Lucas Leiva has insisted that getting off to a winning start is crucial for Liverpool if they want to achieve their ambition of finishing the season in the top four of the Premier League.
Brendan Rodgers's side hoped to achieve a Champions League spot in the 2014-15 campaign, but they eventually finished sixth.
The Reds face a tough start, with visits to Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Manchester City within their first seven away fixtures of the campaign.
"I think the important thing for us is to start the season well," Lucas told the club's official website. "We didn't last year, which cost us probably.
"The second part of the season we played well and we won a lot of games but the beginning of the season wasn't good enough. With the new signings as well, it's always exciting but we just need to see how the group develops in pre-season and start on the front foot.
"Our first seven away games are hard and we will have to start well otherwise by December we won't be in a good position."
In terms of new signings, Liverpool have added James Milner, Danny Ings, Adam Bogdan, Joe Gomez, Roberto Firmino and Nathaniel Clyne so far this summer.
Danielle Joynson
