- Football Fans React
By Tolúlopé Olátúnji
Premier League defending champions, Manchester City, will face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Matchday 1 as the 2024/25 English Premier League campaign begins on August 17, 2024.
These two football giants are slated to clash in the highly anticipated opening fixture of the new season, set for the weekend on 17 August. The comprehensive fixture list of 380 matches was released on Tuesday. The final round of games is scheduled for Sunday, May 25, 2025, with all matches kicking off simultaneously.
Meanwhile, the 2024 summer transfer window opened on Friday, June 14, aligning with the start of Euro 2024. The window will close at 11 PM UK time on Friday, August 30.
Notably, the Premier League has moved Deadline Day forward to sync with other major European leagues, following discussions with leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France.
This season, the Premier League welcomes three newly-promoted clubs from the Championship: Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton.
Leicester return to the Premier League after a brief stint in the Championship. They aim to reclaim their formidable status, reminiscent of their fairy-tale title-winning season in 2015/2016.
Additionally, Ipswich makes a much-anticipated return to the Premier League, ending a 22-year absence from the top flight.Southhampton are back in the league after just one season in the Championship. Known for their strong youth academy, they will aim to secure a stable position in the league.
As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on these fixtures to see how the teams perform. The Premier League continues to be the pinnacle of football excitement, with every match bringing the possibility of surprise and drama. Fans can expect a season full of intense battles, stunning goals, and unforgettable moments.
Fans are eagerly counting down the days to kickoff, buzzing with excitement over a schedule promising thrilling matches and fierce competition from the start.
Oke Umurhohwo reacted on X (formerly Twitter), saying: “Chelsea v Man City was so predictable and typical of the league guys. They really want to put Master vs. Apprentice from day one.”
Another X user commented: “When are we going to start talking about the fixtures being rigged? Every season, Man City will have only one or two tough games within the last 10 games of the season. This is happening every season now.”
Benjamin Lockhart shared his thoughts on X: “Finally, the new season’s schedule is out. I’ll spare you the details, but suffice it to say that Manchester City’s already got a tough start with Liverpool and Chelsea waiting in the wings.”
Below are the 2024/2025 opening day fixtures:
Arsenal vs Wolves
Man United vs Fulham
Everton vs Brighton
Ipswich Town vs Liverpool
Newcastle United vs Southampton
Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth
West Ham vs Aston Villa
Brentford vs Crystal Palace
Chelsea vs Man City
Leicester City vs Tottenham
