Gini Wijnaldum reacts to Liverpool’s ‘tough’ start against Leeds, Chelsea and Arsenal in the Premier League

Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum is raring to go ahead of the new season (Picture: Getty)

Gini Wijnaldum is confident Liverpool can get their Premier League title defence off to a positive start despite the club being dealt three ‘tough’ opening matches against Leeds United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

The Reds stormed to the league trophy for the first time in 30 years last term, finishing the campaign with a whopping total of 99 points.

But the chasing pack will be desperate to knock Jurgen Klopp’s men off their perch, with Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea all looking to strengthen ahead of the new campaign.

Liverpool racked up 99 points in the Premier League last term (Picture: Getty)

Liverpool will do battle with FA Cup holders Arsenal for this year’s Community Shield on August 29 before starting the top-flight season against newly promoted Leeds at Anfield.

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The champions then travel to Stamford Bridge for a mouthwatering clash with Chelsea before returning to Merseyside to face the Gunners again.

‘We play Leeds at home first, then Chelsea away and Arsenal at home so tough fixtures!’ Liverpool midfielder Wijnaldum told the club’s official website after the fixture list was announced.

‘But we’ll just have to get good results.

‘My first season when I came here it was also a tough start with three away games because the stadium was not ready so this is quite similar.

The Dutchman is positive about Liverpool’s start to the campaign (Picture: Getty)

‘We’ll just have to see how it’s going to look with supporters and all that but in the Premier League all kinds of games are really difficult, especially at the beginning because everyone is fresh.

‘We just have to train good and try to play the games as good as possible and prepare ourselves for the season.’

The Reds have been training in Salzburg (Picture: Getty)

Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian says the squad were all glued to their phones at their pre-season training camp in Salzburg, Austria to discover what the fixture list looked like for the new season.

‘It was during pre-activation that we got the news,’ the Spaniard explained.

‘So everyone was getting ready before training, but checking their phones to see! It was a good feeling.

‘It is like everything is coming closer and closer and closer.

‘We now know all the fixtures from the beginning until the end, all the tough periods and the Christmas period as well. In between, we’re going to have different competitions, the cups and Champions League.

‘It will be a nice season, but tough. Last season was wonderful and historical, but now we’re going to be in the present and we face a big challenge in front of us.’

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On Liverpool’s difficult start to the campaign, Adrian added: ‘It doesn’t matter who the team is because the season is going to be tough, for sure.

‘The first rival is Leeds at home and we have to be ready for this mentally and physically, but even before then because we will play the Community Shield against Arsenal.

‘We are more than ready to face the big challenge of the season that is coming.

More: Arsenal FC

‘You have to play against everyone and obviously we have a quick and hard start, but we have to be ready even earlier – on August 29 against Arsenal.

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‘It’s the first trophy, the first important game of the season for us, so we will be ready for sure.’

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