Liverpool are involved in the Premier League's curtain-raiser against Bournemouth on Friday night.

They also have Newcastle, Arsenal and a Merseyside derby among their first five fixtures.

How many points do you think they'll take from these games?

Newcastle United

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Alexander Isak has been training away from his Newcastle team-mates after manager Eddie Howe said it was "clear at the moment that we can't involve him with the group".

The striker was the subject of a £110m bid from Premier League champions Liverpool, which was rejected by Newcastle.

Howe said he was not aware of the club's owners informing Isak he won't be sold after the Sweden international indicated that he wished to explore his options.

But the head coach stressed "there are discussions going on all the time that I'm not party to".

"I think everything is in play," he said of Isak's future following Newcastle's 2-0 defeat in a friendly against Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

"I've said many times he is contracted to us. He is our player. The club make the decision on his future.

"I don't know what that will be. Of course I have a preferred outcome. I want the best and the strongest squad possible, but I also want players that really want to play for this football club."

Chris Kirkland
Former Liverpool goalkeeper speaking to BBC Sport

Liverpool want another striker. We're all greedy. Every team wants as many strikers as they can. There is a lot of noise. He is still at a great age.

Liverpool want [Alexander] Isak, he wants to go, they have bid for him and he's left out of games for the team's he is at - normally, when that is the case, a deal gets done. I'd want a centre-back and a forward because we are all greedy in this world!

We would love to see him at Liverpool but I know it's going to be hard because I know how important he is to Newcastle. If we do get him, he will be an excellent addition to an already brilliant squad.

Sunday's Community Shield defeat by Crystal Palace highlighted the defensive issues Arne Slot may need to address before the end of the window.

The Reds, twice pegged back, were sometimes sloppy in defence and were on the ropes towards the end of the Community Shield, and also looked vulnerable during Monday's 3-2 friendly win against Athletic Bilbao, when they twice conceded twice from set-pieces.

Palace arguably had only two big chances in this game - Jean-Philippe Mateta's 13th-minute penalty and Ismaila Sarr bursting through with 12 minutes to go. They scored both.

"We don't concede chances, but we concede goals," Slot said afterwards.

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Former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has been discussing whether the Reds need to sign Newcastle striker Alexander Isak to boost their attacking ranks.

As the long-running transfer saga continues, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said at the weekend that "everything is in play" with Isak - but he needs players that "really want to play" for the club.

Image source, Getty Images

Defeat for Liverpool, but there were positives as new signings Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong got on the scoresheet, and Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez also appear to have settled quickly.

All four made their first competitive starts for the club in the Community Shield, and manager Arne Slot said his new-look team will "need time to adapt".

"If the other team misses two penalties and you still lose within five penalties, that, of course, doesn't help," said Slot.

"But in general, it was a game where twice we were one goal up, and in my opinion we controlled the game until the moment they [equalised]. We still had one big chance for Mo Salah, but we could have lost it in the end.

"Until that moment, I think there was every reason for me to expect that we would win this game, but after the 2-2 we were maybe lucky that we could go to penalties."

Only one team has won the Premier League title after winning the Community Shield in the last 14 years.

Just in case you were wondering, Crystal Palace fans.

Speaking after the Community Shield win, Oliver Glasner said his side were "on the same level as Liverpool and it was a big performance".

So, where can they finish in the Premier League this season after beating the champions?

Here's how they begin the season, starting with a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Club World Cup winners Chelsea on Sunday.

Quite a left field idea from Christopher here.

Who's up for a season-opening series featuring Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Whitstable Town and Aldershot Town?

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It wasn't all positive news coming out of Wembley for Crystal Palace fans, however, as the club's chairman Steve Parish admitted the club could be forced to consider selling captain Marc Guehi this summer.

Guehi's contract expires at the end of the 2025-25 campaign and Sunday's opponents Liverpool are thought to be frontrunners to sign the 25-year-old England defender.

"Yes. I mean, we'd have to, of course," said Parish, when asked if he would entertain bids for Guehi over the final three weeks of the window.

"For players of that calibre to leave on a free, it's a problem. No doubt about it, unfortunately.

"We had one bid [last summer] but Joachim [Andersen] went [to Fulham] and we couldn't afford to lose both of them. We then had another bid in January but that was a difficult situation as well, and the player had a point of view on that one.

"So we just have to see what happens but it needs a new contract or a conclusion of some kind."

Well, Robbin, I'd suggest you look away now...

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Oliver Glasner said Crystal Palace had earned themselves a feeling "you can't buy with any money in the world" after beating Liverpool at Wembley.

"I showed the players a video before we went to Wembley about the happiness of the fans after winning the FA Cup, and this, we call it the emotional reward," Glasner said.

"Standing here in front of the fans, having these emotions, this feeling you can't buy with any money in the world, so you have to deserve it. And the players deserved it after the FA Cup and the players deserved it today.

"Our fans, they are already supporting us from the beginning until the end, even today. When we were down, they were always pushing the team forward. It's a great connection, and at the end, we were all rewarded, and this is what then stays forever."

We can't confirm whether that is the Ben White. Although it would make a bit more sense if it was the Arsenal defender...

Certainly doesn't look like many of you agree with that one. Strong start to the day.

Nothing like a hot take to start the day. Does anyone agree with Ben?

Let's get your reaction to yesterday's events at Wembley.

Who impressed you?

What do you want to see you club do before the transfer window closes, Liverpool and Palace fans?

Has it got everyone excited for the start of the Premier League season, now just four days away?

Simply click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say!