LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 23, 2021: Liverpool's Sadio Mané celebrates after scoring the first goal during the final FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 2-0 and finished 3rd in the table. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

4 games at Anfield, Champions League draw and more – Liverpool FC in August

August is here and Liverpool can now look ahead to the return of the Premier League, and more significantly, the return of a full capacity of supporters at Anfield.

The Reds were last in competitive action in May, with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace clinching a third-place finish and a spot in the Champions League.

With over two months having passed since then, the Euros, Copa America and the start of pre-season have all been and gone, with Liverpool well into their preparations for the new campaign.

So what is to come over the next month both on and off the pitch?

Here are Liverpool’s key dates for the diary in August, including fixtures for the under-23s, under-18s and women’s sides.


August 5 – Bologna friendlies

GRÖDIG, AUSTRIA - Friday, July 23, 2021: Liverpool players line-up before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and FSV Mainz 05 at the Greisbergers Betten-Arena. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harvey Elliott, Ibrahima Konaté, Joel Matip. (Pic by Jürgen Faichter/Propaganda)

Klopp and his squad are in France for the second stop in their pre-season tour, with a short training camp in Evian taking in two 60-minute friendlies against Bologna.

The Serie A side will come up against two different Liverpool XIs, giving the Reds an opportunity to build up their fitness and sharpness ahead of a return to Merseyside.


August 8 – Athletic Club and 40,000 at Anfield

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 23, 2021: Liverpool supporters sing "You'll Never Walk Alone" before the final FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The last weekend before the start of the Premier League season brings the biggest crowd Anfield has seen since March 2020, with a 75 percent capacity permitted for the meeting with Athletic Club.

It will be a significant occasion for Liverpool, and hopefully there will be a performance to match with less than a week to go until the campaign kicks off.


August 9 – Osasuna, a tribute to Michael Robinson

Michael Robinson and Bruce Grobelaar, 1984 European Cup final (Peter Robinson/EMPICS Sport)

A day after the visit of Athletic, Liverpool host Osasuna in their final pre-season friendly of the summer, with the game a tribute to the late Michael Robinson.

Just over 40,000 fans will be in attendance again, as the Reds fine-tune their plans for the trip to Carrow Road five days later.


August 14 – Norwich (A)

NORWICH, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 15, 2020: Liverpool's Naby Keita (L) and Norwich City's Kenny McLean during the FA Premier League match between Norwich City FC and Liverpool FC at Carrow Road. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The Premier League begins, again, with Liverpool taking on the Championship winners, as Norwich make it twice in three years that they take on Klopp’s side on the opening weekend.

Last time at Carrow Road, a goal from Sadio Mane earned a slim 1-0 victory over the Canaries – but Liverpool have scored four in each of their last two opening games of the league season…


August 21 – Burnley (H)

BURNLEY, ENGLAND - Wednesday, May 19, 2021: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the FA Premier League match between Burnley FC and Liverpool FC at Turf Moor. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

By the time Burnley head to Anfield, Liverpool could potentially have been given the green light to welcome a capacity crowd to the stadium once again.

It will have been almost a year-and-a-half since 53,862 supporters were able to watch the Reds in action, and it will be a big moment for the club.

Either way, it will be a rare occasion where an early kick-off against Burnley will have an incredible Anfield atmosphere!


August 26 – Champions League group stage draw

NYON, SWITZERLAND - Monday, December 14, 2020: UEFA Deputy General Secretary Giorgio Marchetti draws out RB Leipzig, to face Liverpool FC, during the UEFA Champions League 2020/21 Round of 16 draw at the UEFA Headquarters, the House of European Football. (Photo Handout/UEFA)

Always an exciting one: the draw for the Champions League group stage takes place on 26 August, revealing who Liverpool’s three opponents will be.

The Reds will be seeded in pot two, meaning they will face one of either Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Sporting, Lille, Villareal or Atletico Madrid in their group.

Other potential opponents include Ajax, Porto, Leipzig, Besiktas, Brugge and AC Milan.


August 28 – Chelsea (H)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Thursday, March 4, 2021: Chelsea's manager Thomas Tuchel (R) with Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp at the final whistle during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. Chelsea won 1-0 condeming Liverpool to their fifth home defeat on the run.(Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool will close the month with a tricky clash with Chelsea, once again at Anfield, before the first international break of the season.

Thomas Tuchel oversaw a major improvement with the Blues in the second half of last season, and the European champions have to be considered among the favourites for the title.


August 31 – Transfer window closes

INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA - Thursday, July 29, 2021: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp speaks to LFC.TV after a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Hertha BSC at the Tivoli Stadion. (Pic by Jürgen Faichter/Propaganda)

Speaking of signings, Liverpool have been decidedly quiet since the arrival of Ibrahima Konate earlier in the summer, but more business is likely before the transfer window shuts.

The deadline for clubs in the Premier League is 11pm on August 31, by which point the Reds could have brought in a new midfielder and forward, along with a host of players departing.


Liverpool Academy and Women’s Fixtures

LEYLAND, ENGLAND - Monday, April 19, 2021: Liverpool's manager Barry Lewtas speaks to his players during the Premier League 2 Division 1 match between Blackburn Rovers FC Under-23's and Liverpool FC Under-23's at the County Ground. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

U23s

Man City (H) – Premier League 2 – Sun, Aug 15, 2pm
Everton (A) – Premier League 2 – Mon, Aug 23, 7pm
Brighton (H) – Premier League 2 – Sun, Aug 29, 1pm
Rochdale (A) – EFL Trophy – Tue, Aug 31, 7pm

U18s

Stoke (H) – U18 Premier League – Sat, Aug 14, 11.30am
Man United (A) – U18 Premier League – Sat, Aug 21, 11.30am
Derby (H) – U18 Premier League – Sat, Aug 28, 12.30pm

Women

London City Lionesses (H) – Championship – TBC