Liverpool FC: 10 Must-Win Matches for the Reds in 2011-2012

In the last campaign, Liverpool started off in one of the worst slumps in their history, only to turn things around and climb the standings for the majority of the second half of the season.

Many have speculated that, given more time, the Reds would have only kept climbing, considering that their record during that stretch was one of the most impressive in the league.

If the form that they demonstrated from February forward carries into the next season, then Liverpool can certainly be considered a contender for a top-four spot in the next campaign. But they'll have to clear a few key hurdles to make it so.

Last season, there were some matches that they lost that they should have won, some clubs who had their number who shouldn't have and some matches that they inexplicably won and will have to win again this time around.

These are 10 matches that Liverpool, if they hope to see Champions League football in 2012-13, will have to win.

August 20: Liverpool at Arsenal

The first big test for Liverpool will come in their second game of the season, and their first match on the road. Their awaiting opponent: Arsenal.

Both clubs currently face a lot of tough questions as the new campaign quickly approaches, but there's one common opinion among analysts at the moment: Liverpool is looking more competitive than they have in a long time, and Arsenal certainly is not.

This match will be a spectacular opportunity for the Reds to show the league that they've officially returned as a force to be reckoned with: on the road, at one of the toughest venues in England.

Last season, Liverpool only recorded a total of two points out of a possible six against Arsenal in both legs of their matchup. Whether you consider it a wash, or a missed opportunity, the Reds will have to do better this time around.

Taking three points from a top-four club early on in the campaign is a must for a club attempting to show England that they're ready to earn a Champions League berth once again. If Liverpool maintain the form they showed at the end of 2010-11, Arsenal won't know what hit them.

September 24: Wolves at Liverpool

In a rough first half of that saw Liverpool struggling to be competitive in English football, the most difficult blow they faced was a 1-0 loss at home to the Wolverhampton Wanderers in December.

In the last September match of their coming season, the Reds can exact their revenge.

Of course, Liverpool already took out some of that frustration in January, when they accomplished what Manchester United and Chelsea both failed to achieve on the Wolves' home field: They beat Wolverhampton 3-0 to at least secure three points against the club that spent most of the season in the relegation zone.

Still, this is not a club that should ever be capable of bringing Liverpool to their knees, especially not at Anfield. Such an upset cannot happen this time around.

If Liverpool come into this season as strong as they left the last one, this should be the easiest must-win match they'll face all year.

October 1: Liverpool at Everton

Liverpool took home a grand total of one point against their league rivals in the last campaign, and lost by a two-goal margin at Goodison Park for the away leg. That's always a tough pill to swallow in any rivalry competition.

Derby matches, of course, are a bit of a special case, when high emotions and passionate fans can turn a mediocre squad into the toughest match of a big-four club's season. It didn't help that Everton competed a little better than "mediocre" in the league, either.

That emotion, however, can run both ways, and in Liverpool's case, it needs to. Dropping five potential points in the standings against a rival club (and one that finished just four points back from Liverpool, at that) is a dangerous game to be playing.

It's not just about pride anymore, either—not when Liverpool fancies themselves as legitimate competitors for a top spot in the table. Emotions or not, they can't let Everton get the better of them again.

October 29: Liverpool at WBA

Even in the midst of one of the strongest second-half displays of any Premier League club in 2010-11, Liverpool still could not find a way to defeat West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns. In front of the opposing fans, WBA stunned Liverpool by finishing the match up by one goal.

At the end of October, Liverpool will return, hopefully looking as strong as they were during the last meeting. And hopefully this time, they don't fall to West Brom nonetheless.

There are certain matches that every club looks at when a season ends and wishes they could get back, and Liverpool's last meeting at West Brom is certainly one of them. It's the sort of match that a competitive team really can't lose if they hope to achieve top-four glory.

This season, they can't make the same mistake, and they can't wind up looking back and wishing they had brought home more points from The Hawthorns.

January 2: Liverpool at Manchester City

In the second game of their 2010-11 campaign, the Reds faced a tough match in Manchester, against the city's up-and-coming title contenders. Consistent with the overall quality of play they demonstrated in the first few months of the season, Liverpool lost by three goals.

