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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES POSTER
LIVERPOOL’S title defence is set for a stern early examination, with the runaway Premier League champions handed a mouthwatering start to the season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side open their campaign against Marcelo Bielsa’s newly-promoted Leeds United at Anfield on September 12 before facing Chelsea then and Arsenal.
Their first eight games include an away trip to title rivals Manchester City and a derby against Everton at Goodison Park.
Fixtures for the truncated 2020-21 campaign, which is scheduled to be five weeks shorter than a regular season, were released yesterday and represent a logistical headache for clubs. Clubs competing in Europe are facing the possibility of playing three matches a week until May.
Tottenham are significantly affected in the opening month, given they enter the Europa League at the second qualification stage on September 17. They need to win three matches to make the group stage of that competition — and also have the Carabao Cup to contend with from the third round.
It leaves Jose Mourinho facing nine matches in 21 days before the second international break in October, starting with a home game against Everton.
Both Manchester clubs will begin the season late, following their participation in European competitions this month. Wolves and Chelsea will start in the same game week as the rest of the division, but their matches will be on Monday, September 14 to allow for extra preparation following Champions League and Europa League exits. Chelsea travel to Brighton, with Wolves at Sheffield United.
United play City at Old Trafford on December 12, and the first north London derby sees Tottenham host Arsenal a week earlier.
Leeds’ visit to Anfield is the standout match of the opening weekend, although Fulham have also been handed a romantic top-flight return when they welcome Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal to Craven Cottage.