Chelsea open defence against Burnley as Nigerians debate fixtures
English Premier League champions Chelsea will open their defence with a home game against Burnley going by the fixtures released on Wednesday. The second-placed Tottenham will start the 2017/2018 campaign away from London with a visit to newly-promoted Newcastle United.
The fixtures come as Nigerians fans of the EPL debate on radio programmes which of the teams have the best fixture for the opening and closing month. Many of the fans believe that the layout of the timetable can have a way of affecting the performance of the teams with many craving for the tough fixtures to come very early in the season while rounding off with the teams at the wrong end of the table.
Manchester City will be away to newcomers Brighton, with fourth-placed Liverpool travelling to Watford.
Arsenal and Manchester United, who finished fifth and sixth respectively, will be home to Leicester City and West Ham.
The season has been scheduled to kick off on August 12, but the first big match will be one week later when Tottenham host Chelsea at their temporary home, Wembley Stadium. Liverpool will host Arsenal on 26 August in another early heavyweight clash, while Chelsea will host both Manchester City and Arsenal in September.
Manchester United will face bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield in October, before the first Manchester Derby in December.
Fixtures
Saturday, 12 August, 2017
Arsenal v Leicester City
Brighton v Manchester City
Chelsea v Burnley
Crystal Palace v Huddersfield Town
Everton v Stoke City
Manchester United v West Ham United
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Southampton v Swansea City
Watford v Liverpool
West Bromwich Albion v AFC Bournemouth
Saturday, 19 August, 2017
AFC Bournemouth v Watford
Burnley v West Bromwich Albion
Huddersfield Town v Newcastle United
Leicester City v Brighton
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
Manchester City v Everton
Stoke City v Arsenal
Swansea City v Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea
West Ham United v Southampton
Saturday, 26 August, 2017
AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City
Chelsea v Everton
Crystal Palace v Swansea City
Huddersfield Town v Southampton
Liverpool v Arsenal
Manchester United v Leicester City
Newcastle United v West Ham United
Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley
Watford v Brighton
West Bromwich Albion v Stoke City
Saturday, 9 September, 2017
Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth
Brighton v West Bromwich Albion
Burnley v Crystal Palace
Everton v Tottenham Hotspur
Leicester City v Chelsea
Manchester City v Liverpool
Southampton v Watford
Stoke City v Manchester United
Swansea City v Newcastle United
West Ham United v Huddersfield Town
Saturday, 16 September, 2017
AFC Bournemouth v Brighton
Chelsea v Arsenal
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Huddersfield Town v Leicester City
Liverpool v Burnley
Manchester United v Everton
Newcastle United v Stoke City
Tottenham Hotspur v Swansea City
Watford v Manchester City
West Bromwich Albion v West Ham United
Saturday, 23 September, 2017
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion
Brighton v Newcastle United
Burnley v Huddersfield Town
Everton v AFC Bournemouth
Leicester City v Liverpool
Manchester City v Crystal Palace
Southampton v Manchester United
Stoke City v Chelsea
Swansea City v Watford
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday, 30 September, 2017
AFC Bournemouth v Leicester City
Arsenal v Brighton
Chelsea v Manchester City
Everton v Burnley
Huddersfield Town v Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United v Crystal Palace
Newcastle United v Liverpool
Stoke City v Southampton
West Bromwich Albion v Watford
West Ham United v Swansea City