Premier League preview: West Brom v Liverpool

Liverpool travel to West Bromwich Albion for their English Premier League opener on Saturday with both sides represented by new mangers.

Brendan Rodgers has taken over for the Reds after leaving former club Swansea City to replace Kenny Dalglish, who was sacked at the end of last season by the Anfield club.

The move came after Liverpool finished eighth in the English top flight, and was made despite Dalglish steering the side to the Carling Cup title and the FA Cup final.

Midfielder Joe Allen has made the journey with Rodgers from Swansea to help the club establish a new possession-based brand of football.

The new style of play has earned early success with Liverpool winning their Europa League qualifying tie against FC Gomel comfortably, as well as beating Leverkusen 1-0 in their August 12 friendly.

Liverpool have also aquired Italian striker Fabio Borini from Serie A club Roma.

Notable exits over the close season include Dirk Kuyt, Maxi Rodriguez, Alberto Aquilani and Fabio Aurelio.

Another crucial piece of business was the re-signing of Uruguay international Luis Suarez, who will spearhead a Reds attack that could be trimmed if reports linking Andy Carroll with an Anfield exit eventuate.

For West Brom, new manager Steve Clarke, a former Liverpool first-team coach, replaces Roy Hodgson after the latter took charge of the England national team.

Two new additions to Clarke’s line-up are Swedish striker Markus Rosenberg from Werder Bremen and Belgian counterpart Romelu Lukaku, who arrives at the Hawthorns on loan from Chelsea.

Rosenberg scored 10 goals and recorded five assists in 33 Budesliga appearances for Werder Bermen last season.

Departures for West Brom from last season include Nick Shorey and Irish International Keith Andrews.

West Brom won all three of their friendlies in August, defeating Nottingham Forest, Walsall and Sheffield Wednesday.

They also defeated the Reds 1-0 in the last meeting between the sides in April.