Liverpool F.C. — Best pictures!

Manchester United’s star forward Wayne Rooney will go into the season opener against newly promoted Birmingham City with a plank of 15 rating points to beat if he wants to remain in the top tier of the FTBL world ranking of strikers.

Arsenal’s Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas will have a golden opportunity to boost his FTBL rating when his side take on Everton in their Premier League season opener: with a tally of 119.44 points at the moment, he will face a plank of just 4.50 rating

Chelsea will launch their Premier League campaign this season by hosting Hull City, with Frank Lampard at the helm of the FTBL world ranking of midfielders with an overall rating of 214.19 points.

Chelsea’s France international Nicolas Anelka (pictured) captured the 3rd spot in the FTBL ranking of English Premier League strikers after helping France overcome the Faeroe Islands (1:0) in a World Cup 2010 qualifier Wednesday.

Japanese midfielder Keisuke Honda (pictured), the skipper of VVV-Venlo, a side newly promoted to the Dutch top league, and the best player in the Dutch First Division last season, has generated interest from English Premier League powerhouse Liverpool,