Liverpool FC: 5 Big Liverpool Matches You Don't Want to Miss in 2011/2012

In the annual list of Liverpool's Fixtures, there are always some tougher games. Games that the players circle on their calendars. Games they get extra ready for.

This year, the Reds kick of their 2011/2012 campaign with a home game against greatly improved Sunderland on the 13th of August. After that, it is straight into the mix with challenging fixtures against Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United on the horizon.

Those are the games that the players live for. The fans do too.

Here are the top five games that as a Liverpool fan you do not want to miss.

20 August 2011

vs Arsenal (Emirates Stadium)

In just the second game of the new season, Liverpool face their first real challenge.

The Arsenal vs Liverpool fixture is always one of the most exciting ones to watch in the Premier League, as it is often a show of tremendous passing and intelligent play. The games are fiercely contested, and as the two teams are almost always near the top of the table, the games always have a lot of significance in regards to the league table.

This particular game is interesting because, with a home game against Sunderland to open the season, it will be the first time fans get to see the new players really be tested. An important game this early could really set the tone for the rest of Liverpool's season.

27 November 2011

vs Manchester City (Anfield)

The week before, Liverpool travel to Stamford Bridge to take on rivals Chelsea, but in the long run, this game will prove to be significantly more important.

Liverpool and Manchester City will likely be competing for an automatic Champions League promotion place come the end of the season, and when the competition is tight, head-to-head matchups become massively important.

If Liverpool fail to win this crunch match at Anfield, it could badly hurt their dreams of Europe. 

4 February 2012

vs Tottenham (Anfield)

This game is certainly going to be an interesting one. It will be the first one after the January transfer window closes, and as we saw last year, changes are often made.

Like Manchester City, Tottenham are one of the teams that will be pushing for a Champions League spot, so this will likely be more than just a game to watch the new players in. Tottenham have yet to make any significant recruitments this season, so it is difficult to predict how well they will do.

One thing, though, is sure. This will be a fiercely contested midfield battle, and Liverpool need to win it. 

11 February 2012

vs Manchester United (Old Trafford)

This seems like a team built to beat Manchester United. Liverpool are very strong in attack, and United are strong in defense. If Liverpool sign a new centre-back in the remainder of the transfer season, the opposite will be true as well.

The result? It will likely come down to a midfield battle, an area where Liverpool are significantly stronger. February is usually around the time when Manchester United start to pull away from the pack.

If Liverpool can get a result away at Old Trafford, it would be a serious blow and could give the Anfield club all the confidence they need to push on to a high league finish.

5 May 2012

vs Chelsea (Anfield)

With Liverpool ending the season in Wales, this could be the most meaningful game of the season. Liverpool and Chelsea will likely be very close together after 36 games, and where both teams end up could very well come down to this game.

Chelsea end the season with a potentially tricky home tie to Blackburn, so if Liverpool can pull out a win in this game, it could be the difference between a Europa League spot and a top-three finish.