The Main (Stand) Man Speaks: Opportunity for a good start

'The Main (Stand) Man's' 5 part article comes to an end with his last instalment here. Reflecting on the pre season and what positives should be taken into the new season TM(S)M takes a look at the first few fixtures for the Reds and why its imperative for the team to light the touchpaper as soon as the whistle blows...

Opportunity for a good start:
as any football fan will know, any significant title challenge needs a decent start to the season. The fixture list, as opposed to previous seasons, has provided Liverpool with the opportunity to achieve this and boost confidence following the generally poor pre-season performances. Whilst going to White Hart Lane can never be described as easy, Spurs in the last few seasons have been notoriously slow starters (in particular last season with just 2 points from the first 8 games), and so perhaps this is not the worst time to face them. Following this are two home fixtures which most fans would expect six points from. Aston Villa, despite their recent expenditure under the reign of Martin O’Neill, will have been weakened by the departure of their most influential player in Gareth Barry, and the Stoke fixture three days later is one which most Liverpool fans can use as a barometer of home form given the inability to break the deadlock against them home and away last season. An away trip to Bolton is no longer the difficult fixture it was when Sam Allardyce’s bullying tactics were in effect at the Reebok, and there is no reason why Liverpool cannot go there and pick up all three points. Newcomers Burnley complete the first five fixtures, a match which all Liverpool supporters will expect them to win. It is entirely possible, then, that the reds can take all of the first 15 points available to them, and have the competition chasing from the off. The confidence this would bring to the squad as new signing Alberto Aquilani nears match fitness and a debut for Liverpool.