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HAMMER TIME: Defending champions Manchester Metropolis will face West Ham in London on the opening day of the season. AFP Picture
Paul Kennedy
OK, so clearly I have to get a life, that’s effectively and actually established, however I used to be only a bit little excited yesterday as I waited for the discharge of the Premier League fixtures for subsequent season.
And granted, the primary sport should be virtually two months away, however with no World Cup this summer time to look ahead to, the kick-off for the Premier League can’t come fast sufficient.
And speaking of the World Cup, with the bigwigs at UEFA deciding this yr’s world showcase event will probably be held in Qatar, the fixtures for subsequent season look lots completely different than ever earlier than.
Because the World Cup will happen in November and December, there’s a moderately gaping gap within the fixture record this time round.
Section one’s run of video games will finish on November 12, ten days earlier than the opening sport of the World Cup.
There’ll then be a 44-day hiatus within the Premier League, and certainly all leagues all over the world, till home soccer returns on December 26, some eight days after the World Cup closing is performed.
Lots of the European managers plying their commerce within the UK have been calling for a winter break within the season anyway. And though to some extent, that’s precisely what they’ve bought, lots of the high gamers will nonetheless be collaborating within the World Cup.
So for these not lucky sufficient to have certified for Qatar – Mohammed Salah is one noticeable absentee as Egypt didn’t progress – then it’s a pleasant welcome break in the course of what will probably be a troublesome and congested season.
However let’s get again to the Premier League.
Champions Manchester Metropolis start the defence of their Premier League crown at West Ham, whereas title rivals Liverpool journey to newly-promoted Fulham.
The brand new Manchester United supervisor will really feel he’s been dealt an excellent hand on opening day, starting his new reign at Outdated Trafford with a superbly winnable dwelling match in opposition to Brighton.
However he gained’t have it simple for too lengthy as Liverpool play United, at Outdated Trafford, on August 20.
Chelsea, as destiny would have it, journey to Everton for his or her opener, who after all at the moment are managed by former Chelsea hero Frank Lampard.
However it’s the top of the season I’m taking a selected curiosity in. If final season is something to go by, it may definitely go all the way down to the wire as soon as extra.
Champions Metropolis’s final six video games are: Arsenal (h), Fulham (a), Leeds United (h) Everton (a) Chelsea (h) and Brentford (a).
Liverpool however, who pushed Metropolis so shut within the final marketing campaign, play within the final six video games: West Ham United (a), Tottenham Hotspur (h), Brentford (h), Leicester Metropolis (a), Aston Villa (h) and Southampton (a).
To me, that appears just like the fixture Gods have been considerably kinder to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. However after all, that’s a good distance off. And actually and actually who is aware of what the highest of the Premier League will appear like because the marketing campaign wraps up subsequent Might.
However one factor is for positive – the beginning of the season simply can’t come fast sufficient. VNS
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