Liverpool face Leeds, Arsenal and Chelsea in tricky start to title defence
London, Thursday
Premier League champions Liverpool have been handed a brutal start to the defence of their title with games against Leeds, Chelsea and Arsenal to begin the 2020-21 season that kicks-off on September 12.
Liverpool welcome Marcelo Bielsa’s Championship winners to Anfield on the opening weekend, followed by a trip to Stamford Bridge and a clash with Mikel Arteta’s FA Cup holders in the third game.
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Jurgen Klopp’s men also head to Goodison Park for the Merseyside derby with Everton in just their fifth game.
Matchday eight pits them away to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City - the side they dethroned as Premier League champions last season - and they host Leicester after that.
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s clash with Tottenham on October 3 at Old Trafford could be one of the first fixtures to have fans inside a stadium since the start of lockdown in March, with the government looking to allow 30 per cent of capacity crowds from October 1.
United will begin their campaign on the second week of the season against Crystal Palace - their start has been moved back, along with Manchester City’s, due to their respective late runs in this season’s European competition.
United face a gruelling October - after Tottenham, they are away at Newcastle before hosting Chelsea and Arsenal at Old Trafford.
They host neighbours City for the first time on December 12 and are away to Leicester on Boxing Day but don’t play Liverpool until January 16.
City have a tricky start to their campaign with a trip to Wolves in the second week followed by a home clash against Leicester, a trip to Leeds and a home tie against Arsenal.
In terms of a potential title run-in, Liverpool’s last three games are West Brom away, Burnley away and Crystal Palace at home, while they also travel to Old Trafford in their fifth-last fixture.
City have Newcastle away, Brighton away and finish at home to Everton, while they also face Chelsea in their fourth-last game of the 2020-21 campaign.
Chelsea start with a trip to Brighton before Liverpool head to Stamford Bridge. After playing Klopp’s men, they meet newly promoted West Brom. -Dailymail
