'You always want to start off with a good game'
Jürgen Klopp's players will relish the chance to kick off the 2016-17 Premier League season with with a trip to Arsenal, according to former Liverpool midfielder Nigel Spackman.
A heavyweight clash with the Gunners opens the Reds' first full campaign under Klopp, but Spackman insists the fixture should hold no fears.
In fact, he believes a meeting with one of England's traditionally bigger clubs is preferable to facing a newly promoted side.
And Spackman expects Liverpool to know a lot more about their prospects for the new season after they have navigated an early run of games that also includes trips to Tottenham and Chelsea.
"I think as players you always want to start off with a good game, and Arsenal is a top game," he told LFCTV.
"I think it's better than playing Burnley away in the first game, which is a really tough one - you don't want to play one of the promoted teams.
"Don't forget, the international break comes between Tottenham and Leicester so you can regroup a little bit.
"But those first three away games all in the capital, they are tough.
"I think you know where you're going after those three games - if you're up there to challenge for the title, challenging for top four, that's for sure."