Kenny: It's an exciting day

The Reds will open their 2011-12 season with a home game against Sunderland before travelling to Arsenal the following week.

While not placing too much relevance on who the Reds face and when, Dalglish insists today represents another key date in the football fans' calendar.

"It doesn't matter who you are playing," he told Liverpoolfc.tv. "Today is all about another step towards the start of the season when supporters get excited because the fixtures are out.

"Over the summer there are various trigger points towards the start of the new season. First of all fans get excited when they see new players coming in - players who are going to excite them - and it's our obligation to do that for them as soon as possible.

"Then there are players who leave the club and that's not a reflection on them, it's just something that happens.

"When the fixtures come out it makes everyone that bit more excited and start looking forward to the start of the season.

"We've got Sunderland first - which will be a poignant day for Jordan Henderson I'm sure with him being a Sunderland boy and a former player - and then we go to Arsenal. But it doesn't matter what order the games come in. We have to play everyone home and away.

"There's not a lot you can say about the fixture list really. But I would ask why the season is starting on a Saturday when there are international friendlies the midweek before. Clubs are doing their best to bring in good players and that usually means they are international players. There is a free week after the first weekend so I don't understand why we can't start the season on a Sunday to prevent players having to travel back on a Wednesday night in time for a Saturday start.

"If you are going to have international games then have them. But surely it makes sense to put the league games back a day if it's possible. To me it's common sense."

Click here for all of Liverpool's 2011-12 Barclays Premier League fixtures>>