New-look Liverpool kick off their season with a home game against Steve Bruce’s Sunderland, the team that will be featuring quite a few players that have worn the jersey of Reds’ fierce rivals.

As his side showed signs of promise in the second part of last season, Kenny Dalglish was desperate to add few more big name signings this summer and turn the Reds into genuine title contenders.

Looking at the squad King Kenny now has at his disposal, I have to say that Liverpool are much stronger than last term, but the gaffer will certainly need some time to get this team playing the way he wants them to.

New signings Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Stuart Downing and Jose Enrique are already in contention for the starting places and there are no doubts they will improve the quality of the squad.

Liverpool are hoping to start the season with a bang, so odds of 1.53 (8/15) offered by Victor Chandler on home win could be worth a shot.

Luis Suarez is unlikely to feature, having recently returned from Copa America, while new signing Jose Enrique will not be in contention. Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel remain sidelined.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Reina – Kelly, Carragher, Agger, Johnson, Henderson, Lucas, Adam, Downing – Carroll, Kuyt.

Sunderland largely impressed at the start of last season, having recorded some very good results in the clashes against top English sides, but their form started taking the wrong turn as the season unfolded.

The dismal run of results in the season finish saw them enter the relegation race, so there are no doubts the Black Cats will be looking to show some improvement this term.

Once again, Sunderland have entered a real shopping spree this summer, having signed Westwood, Gardner, Wickham, Dong-Won, Brown, O’Shea, Vaughan and McLean, while they stayed without Henderson, Malbranque and Riveros.

The Black Cats have been far from impressive in pre-season and it is obvious the new players will need some time to gel, so an explosive start to the season is highly unlikely.

With Asamoah Gyan likely to start as a lone striker, Sunderland are bound to have problems up front, so bear in mind that Sportingbet pays 1.91 (10/11) on Liverpool to keep a clean sheet.

Apart from John O’Shea, who is out with a muscle problem, Bruce will have full squad to choose from.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-1-1): Mignolet – Bardsley, Brown, Turner, Richardson – Larsson, Gardner, Cattermole, Colback – Sessegnon – Gyan.