Dates set for the next UK premier League season
The Premier League 2022-23 season will begin with a London derby as Crystal Palace host Arsenal on August 5, while Erik ten Hag will start his reign at home to Brighton and Hove Albion.
It’s a case of deja-vu for Arsenal who travel across the English capital on a Friday night (8pm kick-off) for the top-flight’s curtain-raiser. They did so last season too, but lost 2-0 at Brentford.
The Gunners will be looking to atone for their last trip to Selhurst Park, where they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 in April.
Two days after Arsenal kick-off the season, the focus will shift up north as Ten Hag’s United welcome Brighton to Old Trafford (2pm).
The Dutchman can expect a rapturous receptions from the Red Devils fan base who will be hoping he can turn around their fortunes after dismal 2021-22.
United fans will still be scarred by the 4-0 thumping they took on the south coast last month too.
Elsewhere on the opening day of the season, champions Manchester City begin the defence of their Premier League crown at West Ham (August 7, 4.30 pm) while title rivals Liverpool travel to newly-promoted Fulham (August 6, 12.30 pm).
Top flight
Championship play-off winners Nottingham Forest, who return to the top flight after 23 years away, begin their campaign away at Newcastle United (August 6, 3 pm) - who will be hoping they can ride their momentum from the back end of the last term into the new one.
Bournemouth, who finished second in the Championship behind Fulham, are afforded a home fixture on an opening day as they welcome Aston Villa (August 6, 3 pm).
Elsewhere on an opening day, there’ll be an interesting sub-plot at Goodison Park as Everton boss Frank Lampard faces his old club Chelsea (August 6, 5.30 pm). There are some mouthwatering fixtures in August beyond the opening round of fixtures.
In the second week of the season, (currently, August 13 although subject to change due to TV) Chelsea faces bitter rivals Tottenham - in an early test of both teams’ title credentials.
Then a week later, English football’s two most successful sides clash as Manchester United welcome Liverpool (weekend of August 20).
Liverpool supporters will be going into this clash full of fond memories of having thrashed their bitter 5-0 at Old Trafford last season. They then followed that up with a 4-0 win at Anfield later that campaign.
That is the first true test of Ten Hag’s management with his second game in charge before that away at Brentford (weekend of August 13). His fifth game is away at Leicester (August 30, 7.45 pm) and sixth at home to Arsenal (weekend of September 3), in a tricky start.
Nearer at the top, City have the kinder fixtures on paper than Liverpool to begin the season and try and build some momentum. After West Ham, Pep Guardiola’s side then faces Bournemouth (H), Newcastle United (A), Crystal Palace (H), Nottingham Forest (A) and Aston Villa (A).
In comparison, after travelling to Fulham; Liverpool faces Crystal Palace (H), Manchester United (A), Bournemouth (H), Newcastle United (H), and Everton (A).
Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest will be eagerly anticipating their start to the season and they all have tough starts.
Fulham’s first six games read Liverpool (H), Wolves (A), Brentford (H), Arsenal (A), Brighton (H) and Tottenham (A).
Bournemouth’s are Aston Villa (H), Manchester City (A), Arsenal (A), Liverpool (A), Wolves (H) and Nottingham Forest (A).
And Forest begin with Newcastle United (A), West Ham (H), Everton (A), Tottenham (H), Manchester City (A) and Bournemouth (H)
