THE Premier League fixtures for 2021/22 have been announced!
Stick with us here as we bring you all of the latest dates and developments as teams find out their fate for the big kick-off next season.
Who will champions Manchester City open up against? When will the north London derbies be on? Find out all here this morning.
Follow ALL the latest updates below…
- Marc Mayo
GOOD MORNING PREM FANS
The Premier League fixtures for the 2021-22 season have been released.
And there's some tasty games on the opening weekend, with Manchester United hosting rivals Leeds and Manchester City travelling to Tottenham.
There's also two London derbies as newly-promoted Brentford welcome Arsenal and Crystal Palace visit Chelsea.
The first North London clash between Arsenal and Tottenham will take place at the Emirates on September 25, while November 6 is currently the date for the Manchester derby.
Reports suggest Rafa Benitez is set to become the new Everton boss – and he could face his former club Liverpool on November 30.
And the first Midlands derby between Aston Villa and Wolves is set to take place at Villa Park on October 16.
All fixtures are subject to change as televised games are yet to be decided.
- Thomas Blow
TOUGH WELCOME
The three newly promoted teams in Norwich, Watford and Brentford don’t exactly have an easy start to life in the Premier league.
All three teams face at least one of the ‘Big Six’ in their first three fixtures, while Norwich face two in Liverpool and Manchester City.
After those two clashes they face Leicester so things don’t get much easier for Daniel Farke’s side in the first three weeks!
Norwich
Liverpool (H)
Man City (A)
Leicester (H)Watford
Aston Villa (H)
Brighton (A)
Spurs (A)Brentford
Arsenal (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Aston Villa (A) - Thomas Blow
OLE’S ASSIGNMENTS
Right let’s take a closer look at Manchester United’s fixtures – here’s a reminder of what they look like.
United can look forward to a fairly comfortable start to the season, too.
After the opener against Leeds they travel to the South Coast to take on Southampton before facing Wolves at Molineux.
United then welcome Newcastle to Old Trafford before taking on West Ham away.
Aston Villa and Everton both travel to the Theatre of Dreams, before United face their toughest tests of the season in a tough-looking October and November.
On October 16, United travel to Leicester before returning to Old Trafford on October 23 to host fierce rivals Liverpool.
Spurs and derby rivals Manchester City come next before games against Watford, Chelsea and Arsenal.
The festive period is a favourable once for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with no ‘Big Six’ clashes between December and February.
March is a tough month though with consecutive games against Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool and then Leicester at home in the first week of April.
United face two ‘Big Six’ clashes in their last five games in Arsenal and Chelsea but apart from that their run in is a fairly favourable one.
- Thomas Blow
MAN BEHIND THE FIXTURES
Glenn Thompson of Atos, explained the complex issues behind the 380-match fixture list to the Premier League’s website.
He said: “We cannot do anything until we know the composition of each division, which is after the last EFL playoff.
“Then we can start looking at the main bit of compiling the fixtures.
“It is a matter of placing each of the clubs in a pairing grid, which basically defines the dates they will be at home.
“For every date in the season, the fixture computer knows who is at home and who is away and then it will mix them up randomly to determine which matches will take place on which date.”
- Thomas Blow
PRE-SEASON BREAK
England’s Prem stars will get a two-week break next season – although not an official one.
But overseas players from outside Europe face a globe-trotting fortnight while team-mates have their feet up.
The FA and Prem agreed to a three-season trial of the 'mid season player break' starting in February 2020.
But the impact of the pandemic on last season’s congested fixtures meant the trial was temporarily abandoned – and there is no return of the 'split' fixtures for the 2021-22 campaign.
Instead, the new fixtures list showed consecutive weekends at the end of January and beginning of February without Prem games.
That is partly because the FA Cup fourth round will take place on the weekend of February 5th and 6th.
But with Fifa having squeezed in a series of catch-up World Cup qualifiers in Africa, Asia, South America, Concacaf and Oceania for the last week of January, it meant no Prem games were possible for January 29.
With League matches due on the weekend of January 22 and then again in the midweek starting Tuesday February 8, it could see a number of Gareth Southgate’s squad having as much as 17 days off if they are rested for the FA Cup tie.
Other Europeans will also be able to take advantage of the rest.
But the likes of Egypt’s Mo Salah, Korea’s Heung-min Son and Brazilians Ederson, Alisson and Richarlison will all be expected to head back to their home continents to play two or three 2022 qualifiers before returning to the UK.
