Liverpool’s 2026/27 Premier League fixtures are out and it’s fair to say there are certain runs of games that feel particularly key.
The Andoni Iraola era begins with a trip to Newcastle on August 23, in what is hopefully the start of a successful reign for the Spaniard.
Liverpool then finish the campaign at home to Iraola’s former club Bournemouth – that would be a fitting way for him to lift the title!
Here are three runs of fixtures that feel defining for Liverpool in 2026/27.
Inviting opening 5 fixtures for Liverpool
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha celebrates after scoring his side's winning third goal, his first competitive goal on Premier League debut becoming Liverpool's youngest ever goal-scorer, during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
As mentioned, it’s Newcastle (Aug 23) up first for Iraola, with a rivalry of sorts beginning to brew with Liverpool.
While that is a tough opening game of the season, the four that follow look winnable on paper.
A visit of Nottingham Forest (Aug 29) and trip to Ipswich (Sep 5) should result in six points, even though no Premier League games are a given.
Similarly, the home meeting with Fulham (Sep 12) feels straightforward, and Iraola will then look to win back at Bournemouth seven days later (Sep 19).
If Liverpool have genuine title aspirations in 2026/27, a minimum of 10 points from those five games is essential.
Awkward winter spell vs. 3 rivals
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 19, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones challenges Everton's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (R) during the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC, the 248th Merseyside Derby, at Bramley-Moore Dock. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
January is never the happiest of months anyway, and Liverpool are going to be tested to the hilt in that period.
A trip to Man United (Jan 23) – which comes after the penultimate Champions League league phase tie – is followed by the Merseyside derby vs. Everton at Anfield (Jan 30), before taking on champions Arsenal at the Emirates (Feb 6).
It is a point in any season when squad depth can be tested, especially when Liverpool are facing three of their biggest adversaries.
Hopefully, United are again in the middle of another one of their false dawns, while Everton are flattering to deceive under David Moyes.
As for Arsenal, here’s hoping set-pieces and time-wasting are less important aspects of football next season!
Testing run for Liverpool late in the campaign
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 8, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk (L) pulls the shirt of Manchester City's Erling Haaland during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool will hopefully still have it all to play for as April turns to May, with Premier League and Champions League glory both on offer.
If the Reds are still going strong in Europe, a taxing run in the league will be happening around it.
Trips to Elland Road are never easy, so the clash with Leeds on April 24 feels awkward, prior to two heavyweight games.
May gets underway with the visit of Chelsea (May 1), as Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield, and the following weekend it’s Enzo Maresca’s Man City away (May 8).
Win all three of those matches and Liverpool will be in fine fettle – but it could prove one of the season’s most difficult tests.