Manchester City and Liverpool have discovered their Premier League fixtures for 2022/23, and might have to win the title the hard way....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Pep Guardiola will be looking closely at the fixture list – especially at games vs Chelsea and Liverpool.
Manchester City and their fans will be scouring the new Premier League fixture list for any advantage they can spot as the Blues are set to battle Liverpool again for the title.
It’s a modern rivalry that has been settled twice on the final day in recent years, so any small advantage in each fixture could be the difference between winning or losing the title. City will be largely pleased with their fixtures, with most of their tougher games sandwiched in between easier games on paper, although the relentless nature of this season will mean plenty of games will be played with just two or three days to prepare.
While City will target three points from every game, they will look at five games in particular as potentially defining to theit title chances.
West Ham (A)
As opening days go, City could hardly have been handed a tougher start. It’s rare that the Premier League put a meeting between two big clubs on the opening weekend, so an away trip to an ever-improving West Ham is probably as difficult as it gets.
West Ham held City to a draw at the London Stadium in May, as the Blues closed in on the title, and they will be no room for a slow start against David Moyes’ side in August – especially with Liverpool facing Fulham so a potentially easier chance to get three points on the board early on.
Liverpool (A)
After West Ham, City’s start is not too taxing, with home clashes against Tottenham and Manchester United the biggest tests while Liverpool travel to United, Everton, Chelsea and Arsenal in their opening ten games. For both sides, their 11th game is the first clash between the two likely title contenders at Anfield.
Both teams will be into their rhythm, and history suggests that if one has had a poor start, a win at this stage of the season could effectively derail any chances of catching the other. Last season’s Anfield clash was a high-quality but tense 2-2 affair, and both managers will know how important taking points from their rivals would be. As City and Liverpool look to land a blow against the other, this October meeting could be crucial down the line.
Chelsea (A)
After the World Cup break, City resume their campaign at Leeds on Boxing Day, before a home clash against Everton currently scheduled for New Year’s Eve. Then, just 48 hours later, they travel to Chelsea for their first fixture of 2023.
One of the toughest games of the season anyway, there is no predicting the state of City’s squad after the World Cup and two quick-fire festive games. Yet they will have to be at their best to face Chelsea, who will be looking to pose more of a challenge than they did last season, where they fell away in the New Year.
Liverpool (H)
With just ten games to go, City will welcome Liverpool to the Etihad on April 1 following the March international break. Both sides will know how likely their title chances are by this point, even with 27 points still to play for after that game.
City will be happy to face Liverpool at home in their second meeting, especially as they look to have a tougher run-in. They face Leicester, Arsenal and Chelsea, plus trips to Southampton and Brighton, while Liverpool’s toughest games are home clashes with Arsenal, Spurs and two away trips to West Ham and Leicester. If either side could secure a win, it would set the tone for a tense final two months of the season.
Chelsea (H)
On the final day, both sides are away in the south, but with games they should win, so City’s final chance to slip up will be their final home game which comes against Chelsea. It could be the day City lift the title, but it could also be the day they lose it as the fixture computer hasn’t done them many favours by sending Thomas Tuchel’s side to the Etihad on the penultimate day.
If the title is not decided by that point, expect a very nervy afternoon at the Etihad on May 20.