- Thomas Blow
TITLE RACE
Earlier Premier League favourites Manchester City and Chelsea are miles behind Manchester United in terms of Prem titles won.
Who do you think will be lifting the famous trophy in May 2022?
- Thomas Blow
EXPERT OPENERS
Manchester City travel to Tottenham on the opening day of the 2021-22 Premier League season.
Spurs might have beaten City the last time the two sides faced off but Pep Guardiola will be out for revenge.
Recent history of opening weekends is on City’s side – they’ve won their Premier League opener in ten out out of the last ten years.
- Thomas Blow
CHELSEA FIRST SIX
Chelsea will get their Premier League title bid underway at home to Crystal Palace.
Here are the Blues' first six Prem games (subject to change)…
- Crystal Palace (H) – August 14 – 3pm
- Arsenal (A) – August 21 – 3pm
- Liverpool (A) – August 28 – 3pm
- Aston Villa (H) – September 11 – 3pm
- Tottenham (A) – September 18 – 3pm
- Manchester City (H) – September 25 – 3pm
VILLA FIRST SIX
Aston Villa begin their Premier League season with a trip to newly-promoted Watford.
Here are Villa's first six Prem fixtures (subject to change)…
- Watford (A) – August 14 – 3pm
- Newcastle (H) – August 21 – 3pm
- Brentford (H) – August 28 – 3pm
- Chelsea (A) – September 11 – 3pm
- Everton (H) – September 18 – 3pm
- Manchester United (A) – September 25 – 3pm
- Thomas Blow
LEEDS FIRST SIX
Leeds will start their Premier League campaign with a trip to Old Trafford!
Here are the West Yorkshire side's first six Prem games (subject to change)…
- Manchester United (A) – August 14 – 3pm
- Everton (H) – August 21 – 3pm
- Burnley (A) – August 28 – 3pm
- Liverpool (H) – September 11 – 3pm
- Newcastle (A) – September 18 – 3pm
- West Ham (H) – September 25 – 3pm
ARSENAL’S FIRST SIX
The Gunners won’t start their Premier League campaign at the Emirates – but they won’t be far away from home.
Mikel Arteta’s side travel to Brentford in their game of the new season.
Here are Arsenal’s first six Prem fixtures (subject to change)…
- Brentford (A) – August 14 – 3pm
- Chelsea (H) – August 21 – 3pm
- Manchester City (A) – August 28 – 3pm
- Norwich City (H) – September 11 – 3pm
- Burnley (A) – September 18 – 3pm
- Tottenham (H) – September 25 – 3pm
MAN CITY FIRST SEVEN
Manchester City face a tough start to their Premier League title defence as they have THREE of the so-called 'Top Six' in their first seven games, plus Leicester.
Here are the champions' first seven Prem fixtures (subject to change)…
- Tottenham (A) – August 14 – 3pm
- Norwich (H) – August 21 – 3pm
- Arsenal (H) – August 28 – 3pm
- Leicester (A) – September 11 – 3pm
- Southampton (H) – September 18 – 3pm
- Chelsea (A) – September 25 – 3pm
- Liverpool (A) – October 2 – 3pm
MAN UTD FIRST SIX
Manchester United will start their Premier League campaign with a massive clash against Leeds United at Old Trafford.
Here are the Red Devils' first six Prem fixtures (subject to change)…
- Leeds United (H) – August 14 – 3pm
- Southampton (A) – August 21 – 3pm
- Wolves (A) – August 28 – 3pm
- Newcastle (H) – September 11 – 3pm
- West Ham (A) – September 18 – 3pm
- Aston Villa (H) – September 25 – 3pm
BRENTFORD FIRST SIX
Brentford will play their first EVER Premier League game in August when they take on Arsenal at home.
Here are the Bees' first six Prem fixtures (subject to change)…
- Arsenal (H) – August 14 – 3pm
- Crystal Palace (A) – August 21 – 3pm
- Aston Villa (A) – August 28 – 3pm
- Brighton (H) – September 11 – 3pm
- Wolves (A) – September 18 – 3pm
- Liverpool (H) – September 25 – 3pm
MAN BEHIND THE FIXTURES
Glenn Thompson of Atos, explained the complex issues behind the 380-match fixture list to the Premier League’s website.
He said: “We cannot do anything until we know the composition of each division, which is after the last EFL playoff.
