LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 24, 2021: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp during the pre-match warm-up before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Return of fans, final 5 and new kit launch – Liverpool FC’s key dates in May

It’s the final month of action in season 2020/21 for Liverpool, where they face a defining five games in the race for European action.

The month of April was yet another full of frustration as an inability to put away chances and hold on to a winning position saw just two wins from six recorded.

It led to elimination from the Champions League and threw another spanner in the works when top-four looked back on the table, but now all focus must be on the final five matches.

After eight gruelling months, 2020/21 will soon come to a close but before then Jurgen Klopp‘s men must navigate five games in 21 days.

Here are Liverpool’s key dates for the diary in May.

 

May 2 – Man United (A)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 24, 2021: Manchester United's Luke Shaw (L) and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the FA Cup 4th Round match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The month all kicks off with a trip to Old Trafford, a ground the Reds have failed to emerge victorious from in their last eight visits.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are the last side Liverpool are to face in the top half of the table, a team who have tasted defeat just once in their last 22 games.

It will be another test but one that needs to be passed if the Reds are to boost their chances of venturing to Europe next season.

 

May 8 – Southampton (H)

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - Monday, January 4, 2021: Liverpool's Andy Robertson is spoken to by referee Andre Marriner during the FA Premier League match between Southampton FC and Liverpool FC at St Mary's Stadium. (Pic by Propaganda)

It’s then back to Anfield to meet the Saints, a team who ended Liverpool’s nine-game unbeaten streak in all competitions at the turn of the year – it signalled the start of a slippery slope.

For Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team too considering, at the time of writing, they have won just two league games since their 1-0 win at St Mary’s.

The last three league games at Anfield see Liverpool with a 10-0 aggregate score.

 

May 16 – West Brom (A)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, December 27, 2020: Liverpool's Roberto Firmino sees his header saved by West Bromwich Albion's goalkeeper Sam Johnstone during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Bromwich Albion FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Another team to have snatched points from Klopp’s men then await, and they could already be relegated at this juncture.

The Baggies picked up 25 points in 33 games, one of which kickstarted a torrid run of form on home soil and a win here is a must for the Reds.

 

May 19 (TBC) – Burnley (A)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Thursday, January 21, 2021: Liverpool's first-team development coach Pepijn Lijnders and Burnley's James Tarkowski clash at half-time during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Burnley FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Burnley, the team to end the 69-game Anfield league unbeaten run, will be expected to have 10,000 fans at Turf Moor for the penultimate game of the campaign – along with 500 Reds.

It’s proved a happy hunting ground of late, albeit not without drama, with Liverpool having won the last three by an aggregate score of 8-2.

 

May 23 – Crystal Palace (H)

2DFPWA1 Liverpool, UK. 06th Dec, 2020. Joel Matip of Liverpool (c) celebrates with teammates in front of the Liverpool fans after scoring his teams 3rd goal. Premier League match, Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England on Sunday 6th December 2020. this image may only be used for Editorial purposes. Editorial use only, license required for commercial use. No use in betting, games or a single club/league/player publications.pic by Chris Stading/Andrew Orchard sports photography/Alamy Live News Credit: Andrew Orchard sports photography/Alamy Live News

A 10,000 crowd at Anfield will then await as the curtains close on what has been a season like no other with the visit of Crystal Palace.

Once a bogey team, the Reds have won the last seven in which the reverse fixture saw seven unanswered goals hit the Selhurst Park net – and let’s forget out scoring boots have not quite been the same since.

To end the campaign in front of a crowd will prove a monumental step forward and here’s hoping there is still something to fight for on the final day.

The Reds will sport their new Nike home kit for the final game of the season, with the 2021/22 kit being revealed earlier in the week.

 

And things to look out for

  • Henderson and Van Dijk injury progress
  • New home kit reveal
  • Liverpool players named in respective Euro squads

Liverpool Academy and Women’s Fixtures

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - Friday, April 16, 2021: Liverpool’s Max Woltman (R) celebrates with team-mate James Balagizi after scoring the third goal during the FA Youth Cup 5th Round match between Leicester City FC and Liverpool FC at the Leicester City Academy. Liverpool won 5-1. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

U23s

Leicester (H) – Premier League 2 – Mon, May 3, 12pm
Leicester (A) – Premier League 2 – Mon, May 10, 7pm

U18s

Derby (H) – U18 Premier League – Tuesday, May 4, 12.30pm

Women

London City (H) – Championship – Sunday, May 2, 2pm