'Tough start? Bring it on!'
Liverpool's start to the 2012-13 Barclays Premier League season could not be more exciting, according to former Anfield striker David Johnson.
The Reds discovered earlier this week they will face West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on the opening day of the campaign in August.
Brendan Rodgers' side will then welcome defending champions Manchester City to Anfield followed by Arsenal. A trip to Sunderland is up next, before Manchester United visit L4 on September 22.
And while Johnson accepts it'll be a tough start to the season, his message is simple: 'Bring it on!'.
The ex-Reds forward told LFC magazine: "At the start of any new season you're always interested in the fixture list. Naturally, you want a good quick start especially if you're a new manager like Brendan Rodgers. It looks tough with the two Manchester clubs and Arsenal being the first three opponents at Anfield. But that excites me.
"I was brought up under Bill Shankly, who would instil into his players that you never worry about the opposition. But obviously supporters will look at the fixture list and try to read things into it. Looking at the first five games, we're playing against three teams that you would think are going to be there in the top four all season but the big plus for us is that we've got them all at home.
See our 2012-13 fixture list>>
"Do you think Man City will be looking at the fixture list thinking: 'Goodness we've got Liverpool away in our second game?' I used to take heart from that. Why should we be worried about Man City coming to Anfield? I don't think we should be."
He added: "It's so early in the season that everyone will be on a level playing field, so let's get at them. If we're going to have any aspirations to be in the top four then we've got to get out there and beat them. It doesn't matter when we play them - that's the sort of opposition we've got to beat.
"It might be better to play those teams when we can get at them at the start of the season when they might not be as organised as when everybody's into the swing of everything in the middle of the campaign and teams have hit form.
"You've got to think: 'Can we beat West Brom away?' Certainly. Man City at home? We can do it. It's the same with Arsenal and then you'd be hopeful of Sunderland away. Then it'd be a case of 'Bring on United'."
Meanwhile, Johnson believes Liverpool will be going all out to win the Europa League this season, in addition to trying to mount a top-four challenge.
The 60-year-old feels the tournament deserves to be taken seriously and can provide both players and fans with a major boost should the Reds manage to go all the way.
"I know the game has changed and people talk about the modern game, but it's still football and I don't know any footballer that enjoys training more than playing," said Johnson. "I know that as an ex-professional footballer I'd rather be playing than running around the track at Melwood.
"Okay, you've got more games but I'd rather be in a competition than not. I get a bit upset when people start devaluing competitions, saying, for instance: 'It's only the League Cup.' It's a cup! You get to Wembley and some players would give their eye teeth to have an opportunity to play in a cup final.
"So when people start disrespecting tournaments, I get annoyed. The Europa League is the equivalent of the UEFA Cup. So because we've won the UEFA Cup in the past, does that mean it's an inferior cup?
"It wasn't when we won it. And if we can win the Europa League this season, I'm sure everybody will be happy."