Liverpool will be starting their 2023/24 Premier League campaign away from their own fans if the Anfield club get their way.
Work has long been underway on an £80million extension to boost their stadium capacity by 7,000 seats to 61,000, but the Anfield Road stand has remained open for business on match days, inevitably slowing down the project. But as soon as the Reds complete their final home of the campaign against Aston Villa on May 20, it will be full steam ahead to get things completed in time for next season.
But the start date of August 12 will be cutting it fine, according to club representative Paul Cuttill. He told the Liverpool Echo: "We get asked each year and we've put in a request for our first game of the season to be away from home. We haven't had that confirmed yet by the Premier League, I must stress. However, if it is confirmed, we're looking at around August 19 for our first home game of the new season to be played here with the Anfield Road stand open, brand new.”
Whilst the six-time Champions League winners wait for permission, Mirror Sport looks at their last 10 away trips on the opening weekend....
2022/23: Fulham (2-2)
If Liverpool fans were getting carried away after beating Man City in the Community Shield the previous week, then they were brought back down to earth at Craven Cottage.
A patchy performance from Jurgen Klopp's side saw them escape with a draw, despite twice falling behind to goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic. A debut goal from Darwin Nunez and a late Mo Salah leveller salvaged matters, but a warning signal had been sounded.
2021/22: Norwich City (0-3)
If this season began streakily for Liverpool, the last campaign started swimmingly.
A potential banana skin at Carrow Road against newly promoted Norwich City proved anything but, as Klopp's array of attacking talent took the hosts apart. Diogo Jota's first half goal was supplemented by later strikes from Roberto Firmino and Salah as the Reds showed their swagger.
2017/18: Watford (3-3)
The German boss had been at Liverpool for a season and a half by this point, and whilst his team's consistency was still in question - their thirst for chaos certainly wasn't.
In a thunderous opener at Watford, the Reds showed their best and worst side, trailing 2-1 at half time as Sadio Mane struck either side of home goals from Stefano Okaka and Abdoulaye Doucoure. A Firmino penalty and goal from Salah seemingly sorted out a second half turnaround, only for Miguel Britos who grab a last minute equaliser for the Hornets.
2016/17: Arsenal (3-4)
Klopp's first season opener in charge didn't disappoint. Although his team did their best to throw away three points.
After 63 minutes, Liverpool led 4-1 and looked home and dry with Phillipe Coutinho (2), Adam Lallana, and Mane all on target. But when a hammering appeared on the cards, instead we ended with a cliffhanger as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calum Chambers added to Theo Walcott's first-half goal. Following a final 15 minutes of tension, Klopp's side hung on.
2015/16: Stoke City (0-1)
Ironically, this was Liverpool's second successive Premier League fixture at Stoke, after Steven Gerrard's final game on the last day of the previous campaign had finished with a humiliating 6-1 loss.
So if Brendan Rodgers was a dead man walking by this point, he earned himself some extra time as Coutinho's late winner lit up an otherwise dour contest. Wasn't pretty, but it was a darn sight better than being hit for six.
2012/13: West Brom (3-0)
Speaking of Rodgers, after his first Premier League game in charge of Liverpool, you could have been forgiven for thinking he wouldn't still have been there in 2015.
He opened up with a horror show at The Hawthorns, as keeper Pepe Reina was beaten three times by Zoltan Gera, Peter Odemwingie (penalty), and Romanu Lukaku. It was Liverpool's heaviest opening day defeat in the top-flight since 1937 - and could have been worse had Reina not saved a second home penalty from Shane Long.
2009/10: Tottenham (2-1)
If Rafa Benitez had by this point turned Liverpool into title challengers, his tenure began to unravel at the start of 2009/10.
At White Hart Lane, the debuts of Glen Johnson and Daniel Ayala were ruined as goals from Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Sebastian Bassong gave Spurs the win, either side of a Gerrard spot kick.
2008/09: Sunderland (0-1)
Fernando Torres had been at his clinical best the previous season, and continued his form into this campaign.
He, and Liverpool, had to be patient at the Stadium of Light though, with the game goalless until the 83rd minute when Xabi Alonso teed up his fellow Spaniard to score the winner.
2006/07: Sheffield United (1-1)
Liverpool actually arrived at Bramall Lane on the back of a 14 game winning streak, that overlapped the previous season and included their Champions League preliminary round and Community Shield win.
Neil Warnock was never going to roll over though, and his Blades were predictably full of blood and thunder. A Rob Hulse goal left Liverpool in trouble, before Robbie Fowler's penalty sealed a point.
2005/06: Middlesbrough (0-0)
With the miracle of Istanbul still fresh in their minds, Liverpool fans probably didn't take quite as many memories away from The Riverside.
By the time their league campaign started, the Reds had played five Champions League qualifiers, and their summer exploits seemed to take their toll by the opening day. There was no shortage of talking points, but they related to volatility not quality with Boro's Ugo Ehiogu sent off 15 minutes from time while there were also five bookings.
