Carra: Boss aiming for early business
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Brendan Rodgers is 'raring to go' for the 2013-14 season and will aim to make early changes to his playing squad before the campaign kicks off.
Rodgers' side will start next season with a home fixture against Stoke City on August 17 before travelling to Aston Villa and then hosting Manchester United at Anfield.
The club have agreed deals in principle to add defender Kolo Toure and forward Iago Aspas since the conclusion of 2012-13 and Carragher insists there are promising signs for his old team.
"I'm sure Brendan Rodgers has learnt a lot over the last 12 months and I think he's raring to go this season," the 35-year-old told Sky Sports.
"I spoke to him at the end of the season and he wants to get his business done early. At the moment it looks like Liverpool are trying to get players in as quickly as possible so they are ready for the start of the season.
"They'll look at that Stoke game - Mark Hughes' first game as well, so they'll be desperate to get off to a good start - it's a good game for Liverpool. I'm sure they will be looking to get three points and hopefully use that as a platform to push on.
"The first five or six fixtures look a lot easier, on paper, than they were last season. Arsenal and Manchester City were the first two home games last year; obviously there's a big game in there with Manchester United, the third game.
"In the first couple of games, hopefully they can get three, four, maybe six points and get off to a good start.
"That's certainly what they need because Liverpool need to be doing a lot better in terms of challenging for the top four and getting back into the top four. They really need to make a good start."
This summer is the first time Carragher has received the new fixtures without any intention of actually playing in them - which matches were his eyes drawn to immediately?
He added: "I'd always look for Everton away - there's always a bit of spice and a big atmosphere at Goodison. It's always a cauldron.
"We had a great record there over the years and I'm sure that's what Liverpool will be looking to do again this year. The first derby is at Goodison.
"Of course, after that, it's the big Manchester United games; there's not much to choose between the two of them really. But for me, being a local lad and an Everton fan as a kid, I'll certainly always look for that one."
The Bootle native also offered words of praise to two strikers already established on Merseyside, Daniel Sturridge and Fabio Borini; he expects the former to star in Brazil next summer.
"Sturridge has come in and been fantastic - I think he will be leading the line for England going into the World Cup. He's got a knock at the moment. Borini scored last night in the U21s final," Carragher said.
Check out Liverpool's complete fixture list for the 2013-14 season>>