2023/24 Premier League fixtures unveiled
By Story Agencies, June 15, 2023Champions Manchester City have been handed an immediate reunion with their former title-winning captain Vincent Kompany as Pep Guardiola’s Treble-winning team open the 2023/24 Premier League with a Friday night trip to Burnley after the season’s fixtures were revealed.
Kompany won the title four times at Man City before leaving in 2020 and going into management. A year ago, the Belgian took over at relegated Burnley and guided them to an instant return to the Premier League, coasting to the Championship title.
His side will face a baptism of fire at Turf Moor on 11 August against the best team in Europe, who are still celebrating a historic Treble of Premier League title, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
Chelsea’s new head coach Mauricio Pochettino has also been handed a tough start, hosting Liverpool in a mouthwatering clash of two teams seeking a return to the top four after missing out last season. Jurgen Klopp’s men travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday 13 August.
Earlier that day, another new manager faces a challenging Premier League debut as Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur make the short trip across London to Brentford, who performed well against the traditional “big six” clubs last season and picked up four points against Spurs.
Saturday’s Premier League action kicks off at Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal will look for revenge against the team who ended their title dreams last season. The Gunners’ 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest in May was the final nail in the coffin of their unlikely title challenge, confirming Man City as champions.
The two other promoted sides are also in action on Saturday, as Sheffield United host Crystal Palace, while Luton Town’s first match in the Premier League will be a tough trip to high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion, who finished a record-high sixth under Roberto De Zerbi.
Two of the most-improved sides of last season meet in Saturday’s final match. The ambitions of Aston Villa, whom Unai Emery lifted from relegation concern to a seventh-placed finish, will be tested at Newcastle United, who finished in the top four for the first time in 20 years last season.
Before then, AFC Bournemouth will host West Ham United as two teams who escaped the relegation battle late in the season look to start the new campaign on a positive note.
The opening Matchweek concludes on Monday evening, with Manchester United hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers and looking to avoid back-to-back opening-weekend losses after being beaten by Brighton last season.
Fans don’t have long to wait for two of last season’s top-four teams to meet, as Man City will host Newcastle in Matchweek 2.
The Magpies have been given a tough start to the campaign. Their five opening fixtures are all against teams who finished ninth or higher last season. After taking on Villa and Man City, they face Liverpool, Brighton and Brentford.
Matchweek 4 will feature Arsenal hosting Man Utd in the first weekend of September. When they last met, a five-goal thriller was decided in stoppage time by Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah.
A packed festive period of three Matchweeks in just over a week will start on the weekend of Saturday 23 December, with Liverpool v Arsenal the standout match that day, and Crystal Palace hosting arch-rivals.
Arsenal will host West Ham United on Boxing Day for the second year running, while Chelsea are at home to Palace in another London derby. Brighton will face Spurs at home while Man Utd v Aston Villa will also appeal and promoted pair Sheff Utd and Luton go head-to-head.
The final Matchweek of 2023 is due to start on 30 December, with Liverpool v Newcastle the match-up that stands out the most.
In keeping with commitments made to clubs to address the congested schedule across Christmas and New Year, no two rounds over the festive period will take place within 48 hours of each other.
The schedule also provides for a return of the mid-season player break, which will take place after the FA Cup third round, between 13-20 January and will have the 10 fixtures split across two weekends.
The final day
The final round of matches takes place on Sunday 19 May, with all 10 matches kicking off at 16:00 BST.
Brighton v Man Utd could be a match that determines the European ambitions of both teams.
Meanwhile, Everton fans will hope they are not fighting for safety on the final day again, as they were in 2022/23. They visit Arsenal, who beat them 5-1 in the same fixture on the final day in 2021/22.
Burnley, Sheff Utd and Luton are each at home for their final match, as they look to replicate the feats of last season’s three promoted clubs, who all managed to avoid relegation for only the fourth time in the Premier League’s history.