The Premier League fixtures for the 2015-2016 season have been released, with Chelsea kicking off the defence of their title with a home game against Swansea on the 8th of August.
All of the fixtures are subject to change once the TV companies get involved, of course, but for new here’s a look at the fixtures for the season that Chelsea fans will be interested in.
It’s a reasonably comfortable start to the season for the Blues, with games against Swansea, West Brom and Crystal Palace bracketing a tricky tie away to Manchester City in the season’s second game on August 15th.
Into September and things look slightly more uncomfortable for the defending champions. They have to travel to Goodison Park for a game against Everton, before returning to Stamford Bridge for a London derby game versus Arsenal on September 19th. The month is rounded off with a trip back up North to face Newcastle at St. James’s Park.
October sees two home games in a row against Southampton and Aston Villa, followed by another London derby versus West Ham at the Boleyn Ground. The last game of October will involve the welcoming of a Steven Gerrard-less Liverpool to the Bridge, with the Reds having been the team that formed the guard of honour when Chelsea had won the title in 2015.
November sees just 3 fixtures as things stand, starting with an away trip to play Stoke before the Blues host Premier League new boys Norwich City. Then it’s yet another London derby as Chelsea head to White Hart Lane to face Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur.
December is, somewhat notoriously, the busiest month of the football calendar and things don’t ease up for Chelsea, with 5 fixtures as things currently stand. They kick off the Christmas period by hosting the Premier League’s other new boys Bournemouth. Then it’s a trip to the King Power Stadium to face the Leicester, the group that ended last season as the in-form team.
A week later and Chelsea host Sunderland on the 19th of December, followed by a Boxing Day fixture versus the final promoted team, Watford. December will be rounded off with a somewhat tasty match versus Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United at Old Trafford just two days after the game against The Hornets.
The new year starts off with a London derby as Chelsea travel for the return leg against Crystal Palace, then it’s West Brom arriving at the Bridge for an evening match on the 13th of January. Everton come to London for a game after that, and January is finished off with an always fun derby versus Arsenal at The Emirates.
February sees the Blues play away against Watford before hosting Manchester United then Newcastle at home. A trip to Southampton will round off the month of Valentines, with Jose Mourinho hoping he’ll be able to send some love letters home from the South Coast.
Games away to Norwich and home to Stoke come before Chelsea travel to Anfield for the return leg against Liverpool. The fixture resulted in Chelsea spoiling Liverpool’s title charge in 2014, so could this match have a say on the title once again this year? Regardless, a match at home to West Ham rounds off Chelsea’s March fixtures.
The penultimate month of the season will see Chelsea play 3 away games, starting with back to trips to Aston Villa and Swansea, followed by a home game against Manchester City. Another match that could have a significant say on where the Premier League title ends up in May. After City have been to Stamford Bridge the Blues travel to Dean Court to face Bournemouth. Then it’s back to London for a home game against London rivals Tottenham.
The title could be won by the time Chelsea are scheduled to travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland on May the 7th, or it could all come down to the wire when Chelsea face Leicester on the final day of the season.
Expect matches to move around for Sky and BT, but Jose Mourinho will doubtless be quietly pleased with 5 home games in Chelsea’s opening 10 fixtures, with the away games coming against the likes of West Brom, Newcastle and West Ham.