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Premier League 2023-24 fixtures: Chelsea take on Liverpool opening-weekend clash as Man Utd host Wolves, Arsenal face Nottingham Forest & Man City travel to Burnley

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Premier League 2023-24 fixtures: Chelsea take on Liverpool opening-weekend clash as Man Utd host Wolves, Arsenal face Nottingham Forest & Man City travel to Burnley

The 2023-24 Premier League season is just a few months away, and GOAL brings you all you need to know about the upcoming fixtures.

The 2022-23 campaign may have only just drawn to a close, but clubs’ preparations will already be underway ahead of their next set of fixtures.

Last term, Manchester City were able to capitalise on Arsenal’s poor end to the season and cruise to a ninth league title. They will be hoping to make it 10 next year, although a new and improved Gunners side will no doubt be out for revenge. The likes of Newcastle and Manchester United will want to spoil the party, too.

The emergence of sides such as Brighton and Aston Villa made the race for Europe more hotly contested than ever before. The 2023-24 campaign looks set to be even tighter, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham looking to bounce back from their disappointing seasons.

At the other end of the table, all three promoted clubs survived the drop, as England’s top flight welcomes Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town in 2023-24. How will they get on in their new surroundings?

Read on as GOAL brings you everything you need to know about the 2023-24 Premier League fixtures!

The opening-weekend fixtures

Date Kick-off time (UK) Fixture

11/08/2023 20:00 Burnley v Manchester City

12/08/2023 15:00 Bournemouth v West Ham United

12/08/2023 12:30 Arsenal v Nottingham Forest

12/08/2023 15:00 Brighton v Luton Town

12/08/2023 15:00 Everton v Fulham

12/08/2023 17:30 Newcastle United v Aston Villa

12/08/2023 15:00 Sheffield United v Crystal Palace

13/08/2023 14:00 Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur

13/08/2023 16:30 Chelsea v Liverpool

14/08/2023 20:00 Manchester United v Wolves

Vincent Kompany will travel to former employers Manchester City for his first taste of Premier League management, after his Burnley side immediately bounced back from their relegation in 2021-22.

Fellow newcomers Luton and Sheffield United face either member of the ‘M23 Derby’, with the Hatters travelling to Brighton and the Blades hosting Crystal Palace.

Undoubtedly the standout game from the opening weekend, though, is Chelsea against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

Both suffered disappointing campaigns last term, and will once again be vying for European qualification in 2023-24 – even if their last four meetings have finished goalless.

The final-day matches

Date Kick-off time (UK) Fixture

19/05/2024 16:00 Arsenal v Everton

19/05/2024 16:00 Brentford v Newcastle United

19/05/2024 16:00 Brighton v Manchester United

19/05/2024 16:00 Burnley v Nottingham Forest

19/05/2024 16:00 Chelsea v Bournemouth

19/05/2024 16:00 Crystal Palace v Aston Villa

19/05/2024 16:00 Liverpool v Wolves

19/05/2024 16:00 Luton Town v Fulham

19/05/2024 16:00 Manchester City v West Ham United

19/05/2024 16:00 Sheffield United v Tottenham Hotspur

With there likely to be a lot on the line by the time the Premier League’s final day of fixtures comes around, there are fascinating matchups up and down the table.

Manchester United and Newcastle face arguably the toughest challenges at the top end, with matches against 2022-23 high-flyers Brighton and Brentford, respectively. The Seagulls did the league double over United in the last campaign.

Elsewhere among the league’s new recruits, Sheffield United’s matchup against Tottenham could be tough, especially if the former are battling to avoid relegation. But all three promoted clubs will have home advantage on the final day, with Luton hosting Fulham and and Burnley taking on Nottingham Forest.

The games you can’t afford to miss & key dates

Derby days are always the standout fixtures of any season, with champions Manchester City travelling to rivals United on October 28. The return fixture sees City host United on March 2.

While Arsenal were worlds away from Tottenham last campaign, the north London derby is always one to look out for. The Gunners host Spurs on September 23, before Tottenham welcome their noisy neighbours on April 27.

A particular derby last season saw fierce clashes between the Premier League’s top two teams. Arsenal host City on October 7, with Pep Guardiola’s side on hosting duties for Mikel Arteta’s men on March 30.

The 2023-24 campaign could see some familiar faces meet up on foreign territory. Declan Rice’s return to West Ham for Arsenal – should the deal go through – would come at the Emirates on December 26, and at the London Stadium on February 10.

Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino will return to Tottenham for the first time since 2019 on November 4, when Chelsea travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge will be played on February 24.

And what a story it has been for Luton Town. The Hatters were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in their history, and their famous Kenilworth Road stadium will host champions City on December 9. The reverse fixture comes on April 13.

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Ramsdale’s Time At Arsenal Coming To An End —Premier League Legend

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Premier League legendary American goalkeeper Brad Friedel has said he is certain that Aaron Ramsdale’s time at Arsenal is coming to an end.

Ramsdale has been overlooked for selection in past two games, with summer signing David Raya getting the nod.

The Spanish goalkeeper joined Arsenal from Brentford on a £3million loan deal with a purchase option of £27m.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has insisted to the media that he will pick his goalkeeper based on tactical reasons.

But the fact that Raya has started in both the Premier League and now Champions League has many questioning his statements.

One of those is Friedel, who has the third-most appearances of any goalkeeper in Premier League history.

