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When are Chelsea’s key Premier League matches as they bid to retain the title?
The Premier League fixture list for the 17/18 season has been released, meaning fans around the country and across the globe have been finding out when and where the big games are. Whether it’s looking for the derbies, the newcomers or which periods may decide a club’s season; for many supporters, the season starts here.
Title holders Chelsea will have been eager to discover where their defence of the championship begins, and they have been given a home tie against Burnley. The Lancashire club improved vastly last term on their previous Premier League ventures, ensuring survival for the first time and showing impressive form at Turf Moor for much of the campaign.
However, the Claret and Blue’s were woeful on the road and Chelsea will see this as a good opportunity to start their title defence positively. Doing so would mean a repeat to the beginning of the 14/15 season, where Chelsea beat Sean Dyche’s side 3-1 (albeit away) to launch a successful season.
Next up in match week two, Antonio Conte will take his team to Wembley to face London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, the first league match at their temporary home. Spurs were victorious in this fixture last season but Chelsea will be encouraged by the Lilywhites’ poor form at the national stadium and the opportunity to end an unbeaten home run which span the entirety of the 16/17 league campaign.
By the weekend of 30th September, the Blues will have faced four of last season’s top seven, facing Everton, Manchester City and Arsenal, in the first North-London derby, all at home early on. This leaves them facing numerous tough away trips in the New year.
November begins with the visit of Manchester United, who were beaten at Stamford Bridge twice last season. There is, however, April’s surprise defeat at Old Trafford to avenge.
Mid-December brings a new away trip for travelling supporters as Chelsea travel north for newcomers Huddersfield Town. Just before Christmas, the Blues face Everton for a second time – before playing Brighton and Hove Albion once – who travel to London on Boxing Day. New Year starts with a bang, Arsenal away on January 1st and an opportunity to amend the 3-0 defeat suffered last time round.
New Year starts with a bang, Arsenal away on January 1st and an opportunity to amend the 3-0 defeat suffered last time round.
January also brings another new away venture as Brighton return to the top-flight after a 34-year absence. February’s biggest tie is Manchester United away, a game which, as previously mentioned, was lost last season to ex-manager Jose Mourinho’s latest side.
That game is followed just a week later by a visit to the Etihad, as Conte’s men return to Manchester. Those two away fixtures could well be decisive in Chelsea’s season, particularly if things are tight at the top. It will be an exceptionally busy fortnight as there will be Champions League last-16 ties to contend on either side of the Manchester trips – providing the Blues qualify.
As the season comes to a close, Spurs visit Stamford Bridge on March 31st, before a more favourable block of fixtures. The biggest challenge in the final weeks looks set to be Liverpool’s arrival on the penultimate weekend. Jurgen Klopp’s men performed best against other top sides last term, going unbeaten against Chelsea along the way.
As always, the fixture announcement will help build excitement for the forthcoming season and have supporters dreading certain periods of the campaign. For Chelsea fans, there should be little to worry about considering last season’s triumph, but as they know from 15/16, retaining the title is a difficult task.
For a full week by week guide to all of the Premier League fixtures, see the
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