5 Key Premier League Fixtures for Liverpool to Focus on in 2015/16 Season

The 2015/16 Premier League fixtures have been released, and Liverpool have been handed a return to the scene of their 6-1 final-day humiliation for the opening game of their next campaign.

Brendan Rodgers will return to Stoke City on 8 August, with the Reds' first home game against newly promoted Bournemouth a week later.

Then, trips to the Emirates Stadium and Old Trafford to face Arsenal and Manchester United surround a home game against West Ham United before Europa League action begins in late September and adds to the equation.

Rodgers will be without Daniel Sturridge for those opening games, as the England striker is sidelined until October after hip surgery in May, and it looks like Raheem Sterling will no longer be with Liverpool at that point either after Manchester City reportedly upped their bid to £40 million, per Press Association (via This Is Anfield).

With that said, we'll take a look at five key fixtures for Liverpool in the 2015/16 season.

Man United (A): 12 September, 2015

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Having suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of their north-west rivals last time at Old Trafford, Rodgers' side must do better in what will be their fifth game of the new season.

By this point, opinions about the new campaign will begin to formulate, and it is also the first game after the transfer window closes.

Will Mario Balotelli still be a Liverpool player? Will the Reds have signed the striker they so desperately need?

We should know more about how the 2015/16 season is going to play out after this fixture.

Man City (A): 21 November, 2015

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Liverpool's first seven away games are against Stoke, Arsenal, Manchester United, Everton, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City.

The final game in that run, at City in late November, will be the 13th fixture of the season—will it prove unlucky for Rodgers?

Last November saw his side lose four games in a row in all competitions, and questions about his future as manager were beginning to be asked. Could history repeat itself and this time end with Rodgers' departure from Liverpool?

Leicester City (H): 26 December, 2015

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While the opening run of games looks extremely tough, Liverpool have a favourable holiday fixture list.

The Reds face Watford, Leicester City, Sunderland and West Ham United around Christmas and New Year's Day.

Last season, they hosted Leicester on New Year's Day and somehow threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2. They simply must take at least nine points from the 12 available in these four fixtures.

Crystal Palace (A): 5 March, 2016

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The second-toughest run of games looks to be around spring, when Liverpool face Everton, Manchester City and Chelsea in successive home games.

The only away game during that run is at Crystal Palace, the scene of two humiliations in the last two seasons. They must banish the memories of the 3-1 defeat last November and the 3-3 draw the year before and earn a win.

Watford (H): 7 May, 2016

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A favourable run-in sees the final five games against Bournemouth, Newcastle United, Swansea City, Watford and West Bromwich Albion.

The final home match will be against Watford at Anfield on 7 May. It will be the final home game before Anfield's capacity increases to 54,000 the following season.

After suffering a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Palace in the final home game of 2014/15, Liverpool must ensure that their 2015/16 season doesn't end in similarly disappointing fashion against a side who could be battling for survival.