The Premier League released its fixtures for the 2017/18 campaign with all of the big teams receiving favourable oppositions in the opener. League champions Chelsea will be at home against Sean Dyche’s Burnley, who were overly dependent on their home form for top-flight survival.
Manchester United will entertain West Ham United at home while Liverpool will be at Watford where they earned a much needed victory to help their Champions League progress last season. Arsenal drew blank against Leicester City at a similar stage last year and they will be hoping for a much better start with tricky away trips to Stoke City and Liverpool to come.
Tottenham Hotspur faced an embarrassing 5-1 defeat to Newcastle United in the final game of the 2015/2016 season after which the Magpies were relegated. The Tynesiders played with just 10 men during the game, but Spurs lost their heads following their title stumble at the hands of Leicester.
Spurs have since developed leaps and bounds under Mauricio Pochettino, and the likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli will be keen to avenge the defeat when the two clubs meet in the Premier League opener. Newly-promoted Brighton & Hove Albion have the toughest game of the lot with Guardiola’s Manchester City likely to push for title honours with a predictably new look squad.
The Premier League always keeps a surprise or two in store for the opener, and there is a feel that there could be upset on the cards with Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United likely to provide a timid atmosphere for a young Spurs’ side. Watford and Leicester had held their own against the top teams a season ago, and they could yet be major disappointment, should one of Liverpool or Arsenal take them likely, come August 12th.
Prior to all this, London giants Arsenal and Chelsea will tussle it out in another derby as they compete to lift the Community Shield at the Wembley Stadium on August 6th.
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