Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he is feeling "really excited" ahead of the new campaign following an impressive set of pre-season results.
The Reds finished in a Champions League spot last term for just the second time in eight years, setting up a playoff qualifier against Hoffenheim later this month.
Liverpool rounded off their unbeaten summer programme with a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in Dublin on Saturday, adding to previous victories over Bayern Munich, Leicester City and Crystal Palace.
Klopp has warned his players that they must take it one game at a time when the real business gets up and running, though, starting with their Premier League opener against Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon.
"When we finished last season in fourth position everybody was really happy about it - it was really a good result for a big effort," he told reporters. "We knew also there would be a qualification game, and now it is coming up.
"But the first challenge we have to face is playing Watford, even though everybody is thinking about the Champions League qualifiers. So Watford is the first target, and we have a few more days to prepare for this game.
"We are in a good shape. The players are in a good mood, the attitude in all the training sessions was really good - yes, there have been one or two little injuries and one bigger, but that is how life is.
"We showed it in Dublin again that we are in a good shape. So everything is in a good way - but of course now we have to deliver, and we know that, so we are ready for it. The freshness is coming back. We are really excited."
Liverpool also face Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Anfield in the opening month of the league season.
Daniel Lewis
