Manchester City have been handed a rough start to their Premier League title defence, with Pep Guardiola's team set to travel to Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day of the 2021–22 season, alongside Arsenal, Leicester City, Chelsea and Liverpool. before encountering. His first seven matches.
The new campaign begins on the opening weekend (14/15 August) with some box office struggles as City travel to Tottenham and Manchester United play traditional rivals Leeds United at Old Trafford. Recently promoted Brentford began their first Premier League season with a home game against London neighbors Arsenal.
Arsenal will face Champions League winners Chelsea and City before the end of August, a rough start for Mikel Arteta's team as the Gunners go into their first season without European football in 25 years.
But with fixtures now set for the season – they are still subject to change due to broadcast requirements – who will be happiest with their schedule and which teams will feel they have been given a mountain to climb? And which sports matter the most?
A good start for Man United, but beware of October and November
Although Manchester United's opening day clash with Leeds is tough, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side do not face any of the so-called "Big Six" until hosting Liverpool on 23 October. Prior to that game, United traveled to Southampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United and played Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Everton at Old Trafford.
After failing to win any trophy since the 2017 Europa League - with no league title since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013 - Solskjaer is under increasing pressure to win major silver this season . And having finished as runners-up last season, United must take advantage of their favorable start this time to see if they have any serious chances of winning the title. The pressure will be further compounded by a poor start in October, when they travel to Leicester and Spurs on either side of the Liverpool game. November is tough too, with games against Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal.
City start tough but run-in positive
Manchester City had their worst start in a season in more than 10 years last year, but they still finished as champions with a winning margin of 12 points, so their tough batch of fixtures in the early weeks cost them a lot. Didn't worry too much. Yet City undoubtedly have a challenge ahead of them in the early stages of the season, starting from the opening day at Tottenham.
Back-to-back away games at Chelsea (September 25) and Liverpool (October 2) will be a test for Pep Guardiola and his players, but if they can navigate their difficult start and stay in contention at the top , their soft run-in will give them confidence that they can retain the title. After facing Liverpool at the Etihad on April 9, City's last six games are against Wolves, Watford, Leeds, Newcastle, West Ham and Aston Villa, so they will be hoping to score a lot of points in the final weeks.
Arteta has been under pressure since day one
Arteta has to perform at Arsenal this season after failing to secure European football last season, but the fixture computer has done the Gunners' manager no favors. Brentford's opening day trip could go along with last season's promoted 3-0 win over Fulham, but the Bees are a dangerous, unpredictable team and can easily upset their illustrious neighbors.
If Arsenal slip through on day one, they will have something to do at home at Chelsea or Manchester City in their next two games to keep the pressure off. A north London derby at home to Spurs on 25 September is likely to be very awkward for Arteta if his team fails to make a promising start to the season.
Good start for Liverpool, but Christmas will be a test
Jurgen Klopp's team began with a trip to Norwich City, followed by a home game against Burnley, who won at Anfield the previous season. A home game against Chelsea is next, followed by a trip to Leeds, so there is certainly an element of danger in this opening game, it's a balanced start for the 2019-20 champions.
However, the Christmas period promises to be a great test of Liverpool's prospects with three away games at Spurs, Leicester and Chelsea - in the span of two weeks. Within that part of the fixtures, Liverpool will also face Leeds at Anfield on 26 December.
Opening demand for Chelsea
Chelsea will look to challenge for the Premier League title this season after winning the Champions League last month. But Thomas Tuchel's side, which face Europa League winners Villarreal at the UEFA Super Cup in Belfast on 11 August, have arguably had a tougher start than Man City.
Chelsea began with a home game against Crystal Palace, which would be under new management after the departure of Roy Hodgson, and then face Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham and City in their next five matches. The flip side for Chelsea is that, in their last 12 league games, they meet only one fellow "Big Six" team - a trip to Manchester United on 15 May.
Difficult start for Tottenham's new boss, London derby in September
Tottenham's new coach - expected to be former Roma coach Paulo Fonseca - wants a decent start to his reign but it won't be easy, especially if star striker Harry Kane gets his wish and leaves the club this summer. is.
But if Spurs can get a positive result against City in the opening weekend at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, confidence will be high for their next batch of games against Wolves, Watford and Crystal Palace. Those opening games will be crucial for the new charge due to back-to-back London derbys against Chelsea and Arsenal in September. So there is a chance for Spurs to have a really promising start to life under their new coach. But equally, if the results turn out to be wrong, he will be under great pressure very early in the campaign.
