2017/18 Premier League fixtures
Chelsea welcome Burnley in week one
Premier League chiefs have released details of the 2017/18 season fixture list, and we see defending champions Chelsea roll out the red carpet for last season’s strugglers Burnley. The Clarets were increasingly difficult to break down at home last term, but suffered from travel sickness for much of the year.
Tottenham, who finished second in May, have been made to wait for their Wembley bow, going to newly promoted Newcastle in the first round. All matches have been penned in for Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th of August.
Coral traders have wasted no time in chalking up their early views on how week one will pan out. Much will change at every club between now and the big kick-off, but our customers can beat the rush and jump in early to secure the value. A winning acca – what a way that would be to mark the new season. Click here to check out our current prices.
So, who will take an early lead in the title race? There are three matches in August, and past stats show us that previous champions are likely to hit the ground running. If Chelsea are to finish the month with a 100 per cent record, they have it all to do however. Here’s why. Starting with a home tie to Burnley, they’re favourites for that, and should deliver at the bridge, but then have to go to Spurs away, where anything could happen, and then Everton at home. Prediction – seven points.
Will there be a settling in period for Spurs at their new home? Not if Harry Kane can keep up his stunning form, and the striker kept warm during the summer by scoring for England, against Scotland and France. His side raise the curtain vs an emotional Newcastle, with Premier League football back at St James Park, they then host rivals Chelsea, who beat them at Wembley in the FA Cup, and finish vs Burnley. Will they explode out of the traps? Not for us. Prediction – five points.
Jurgen Klopp’s troops will have one eye on the return of Champions League football, but they face a trio of London clubs in August. Going to Watford is no easy task, then at home to Palace, and we’ve no idea yet what kind of team The Eagles will be by then, they then finish up vs Arsenal. All very winnable matches, of course, but, at present, we’d be happy to sit on the fence until it’s all a bit clearer. Prediction – seven points.
If push came to shove, we’d have Man Utd leading the table at the end of August. The Red Devils face Real Madrid in the Super Cup before the start, which will allow Mourinho to sharpen his tools and bed in any new faces. He’ll be hoping to have, at least, two new strikers by then. They then host West Ham, away to Swansea and at home to Leicester. On paper, they should win those, although we can’t say with any real confidence before we see how Mourinho’s team shapes up. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. Prediction – nine points.
Lastly, we look at the chances of Arsenal, who will have Arsene Wenger in charge. Have we seen the last of the ‘Wenger Out’ banners? Don’t even think it. If the Frenchman’s new look side doesn’t hit the ground running, at home to Leicester, away to Stoke and at home to Liverpool, the boo boys will be back out in force. Two home games and one very winnable away day. Prediction – seven points.
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