Lawrenson fears Liverpool will be bullied

Brendan Rodgers: Takes Liverpool back to Stoke on opening day

Mark Lawrenson is worried Liverpool will no better prepared for their season opener at Stoke than they were the final game of last term.

Liverpool were humiliated 6-1 on the final day of the 2014-15 season and, in a twist of fate, will begin 2015-16 back at the Britannia Stadium.

The Reds have added the likes of Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner, Roberto Firmino and Christian Benteke to their squad over the summer, but Lawrenson believes a relatively easy pre-season schedule could leave Brendan Rodgers' side under-prepared for the real action.

"You can win games, you can lose games, players can have blinders, some have stinkers," Lawrenson told the Liverpool Echo.

"The single aim during pre-season, though, is being ready for the big Premier League kick-off.

"And I'm a little concerned Liverpool could be undercooked going into the new campaign.

"We haven't really faced any opposition of note yet, and the scheduled remaining friendly matches don't look capable of changing that.

"We know all too well that going to Stoke City on the opening day isn't going to be easy.

"The players who featured in the 6-1 defeat there on the final day of last season are no doubt still smarting from that embarrassment.

"But knowing what Stoke is like and actually dealing with it are two completely different things.

"I worry one or two players will have strolled through pre-season, then be alarmed as soon as the real stuff starts.

"I know all about the importance of fitness, and the sports science bods are all no doubt ticking off the boxes to say our players are ready.

"It's totally different, though, when somebody is trying to kick seven shades of you-know-what out of you.

"I think back to Hull City away, Crystal Palace at home and that Stoke game towards the end of last season.

"We were bullied in every one of those games, and I'd like to know whether it's going to be any different.

"The fixture list hasn't been kind and we have some seriously difficult games - especially away from home - during the opening months, and you don't want to go into those games not looking like we are ready."

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Milner: Everything there for Anfield success

James Milner: Relishing central role at Liverpool

James Milner is confident Liverpool will see the best of him as a central midfielder - and reckons he could win more silverware at Anfield.

Milner won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the League Cup during his five years at City but decided to make the move down the East Lancs road to Liverpool despite the Reds winning only a solitary League Cup during the same time period.

Milner, however, had grown tired of irregular action at the Etihad Stadium and is looking forward to nailing down a place in the central midfield of a team he feels sure can challenge for major honours in the coming seasons.

"This move was a selfish move for me," he told the Mail on Sunday. "I played at City in different positions. The team will always come first, that's the way I believe it should be.

"But I think the move to come to here and take that mantle on myself was more of a selfish move and hopefully I can contribute to success at Liverpool. I'd like to think you will see the best of me now I am in the central role.

"Liverpool nearly won the title two years ago so it's not that much of a closed shop.

"It's hard for every team in the Premier League. To go and win the Premier League is so much harder. But everything is there for us to be successful - the ground, the fans, the manager, the players - and this club is used to being successful. This is a chance for me to prove something.

"I want to look back at my career and feel I got everything out of it and was the best player I could be and won as much as I possibly could. I don't want to be sat at the end of my career thinking I could have done more, or left something out there.

"I believe I can achieve things here where I could maybe have found myself on the bench at City. That doesn't mean I am guaranteed to play in every game at Liverpool, but I feel I have a better chance of playing every week if I perform."

Speculation in Sunday's newspapers suggests Leicester are interested in Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert and have also been offered, along with Aston Villa, Fabio Borini.

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