Premier League 2021/22

[Lineker]

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Champions Manchester City face a trip to Tottenham on the opening weekend of the 2021-22 Premier League season.

The first fixtures will take place on 14 August and newly promoted Brentford will host Arsenal in their first top-flight game since the 1946-47 season.

Norwich and Watford, who were also promoted last season, face Liverpool and Aston Villa respectively.

Manchester United host Leeds, while Champions League winners Chelsea will host Crystal Palace.

Premier League clubs were able to host fans at reduced capacity when Covid-19 restrictions eased late in the 2020-21 campaign.

It is not yet known how many fans will be able to attend the opening fixtures of the new season but the men's and women's Wimbledon finals will become the first UK outdoor sporting events to host capacity crowds in July, while Wembley will also be able to host matches at 50% capacity - around 45,000 - for the knockout stages of Euro 2020.

First round of fixtures in full
Brentford v Arsenal
Burnley v Brighton
Chelsea v Crystal Palace
Everton v Southampton
Leicester City v Wolverhampton
Manchester United v Leeds United
Newcastle United v West Ham United
Norwich City v Liverpool
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City
Watford v Aston Villa

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are favourites to retain their Premier League title but face a testing opening run of games, with Spurs, Norwich, Arsenal, Leicester, Southampton, Chelsea and Liverpool their opening seven opponents.

Norwich, who returned to the Premier League at the first time of asking after relegation in 2019-20, start with Liverpool, Manchester City, Leicester and Arsenal.

The first north London derby between Spurs and Arsenal is due to take place on 25 September, while the first Merseyside derby of the season will see Everton host Liverpool at Goodison Park in a midweek fixture on 30 November.

The first Manchester derby sees United take on City at Old Trafford on 11 November.

Eye-catching Boxing Day fixtures include Liverpool v Leeds and Manchester City against Leicester, while the final day of the season is scheduled for 22 May.

 

[DavidMarrio]

Last time we won the league we played Norwich first. 

It's our year

[Lineker]

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The Premier League has opted to leave a January window free because of a number of international matches that have been scheduled for the end of the month as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Aside from European governing body Uefa, every regional confederation has been cleared to arrange fixtures between 24 January and 1 February. The period also coincides with the Africa Cup of Nations, which has been delayed by 12 months.

It means players from European countries will get a short rest period during a season that is lacking an actual winter break.

Meanwhile, BBC Sport understands Premier League chiefs are planning to start the 2022-23 season a week earlier than normal and finish a week later in order to create space for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The tournament will run from 21 November to 18 December in order to avoid the extreme summer temperatures found in Qatar.

- BBC Sport football reporter Simon Stone

[Baddar]

Ez start for Liverpool as per

[DavidMarrio]

1 hour ago, Baddar said:

Ez start for Liverpool as per

I know right? Burnley's the toughest game out of the opening three... 

[Dang117]

United's March and October are rough 

[Matt]

Watford, Southampton, Wolves, Norwich and Leicester, Norwich, Wolves... Sounds alright to me.

[Dang117]

*Edit* total mess up on my part didn't see the separate manager news thread

Edited June 17, 2021 by Dang117

[Lineker]

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Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham will compete in The Mind Series in August to promote mental health awareness.

The three-team friendly tournament scheduled for the first week in August will act as a curtain-raiser to the 2021/22 Premier League season.

Arsenal will face Spurs in a non-competitive north London derby for the first time since 1990, while Champions League winners Chelsea will host Spurs in their first game in front of their own fans at Stamford Bridge following their European triumph in Porto.

Funds raised from the series will be split between mental health charity Mind and the respective club foundations, that each deliver projects to support mental health and wellbeing in communities both at home and overseas.

• Arsenal v Chelsea: Sunday 1 August, Emirates Stadium, kick-off 3pm
• Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur: Wednesday 4 August, Stamford Bridge, kick-off 7.45pm
• Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal: Sunday 8 August, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, kick-off 2pm

Mind - the UK's leading mental health charity - and the clubs, using their huge global reach and platforms, will promote mental health awareness as the nation emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fabio Paratici, Spurs' managing director of football, said: "We are delighted to be participating in The Mind Series - another fantastic example of how football clubs can unite in support of such important causes.

"We expect the matches to be fiercely competitive London derbies that will get the fans excited for the season ahead, whilst providing perfect preparation for the players. The interest this will create will in turn provide a huge and much-needed boost to Mind - a charity that has such a vital role to play in the lives of so many following the difficult times we have all experienced - as well as our own Foundations."

Details with regards to ticket availability and permitted attendances at the venues are yet to be announced.

£5 from each ticket sold will support charitable projects, with Mind receiving 25 per cent of proceeds from each of the three matches in the Mind Series and with each club's foundation receiving 75 per cent of proceeds from their home match.

Maybe we'll even try and have a manager appointed by then!

[Bobfoc]

I think Mind is a good charity and it's good to see it supported. If I'm being cynical, though, I could guess that there's an element of "See? We're good guys now!" from three of the European Super League teams.

[Baddar]

The PL will have its first ever "foreign" ref next season. Former A League ref Jarred Gillett has been promoted after a season in the EFL. 

[Lineker]

He took charge of the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-final between Brentford and Bournemouth. Plenty of action in that one!

[The Lusophone]

He joins three other refs being promoted to the elite group, and is one of three who are actually under the age of 35, which is nice.

[Colly]

Also shares a first name with Toadfish which is unquestionably what I'm calling him. 

[Adam]

One of the other three referees moving up - Michael Salisbury - is the son of former EFL referee Graham Salisbury, who has just retired.

John Brooks and Tony Harrington are the other two.

[Kyle]

Today marks 20 years since Sol Campbell signed for Arsenal.

 

Or possibly it was yesterday. Dates are confusing.

[Lineker]

Happy Cuntiversary.

 

All the pre-season fixtures.

[Gazz]

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Leeds United

27 July v Guiseley (A)
28 July v Blackburn (A)
30 July v Fleetwood (A)

 

Bielsa: If they die, they die.

[Hobo]

West Ham have 2 friendlies on the same day.

I hope they are also at the same time and on the same pitch

[Matt]

1 hour ago, Gazz said:

Bielsa: If they die, they die.

They're probably on 3 murderball sessions a week from now until then, a kick about against Guiseley will be a welcome break for them.