Andoni Iraola knows the exact date and time of his return to Bournemouth after Liverpool’s fixtures were updated following the first round of TV selections.
The Reds start the new Premier League season at Newcastle on Sunday, August 23, and the times for their following four games have been confirmed – with all but one live on UK TV.
Liverpool’s trip to the Vitality Stadium is the final fixture before the first, newly extended international break, confirmed for Sunday, September 20.
The 2pm kickoff will be broadcast on Sky Sports and will mark Iraola’s swift return to the club he bid farewell to at the end of last season.
Before then, however, Liverpool will contend with an early Saturday kickoff for their first home match of the campaign, with Nottingham Forest the visitors on August 29.
The 12.30pm kickoff will be shown live on TNT Sports and will give Iraola’s side less than six days between their first and second games of the campaign.
Liverpool’s first 5 Premier League fixtures
File photo dated 09/03/24 of Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, who turned down his squadís request for an extra day off to focus on enhancing a record-breaking season. Issue date: Friday May 3, 2024.
• Newcastle (A) – Sunday, August 23, 4.30pm – Sky Sports
• Forest (H) – Saturday, August 29, 12.30pm – TNT Sports
• Ipswich (A) – Friday, September 4, 8pm – Sky Sports
• Fulham (H) – Saturday, September 12, 3pm
• Bournemouth (A) – Sunday, September 20, 2pm – Sky Sports
* All times BST
Another long travel day and six-day gap between games follows, as the visit to Ipswich has been locked in for Friday, September 4.
The 8pm kickoff is an awkward one for travelling fans who will want to return the same night, with public transport links to be all but non-existent.
Liverpool will be live on TV for four of their first five fixtures of the season, with Fulham‘s visit to Anfield on Saturday, September 12, the only exception.
During this run of games, Liverpool will also open their Champions League campaign, with the first league phase match to take place on September 8/9/10.