The Games You Can't Miss
August 14: Manchester United v Leeds United
Last season's clash at Old Trafford ended in a 6-2 win for Solskjaer as both teams enjoyed an end-to-end game filled with scoring opportunities. But while the entertainment value in it should be high again, it has the potential to once again be one of the most intense rivalries in English football in front of the fans that makes it so lucrative.
The Premier League expects stadiums to be filled again at the start of the new season after nearly 18 months of severe restrictions on crowd numbers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So what better way to return to normal (or close to it, at least) than with a game between two teams backed by over 70,000 enthusiastic supporters at Old Trafford?
25 September: Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
Don't expect this consistency to decide the outcome of the title race this season - it could ultimately be nothing more than a playoff for Europa League qualification. But while both North London giants are in transition, this fixture remains a big opportunity on the calendar and this opening encounter will give a clue as to whether either team is heading in the right direction again.
Arsenal finished last season in good form in the league, missing out on Europe after converting their results in the second half of the campaign, so they would like to maintain that boom under Arteta. And for Spurs, it's all about the new manager and how he starts out as a permanent successor to Jose Mourinho.
25 September: Chelsea v Manchester City
The first rematch of last season's Champions League final, which Chelsea won 1–0 in Porto, claimed their second European Cup. Premier League champions City will look to challenge Chelsea for the league title this season, so Pep Guardiola will consider it important that his team end their losing streak in Tuchel's favor.
Chelsea have now won three games in a row against City - in the league, FA Cup and Champions League - so a fourth win on spin would give them a huge psychological advantage over Guardiola's side. But it is the kind of test City usually prefer, so they will travel to Stamford Bridge, aiming to repeat their 3-1 win at Chelsea from last January.
2 October: Liverpool v Manchester City
This match between the last two Premier League champions is still the game of the season in terms of impact on the title race.
Liverpool lost their way in a spectacular way last season, losing six consecutive home league games, but still finished the campaign in third place. Jurgen Klopp's team will look to challenge for the title again this season and will also be desperate to avenge Guardiola's loss to Anfield last season.
In recent seasons, no one has come close to matching Liverpool and City for continuity at the top of the Premier League and they remain the team to beat. There will be an increased sense of motivation to return to Liverpool after their disappointing defense of the title last time, so beating City will be high on their agenda.
6 November: Manchester United v Manchester City
If Manchester United are to successfully challenge for the title this season, they just have to win this game. United have failed to finish above City in any season since winning the title last in 2013 and the balance of power in Manchester is now firmly in the blue of City.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have learned to win against their neighbors in recent seasons, but they have a poor Old Trafford record against the Blues, so it is important that they keep right in this fixture.
January 1: Chelsea v Liverpool
It could be an explosive start to 2022 as both the teams can face Manchester City in a one-on-one challenge at Stamford Bridge.
By this stage of the season, we'll know what the nature of the title race is and which teams are the favorites to finish on top. And it looks set to be an interesting battle between two Champions League winners - coach Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp - as they attempt to overhaul City as champions.
Liverpool won at Chelsea in the early weeks of last season, but the Blues avenged that defeat with a win at Anfield in the second half of the campaign.
22 January: Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur
No matter when these two teams meet, the rivalry between the two clubs ensures that it is usually eventful – last season's 0–0 draw at Stamford Bridge was certainly a rare calm between Chelsea and Spurs. It was day
Chelsea are now top dogs in London after winning a second Champions League and if they get their way, Kane could be on their side next season. Such a controversial transfer is unlikely, but Chelsea have the money and the ambition to make it go away, and Kane wants to play for a club that wins big trophies. But even if that deal doesn't work out, Chelsea vs Spurs is always a fixture to highlight in the calendar.
March 19: Liverpool v Manchester United
Traditionally, it is the biggest fixture of English football – a meeting of two of the country's most successful and best-supported clubs. But when the two sides have met at Anfield in recent seasons, it has usually resulted in either a one-sided Liverpool win or a disappointing 0–0 draw.
United have not won at Anfield since a 1–0 win over a Wayne Rooney goal in January 2016 and have not come close to winning their most recent tour. Solskjaer's side have a lot of work to do to end their miserable run at Anfield, but if they are in the title chase, they will have to get back on their way to victory in this game at Liverpool.