue.

Pre-season is right around the corner and all players will start to get ready for the opening day of the season, with Liverpool tasked with the job of kick-starting the campaign.

The Reds face Bournemouth on Friday 15th August, with this 8pm kick-off the first before an action-packed weekend of fixtures.

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On paper, it is a decent game for Liverpool and key players would usually thrive, with Alexis Mac Allister one of those who would usually dominate the middle of the park.

However, the Argentine might not be able to do that and he may have one big problem as soon as the whistle blows.

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If you cast your mind back to the final game of last season, many fans may have forgotten amidst all the title celebrations that Ryan Gravenberch actually got himself sent off.

This means that he is unavailable for the first game of the season against Bournemouth, and Liverpool will likely drop Mac Allister back into his position.

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Although the 26-year-old has played there in the past, it is certainly far from ideal, especially as the Dutchman could easily have avoided seeing red.

Mac Allister will be forced to defend more than he usually does and this can take a hit on his creative threat, something that will put even more pressure on Florian Wirtz.

Bournemouth’s attacking danger will also be something else that might worry Arne Slot as they can be free-flowing at points, meaning the Argentine needs to be ready to go or else the Reds could be in trouble.

Either way, he is definitely capable of playing there, but fans just won’t be able to see the best version of Liverpool, indicating that it might be a game they scrape through rather than dominate.

If Slot is worried about the defensive aspect, Japanese international Wataru Endo could always come into the team instead.

This will offer stability just in front of the defence, while enabling Mac Allister to operate as normal and help kick-start attacks.

This could also reduce the pressure on Wirtz as he knows he has a solid presence behind him, as well as a like-minded individual alongside, giving him the freedom to express himself.

He is a true professional and it would be no surprise to see Slot reward him with a start on the first day of the season.