In response to the atypical World Cup this November and December, Premier League chiefs have opted to drop a round of fixtures from the traditional festive schedule.
The set of games originally planned for December 28 have been cancelled, although fixtures slated for Boxing Day and around the turn of the new year will go ahead as usual.
The EFL has also eased its festive fixture list, although there will still be three matchdays – Boxing Day, December 29 and January 1 – on which teams could be required to play.
Football chiefs are increasingly concerned that players are heading for a possible burnout, with the extended season of 2019/20 then followed by a summer of international activity with the rescheduled European Championship last summer and the Nations League games this.
Premier League Fixtures 2022/23 Released
The Premier League have today released the full fixture list for the 2022/23 season, with defending champions Manchester City handed a tough tie to get their campaign underway.
Opening Weekend: 5th to 7th August
Pep Guardiola’s men will travel to London for a Super Sunday (August 7) clash with West Ham, against whom they had to come from 0-2 down to rescue a point during the titanic title race last term.
Their nearest rivals Liverpool will kickstart their bid to go one better with an opening day visit to newly-promoted Fulham, while Chelsea will take on Everton in a game that can loosely be described as the ‘Frank Lampard derby’.
Nottingham Forest will end a run of 23 years outside of the top flight with a trip to Newcastle United on Saturday August 6, while fellow promoted side Bournemouth get up and running on the same day by welcoming Aston Villa to the south coast.
Pre-World Cup Highlights
Chelsea against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge and Liverpool’s trip to Old Trafford are two of the most mouth-watering fixtures in August, while Forest will travel to the Etihad Stadium to take on the champions on August 31.
September sees Man City entertain Tottenham, Man United welcome old rivals Leeds to Old Trafford and Chelsea take on Liverpool, while some of the most eye-catching picks in October taking place on its first day – the local derbies in North London and Manchester guaranteeing a superb afternoon/evening in front of the TV. Liverpool will also take on Man City at Anfield on October 15.
The Football Association’s request to ensure that none of the ‘big six’ meet the week prior to the World Cup, November 12-13, has been granted by Premier League chiefs, with Gareth Southgate also keen to make sure his key players weren’t engaged in a season-defining game at such a vital time for the national team.
Season Restarts on Boxing Day
There will be a six-week hiatus from November 12 to December 26 while the World Cup unfolds, with Chelsea vs Man City (January 2) the ideal way to ring in 2023.
Who knows how pivotal the second meeting between Man City and Liverpool on April 1 will be, while the 2022/23 season is set to conclude a week later than normal on May 28 – will City need to win at Brentford to see off the threat of the Reds? They travel to Southampton on what will hopefully be as entertaining a final day of the campaign as it was in 2021/22.