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The fixture list for the new Premier League season were announced this morning, and it could be a difficult start for Brendan Rodgers’ first full season with Leicester City. His Foxes side will kick off the season at home to Wolves, but face visits to Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, along with Spurs at home, all within the first 8 fixtures.
While there is the relief of newly promoted Sheffield United in week 3, it’s always tricky to play these sides early on, before we really get a good look at them, especially away from home.
Thankfully the difficulty does drop off for a while, but a traditionally packed Christmas period will be especially hard on the Foxes. They’ll be travelling to Champions Manchester City on 21st, and then hosting runners up Liverpool on Boxing Day before hitting the road to face West Ham just two days later.
Fans will be bolstered by memories of wins over equally tough opposition over the same period last year, but the lack of time between games, combined with playing three out of four away from home, could make it a very difficult run for the squad.
If the Foxes are again competing with Everton, Wolves and Watford, they’ll be paying particularly close attention to the run from late February through to early April, which will see them face all three away from home. A good run could easily set them apart from the pack, and on towards the top 6.
If they do find themselves pushing for Europe, as many of us hope, Leicester may need their place all but sewn up by the last two weeks, when they travel to Tottenham Hotspur, and then face Manchester United at home to close out the season. Still, it’d be a nice big occasion to lift the trophy at...
Full fixture list:
vs Wolves
@ Chelsea
@ Sheffield United
vs Bournemouth
@ Manchester United
vs Spurs
vs Newcastle
@ Liverpool
vs Burnley
vs Arsenal
@ Brighton
vs Everton
vs Watford
@ Villa
vs Norwich
@ Man City
vs Liverpool
@ West Ham
@ Newcastle
vs Southampton
@ Burnley
vs West Ham
vs Chelsea
@ Wolves
vs Man City
@ Norwich
vs Villa
@ Watford
vs Brighton
@ Everton
vs Palace
@ Arsenal
vs Bournemouth
@ Sheffield United
@ Spurs
vs Manchester United