But that's not necessarily indicative of their ability against City when they're on form and playing at full capacity. The next time the two clubs faced each other, Liverpool returned the favor, winning by the exact same margin.

While that victory, granted, took place at Anfield, it still showed that Liverpool can win against Manchester City when they're not in the middle of one of the worst slumps in their history.

If and when that form carries over into the next season, Liverpool should hope to take all six points available against the Manchester side, including the points on the road. Because when they're playing well, they are more than capable of making it happen.

February 4: Tottenham at Liverpool

Spurs were a tough club to handle for Liverpool last season, as the Reds fell to them twice, ultimately costing them a place in the standings. If Liverpool had turned just one of those losses into a victory, they would have finished in the top five.

At the very least, Liverpool needs to take three points from Tottenham at Anfield. White Hart Lane can be what it is, but the Reds simply cannot drop six points against the North London squad again.

Spurs have already established themselves as a tough competitor and possible candidates for a top-four position for at least a few years to come. That, and the fact that Liverpool fought so hard to come so close to them in the final tally last season, is why winning this match is all the more important in the coming campaign.

The worst part about losing to Spurs at home in 2010-11 was the simple difference in form both squads were displaying at the time. While Liverpool was playing spectacular football and climbing the table, Tottenham was enduring a heartbreaking fall out of the top four and having one of the worst second halves of the season.

While Liverpool failed to take advantage of that at the time, they'll still have to find someway to prevail against the boys from White Hart Lane at Anfield this time around.

February 25: Everton at Liverpool

It may be greedy to expect the Reds to take all six points from Everton this season, but it would certainly be sweet, sweet revenge for the last two meetings between these two clubs.

The last time Everton came to Anfield, Liverpool settled for a draw, which ended up being their only point earned against the rival side all season. If Liverpool can take six from them this time around, it will make a huge impact on their final tally.

That said, this is not so much about the standings, and very much about pride. Everton may not be "must-win" to secure a top-four spot, but any Liverpool fan will tell you that every match against them is a "must-win" in their eyes.

March 31: Liverpool at Newcastle United

Liverpool's away leg with Newcastle United was another missed opportunity for the Reds in the first half of the season, when the club's prospects were looking bleak. They dropped the match 3-1, and left fans and players alike feeling hopeless.

A road loss is certainly forgivable, especially against a lower-table club that happened to have the goal-scoring prowess that Newcastle showed throughout the campaign. But a club hoping to improve from a sixth-place finish to a top-four spot has got to turn some of those losses into points.

When Newcastle came to Anfield, the story was much different, as the Reds took all three points with a three-goal advantage at the final whistle. So, Liverpool are certainly capable of taking care of business when it comes to Newcastle United, so long as they're in top form.

If the sharp turnaround in the second half of last season is any indicator of what we can expect from Liverpool this season, then they will absolutely be in top form, and more than capable of beating Newcastle on the road this time around. And the points will be essential, when it's time to take the final count.

April 9: Liverpool at Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn is another squad that got the better of Liverpool when the Reds were still struggling to find a foothold in the 2010-11 campaign, beating them on their home turf 3-1 in another match Liverpool would certainly like to have back.

The club finished the season just four points out of the relegation zone, and Liverpool fans were none too happy with their club for dropping such easy points on the road.

This is another match that was understandably difficult for the Reds, given the turmoil they faced in the first half of the season. But that won't be a valid excuse again.

Road points are essential factors in the final tally for a top-four spot, and the easy ones cannot be given away. It will not be acceptable this time around. Liverpool absolutely have to beat Blackburn, and other lower-table competitors, even if it's not at Anfield.

May 5: Chelsea at Liverpool

On the positive side of things, Liverpool certainly had Chelsea's number in the last campaign. And that's brilliant, because they'll have to do well against the boys from Stamford Bridge again.

The unlikely feat of beating Chelsea twice last season was a key factor in the Reds finishing where they did. And while that final position wasn't great, it was much better than what it could have been (and what many people expected).

A top-four club doesn't necessarily have to win every game against the other top-four clubs, but being able to pick up points in some of those matches is essential.

Whether it's Chelsea, Manchester United or whoever else stands in their way, Liverpool will have to earn their worth against England's behemoths in one way or another. And since Chelsea can't seem to figure them out anyway, what better place to earn the biggest points of Liverpool's season?