Premier League fixtures: Opening day, upcoming derbies

11:32am on Monday 31st August 2020
By Martin Macdonald

The champions of the Premier League will take on the champions of the English championship on the opening day of the season as Liverpool host Leeds at Anfield.

The first fixtures of the new Premier League season will take place on the weekend of the 12 September, with Burnley v Manchester United and Manchester City v Aston Villa taking place at a later date due to the Manchester clubs exploits in Europe.

Newly promoted Fulham face a tough test on their return to the English top flight as they will face Arsenal in a London derby at Craven Cottage, while the other promoted side, West Brom, will battle Leicester.

Liverpool face a tricky start to the new campaign as following their match against Leeds they have Chelsea away and Arsenal at home back at Anfield.

The Gunners have a tough first few games, too, as they face Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd, and Leicester within the first seven fixtures.

Opening day fixtures

Crystal Palace v Southampton (12 Sep)

Fulham v Arsenal (12 Sep)

Liverpool v Leeds United (12 Sep)

Tottenham Hotspur v Everton (12 Sep)

West Bromwich Albion v Leicester City (12 Sep)

West Ham United v Newcastle United (12 Sep)

Brighton v Chelsea (14 Sep)

Sheffield United v Wolves (14 Sep)

Burnley v Manchester United (later date)

Manchester City v Aston Villa (later date)

The first major derby of the season takes place in the middle of October as Everton host Liverpool in the Merseyside derby.

The fixture that Manchester United and Leeds fans have been anticipating for years is deep into the season on 19 December when the Roses rivalry will recommence in the top flight.

The top two teams from last season - Liverpool and Man City - will be reunited in another championship fight on 7 November.

A selection of derbies:

17 October - Everton v Liverpool

5 December - Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal

12 December - Manchester United v Manchester City

16 January - Wolves v West Brom

20 February - Liverpool v Everton

6 March - Manchester City v Manchester United

13 March - Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur

1 May - West Brom v Wolves

The 2020/21 Premier League season, and indeed every major league in Europe, will see unprecedented levels of schedule build up. Due to the previous season finishing late in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, the start of the new campaign was pushed back.

This has resulted in the winter break in February being cancelled, while the league has had to fit in all 38 rounds in five less available weekends.

For clubs involved in Europe - Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd, Leicester, Tottenham, and Arsenal - they face the prospect of clashing fixtures.