“Then we can start looking at the main bit of compiling the fixtures.
“It is a matter of placing each of the clubs in a pairing grid, which basically defines the dates they will be at home.
“For every date in the season, the fixture computer knows who is at home and who is away and then it will mix them up randomly to determine which matches will take place on which date.”
- Joe Brophy
PRE-SEASON BREAK
England’s Prem stars will get a two-week break next season – although not an official one.
But overseas players from outside Europe face a globe-trotting fortnight while team-mates have their feet up.
The FA and Prem agreed to a three-season trial of the “mid season player break” starting in February 2020.
But the impact of the pandemic on last season’s congested fixtures meant the trial was temporarily abandoned – and there is no return of the “split” fixtures for the 2021-22 campaign.
Instead, the new fixtures list showed consecutive weekends at the end of January and beginning of February without Prem games.
That is partly because the FA Cup fourth round will take place on the weekend of February 5th and 6th.
But with Fifa having squeezed in a series of catch-up World Cup qualifiers in Africa, Asia, South America, Concacaf and Oceania for the last week of January, it meant no Prem games were possible for January 29.
With League matches due on the weekend of January 22 and then again in the midweek starting Tuesday February 8, it could see a number of Gareth Southgate’s squad having as much as 17 days off if they are rested for the FA Cup tie.
Other Europeans will also be able to take advantage of the rest.
But the likes of Egypt’s Mo Salah, Korea’s Heung-min Son and Brazilians Ederson, Alisson and Richarlison will all be expected to head back to their home continents to play two or three 2022 qualifiers before returning to the UK.
- Joe Brophy
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
Here’s a closer look at defending champions’ Manchester City’ 2021/22 campaign.
First up is a trip to Spurs before facing newly promoted Norwich and then Arsenal.
The festive period is kind to City with no ‘Big Six’ clashes in the entire month of December.
And if the Premier League title comes down to the wire then it’s a favourable run in for Pep Guardiola and Co, they face just one of the ‘Big Six’ in Liverpool in their last ten games of the season.
- Joe Brophy
RUD AWAKENING
Antonio Rudiger has denied biting Paul Pogba during France’s 1-0 win over Germany.
He said: “I should not come close with my mouth to his back, no doubt about it.
“It looks unfortunate. Paul and I have talked about it as friends after the final whistle.”
- Joe Brophy
ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET
It’s the third consecutive year Liverpool will play a newly promoted side in their opening game of a Premier League season.
It’s also the second time in three years that the opposition is Norwich after the Canaries won promotion from the Championship in 2019.
They lost 4-1 at Anfield on the opening day of the 2019/20 season and will be hoping history will not repeat itself this year.
- Joe Brophy
BRU CHEEKY BOY
Bruno Fernandes has fired a cheeky, light-hearted Euros warning at Manchester United team-mate Paul Pogba.
The pair are set to do battle at Euro 2020, having both been drawn in Group F with their respective nations.
Bruno and Pogba will be back for United to face Leeds on the first game of the season.
- Joe Brophy
LIFE’S ROSEY
Watford have bolstered their ranks ahead of the return to the Premier League with the signing of Danny Rose.
The left-back, 30, joins the Hornets on a free transfer after penning a two-year deal.
His first game for Watford could be a home game against Aston Villa at Vicarage Road on the first day of the new season.
- Joshua Mbu
DOUBLE TROUBLE
As mentioned in the build-up before the 9am fixtures release, Danny Rose was a target for newly promoted Watford.
And not long ago, his return back to Watford has been announced!
Rose played for Watford back in 2009 when he had a brief loan spell at the club.
- Giacomo Pisa
EXPERT OPENERS
Spurs might have beaten Manchester City the last time the two sides faced off but Pep Guardiola will be out for revenge on the opening day of the 2021/22 season.
Recent history of opening weekends is on City's side – they've won their Premier League opener in ten out out of the last ten years.
- Joshua Mbu
SUPER START
Tottenham start their season at home against defending champions Man City.
Last time Spurs hosted City, Son got on the scoresheet!
- Giacomo Pisa
MERRY EV-MAS
Who will be in charge at Goodison Park come December?
Nobody knows yet but whoever does will have a fairly favourable festive period.
Whoever takes over from Carlo Ancelotti will have hopes of challenging for a place in Europe for the first time since participating in the 2017/18 Europa League.
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