June 15, (THEWILL) – In the next football season in England, Manchester City will be aiming to etch their name in history as the first team to claim four consecutive Premier League titles, facing fierce challenges from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United and Newcastle.
At the same time, Luton Town will make a triumphant return to the top flight after a long hiatus since its Division One days, alongside familiar contenders, Burnley and Sheffield United. With new managerial regimes at Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, they too will be seeking redemption following a lacklustre 2022/2023 season.
That is why it is a moment of excitement for English football fans that the calendar of matches for the 2023/2024 season has been released. The campaign commences on Friday, August 11, with Championship winners, Burnley, locking horns with EPL champions, Manchester City, an encounter that sees Citizens legend, Vincent Kompany, extend a warm welcome to his former club at Turf Moor, in a repeat of their FA Cup quarter-final game, which City won 6-nil. The following day, Arsenal kick-off their season by hosting Nottingham Forest in the lunchtime clash, looking to retaliate the 1-0 loss that confirmed their capitulation of the title race last season.
Luton Town’s much-awaited return commences with an away fixture against Brighton and Hove Albion, while Sheffield United mark their resurgence with a home match against Crystal Palace. Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea will debut against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, and Manchester United host Wolverhampton Wanderers in the opening Monday night fixture.
Regular fixtures will continue until the holiday period with Boxing Day fixtures promising further excitement, as Man Utd’s thrilling encounter against Aston Villa takes centre stage. City will embark on a short journey to face Everton, while Chelsea host local rivals, Crystal Palace. Arsenal and West Ham meet for the second consecutive Boxing Day clash, and Liverpool travel to Burnley.
Then, the season will reach its climax on May 19, 2024, with some relatively low-key matches. United face a challenging visit to Brighton, a team that has troubled them in recent years. Meanwhile, City will be shooting for what could be a fourth successive title by hosting West Ham.
Key Meetings throughout the season include Chelsea’s clash with Liverpool on the opening day, followed by Tottenham Hotspur’s new manager, Ange Postecoglou, showcasing his skills against Manchester United in the second weekend. Simultaneously, the champions take on Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium. Prior to the September international break, United will journey to the capital for a showdown against Arsenal, while the first North London derby of the season awaits later that month.
Mikel Arteta then faces his former boss, Pep Guardiola, at the Emirates Stadium before his Gunners resume their campaign against city rivals, Chelsea. The first Manchester derby occurs at the end of October, with the return fixture scheduled for the beginning of March. Liverpool’s formidable journey includes matches against City, United, and Arsenal, all within a few weeks of each other.
As the season nears its conclusion, Arsenal face a crucial test against Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils on the penultimate weekend, potentially battling it out for the coveted title. Tottenham, despite not being in contention, hold the power to influence the title race in their final six games against four top-six finishers from last season.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
