LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, October 5, 2019: Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabio Henrique Tavares 'Fabinho' and Roberto Firmino line-up before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leicester City FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Man City & European nights at Anfield – Liverpool FC’s key dates for the diary in November

November is shaping up to be yet another congested and decisive period for Liverpool as domestic and European action continues to dominate.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds brought a close to the month of October on a memorable note, having followed up the league victory over Spurs with a spectacular penalty shootout win over their north London counterparts in the League Cup.

There will be little time for reflection, however, as Liverpool are set to play six times in November, around the final international break of the calendar year, while the women’s and the academy sides also get set for a number of big fixtures.

Here are all the key dates for your diary in what will be a month jam-packed for the Reds.

 

November 2 – Aston Villa (A)

Aston Villa's Jack Grealish

Liverpool will not have to wait long to kick off their November exploits as the first trip to Villa Park since 2016 awaits on Saturday afternoon.

Villa head into the clash in 15th position in the table and off the back of two wins from their last four league outings, but they could be without captain Jack Grealish after a calf injury forced him off in his side’s 3-0 defeat at Man City.

The trip to the Midlands presents the chance to notch our 10th league win of the season and stretch the unbeaten run to 28 games.

 

November 2 – U23s Merseyside Derby (H)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, October 30, 2019: Liverpool's Curtis Jones (C) celebrates with team-mates after scoring the winning fifth penalty of the shoot out during the Football League Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 5-4 on penalties after a 5-5 draw. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

While the senior side prepares for their 11th top-flight game of the campaign, Neil Critchley’s side will host the mini-derby at Kirkby, with a 2pm kickoff.

The under-23s are without a league win from their last six outings and sit in ninth place, but after their exploits in the League Cup, the impressive Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Neco Williams and Rhian Brewster could all feature.

 

November 5 – Genk (H)

GENK, BELGIUM - Wednesday, October 23, 2019: Liverpool's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scores the first goal during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between KRC Genk and Liverpool FC at the KRC Genk Arena. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

European action is then swiftly on the agenda, with Genk making the trip to Merseyside—where Liverpool can look to move one step closer to the last 16 with a second successive victory over the Belgian side.

And with Man City’s visit looming large, Klopp could look to shuffle his pack.

The day will also see Barry Lewtas’ under-19s play the same fixture in the UEFA Youth League, with kickoff at 2pm.

 

November 10 – Man City (H)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 7, 2018: Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum (C) separates Sadio Mane (R) and Manchester City's Fernando Luiz Roza 'Fernandinho' (L) during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The final fixture prior to the international break is one of major significance as City make the short trip to Anfield in what is a must-win for Klopp’s side.

Regardless of the gap which Liverpool will hold at the top of the table heading into the meeting, having taken just one point from two fixtures last season the Reds simply have to seize their opportunity against their closest title challenges to ensure it is not all left on the remaining club’s in the league to do them a favour.

And if both teams emerge as victors in their first games of the month as expected, Liverpool will be presented with the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to an impressive nine points with 12 games on the board.

An all-important game to relish beckons for players and fans alike.

 

November 11-19 – International Break

Virgil van Dijk of Holland during the UEFA EURO 2020 qualifier group C qualifying match between Estonia and The Netherlands at A. Le Coq Arena on September 09, 2019 in Tallinn, Estonia

The final international break of 2019 will finally be upon us midway through the month, with a plethora of Klopp’s men set to represent their national teams, travelling thousands of miles to do so.

Mohamed Salah is set for action as Egypt start their qualifying campaign for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, while the Reds’ Brazilian trio will jet off to Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi for friendlies against Argentina and South Korea.

Back on Merseyside, Xherdan Shaqiri and Joel Matip should continue their efforts to return to full fitness following the conclusion of the break.

And as the season starts to enter its most congested period upon the conclusion of the break, Klopp and fans alike will be holding their collective breath that no players return to join the duo on the injury list.

 

November 17 – LFC Women host Merseyside Derby at Anfield

An historic moment awaits Vicky Jepson’s side as they are to host a Women’s Super League fixture at Anfield for the first time, with kickoff against Everton scheduled for 3pm.

It comes as a major step forward in the continued development of the women’s game and provides the invaluable opportunity to showcase the side during the international break.

Notably, while it will be the first WSL fixture at Anfield, the stadium has previously hosted the Liverpool women’s side.

First up was in the Women’s FA Premier League in 1997 against Everton, and then it served as a neutral venue for the FA Cup semi-final clash against Arsenal in 2013.

 

November 23/24 – Club World Cup Contenders Finalised

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Wednesday, August 14, 2019: Liverpool's name is etched onto the trophy after the club won the Super Cup after the UEFA Super Cup match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Besiktas Park. Liverpool won 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. (Pic by Handout/UEFA)

The final two clubs which will make up the seven vying for the Club World Cup will be finalised across the 23rd and 24th, with the finals of the AFC Champions League and the South American Copa Libertadores both taking place.

Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds will take on Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal in the former, while it is an Argentina vs. Brazil affair in the latter as River Plate meet Flamengo.

Liverpool will play either Monterrey, Al-Sadd or Hienghene Sport in their semi-final on December 17.

 

November 23 – Crystal Palace (A)

LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, March 31, 2018: Crystal Palace's manager Roy Hodgson before the FA Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park. (Pic by Dave Shopland/Propaganda)c

Once international exploits are put on the back-burner, Premier League action returns for Klopp’s Reds with a visit to Selhurst Park—where a familiar face in Roy Hodgson will be lying in wait.

The Eagles have been one of the surprise sides of the season thus far, sitting in sixth at the time of writing, but their credentials will continue to be tested when they meet Leicester and Chelsea prior to Liverpool’s arrival.

And while they may have proven to be a bogey team in previous years, the Reds have won all of the last four meetings.

 

November 27 – Napoli (H)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, December 11, 2018: Liverpool's captain Jordan Henderson leads his side out before the UEFA Champions League Group C match between Liverpool FC and SSC Napoli at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The second European night of the month under the lights at Anfield then awaits, where a chance to all but guarantee a place in the knockout rounds is likely to be on the cards.

Should Liverpool have collected three points against Genk, they will have the chance to either leapfrog or increase the gap over Napoli in the standings with another win—dependent on their result against Salzburg.

It’s a decisive fixture as a win would enable Klopp’s side to travel to Salzburg on December 10 with qualification sealed and the chance to rotate the squad amid a congested festive period.

Similarly, the U19s will have a chance to move a step closer to the next stage in the UEFA Youth League when they play earlier in the day.

 

November 30 – Brighton (H)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 25, 2018: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (right) and Brighton & Hove Albion's Gaëtan Bong during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Finally, the month will conclude with Liverpool’s third game in seven days, with the visit of Graham Potter’s Brighton.

With a busy schedule both preceding and following this fixture, Klopp could potentially look to make several changes to personnel, handing those on the fringes invaluable game time.

The Seagulls have found life against the Reds tough going since their return to the Premier League in 2017, with an aggregate score of 11-1 in favour of Klopp’s men.