It's back – believe it

If you believe the hype the new Premier League season is going to be the most competitive EVER.

If you believe Liverpool supporters they feel they are leading title contenders.

If you believe Sky you can’t afford not to have a Sky Sports subscription this season.

Er, but the opening game is on BT Sport 1.

OK – enough of the make believe and let’s get stuck into the reality opening game of the season at 12.45pm. Liverpool v Stoke at Anfield.

The head-to-head record reads:

Dec 2012 Premier Stoke 3 – 1 Liverpool
Oct 2012 Premier Liverpool 0 – 0 Stoke
Mar 2012 FA Cup Liverpool 2 – 1 Stoke
Jan 2012 Premier Liverpool 0 – 0 Stoke
Oct 2011 Carling Cup Stoke 1 – 2 Liverpool
Sep 2011 Premier Stoke 1 – 0 Liverpool
Feb 2011 Premier Liverpool 2 – 0 Stoke
Nov 2010 Premier Stoke 2 – 0 Liverpool
Jan 2010 Premier Stoke 1 – 1 Liverpool
Aug 2009 Premier Liverpool 4 – 0 Stoke

Despite beating Liverpool 3-1 the last time they met on home soil – Stoke have had problems finding the net when they visit Anfield. They have failed to score a single goal in their last five Premier League visits to Merseyside.

It was a season of two halves (first of many clichés this season out of the way) for Liverpool last season – a desperate start which saw them win just three games before December but they were much better in 2013 and ended up finishing seventh.

Brendan Rodgers, the owners, the fans will expect much better this season and they will need to hit the ground running in a match which they are long odds-on favourites to win.

Best bet on Star Spreads looks supremacy.

I’m buying Liverpool at around 1.5 and hoping Stoke’s scoring issues continue.

These are solely the views of the author. REMEMBER YOU CAN WIN OR LOSE MORE THAN YOUR ORIGINAL STAKE. BET RESPONSIBLY. LICENSED IN IRELAND