When asked if it’s over for Ramsdale if Raya starts this weekend’s north London derby against Tottenham, the American replied on talkSPORT: “Absolutely.”

“I thought from the second they signed him they signed him to be the new no.1, I don’t think you pay that much money for someone with one year left on their contract, I know he signed an extra contract and went on loan, but that was for other reasons.

“I think they really liked Raya so when he became available they pushed for him.”

“It’s very harsh on Ramsdale but it’s the coach’s decision,” the former Liverpool and Tottenham keeper said.

“I’m assuming Ramsdale at the end of this season will end up having to do what Matt Turner did at the end of the previous season and find another place to play.

“I know it’s early and people will say you have to see what he does, but I think Raya was brought in as the no.1, you thought maybe they could be swapping if they’d played Ramsdale in the Champions League, but that didn’t happen.

“I think we’ll see Raya in goal and he’ll be the incumbent no.1 this season.”

Ramsdale joined Arsenal in the summer of 2021, leaving Sheffield United in a £30m deal.

Last season the 25-year-old almost helped the Gunners to a first league title in almost two decades, which Friedel thinks will see him join another top club where he can play every match

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Nigerian United fans blame Ten Hag, Glazers for horrible run

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The once mighty Manchester United find themselves 13th in the league ahead of tomorrow’s fixture against Burnley and have lost four of their opening six games of a season in all competitions for the first time since 1986/87 which was the same season that Sir Alex Ferguson was called in to take charge of the club which should send a worrying message to Erik Ten Hag.

Wednesday night’s 4-3 heartbreak at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League etched a grim record in history – the first time they’ve conceded three or more goals in three consecutive games since the bleak days of 1978. It’s no disgrace to fall to the might of Bayern Munich, the fact that this came on the heels of 3-1 losses to Brighton and Arsenal in the Premier League reveals an issue at United

In total, the record 20-time league champions have conceded a staggering 14 goals in all competitions, and the heat on Ten Hag is rising like the temperature in the Sahara.

United goalkeeper Andre Onana and the defence have come under fire for the chaotic way they conceded two goals in the first half against Bayern. Onana admitted that his performance against Bayern was responsible for the defeat. “In the beginning we start really good. After my mistake we lose the control of the game,” he admitted.

“It’s a difficult situation for us, for me, especially because I’m the one who let the team down. But the team was very good, I think it was because of me that we didn’t win this game.”

Speaking on TNT Sports, former Man United star Scholes claimed his former side were guilty of collapsing in adversity.

Scholes conceded United had done well to score three times against the German champions on their home turf but believes Bayern could have inflicted even more damage on Ten Hag’s under-pressure team.

“There is a weakness to them,’ Scholes said. “There is a soft underbelly and they do seem to collapse a bit when things are going wrong.

“They scored three goals and that is good, but I felt Bayern could then turn it on and score another. I thought there was a big distance between the teams, in that second half especially.

“First half I thought they did well but still conceded two goals through a lack of concentration. There is experience in the team but I don’t think it is being used. Concentration in Europe is so important, once you concede one goal, it can turn into two and three.”

Some United fans have expressed their displeasure over the poor start of their team to the season with some blaming Ten Hag while majority blamed the ownership under the Glazers.

United fan and journalist, Adekunle Salami believes that the club have not recruited well enough saying, “It is a tough time because the transfer was not well handled, Ten Hag was looking for a striker, we were expecting Osimhen or Harry Kane. Eventually, they said there was no money and they went for Rasmus (Hojlund), someone untested in England, he is just promising, and with such a striker, your chances of fighting for the title are limited.

“It is a slow start, I mean last season, we started equally slow and somehow came up to still finish as third but that is now where Man United should be. We are supposed to be winning titles, not only in England but in Europe so I think this coach is still tinkering with the team which should not be at this time.”

Salami told PUNCH Sports Extra that he believes the Glazers only care about money and not the fans.

“If they sell the club, there will be fresh breath in that team, there will be something new because they (Glazers) are focused on the business end but the fans are not happy, they must have that bragging right, but the Glazers win or lose just want to make their money but fans want to boast of titles and cannot, and that is not good enough,” he said.

Nigerian filmmaker and lawyer, Ayo Shonaiya has criticised Ten Hag’s decision to continue starting Onana in goal.

“I hope I’m not being too alarmist, but I’m beginning to think Andre Onana is not a natural goalkeeper. He’s a midfielder who can play in goal if the keeper gets a red card after all subs are used. Erik Ten Hag, please take note. Don’t let this become another Maguire situation.

“De Gea had a rough start at United then became one of our greatest keepers, but this Onana ball playing keeper I don’t know. How can you collect 14 goals in five games as a United keeper? Sir Alex would drop him for the Burnley game if he was still manager, but I’m sure Ten Hag would still keep his Ajax ‘son’ in goal on Saturday. I really wish he comes good because I kinda like the guy, but if he keeps conceding goals like he has been doing, Onana out,” Shonaiya wrote.

Another United fan, Nurudeen Obalola blamed Ten Hag’s stubborn decisions alongside the inuries they have suffered this season saying, “It is not much of a surprise because we are dealing with injuries, but that is not an excuse, they should be doing better, but the injuries have been a big part.

“As for the coach, he makes some bad selection decisions, and he has been a bit stubborn by sticking to decisions that are not working.”

Tope Fasuyi, a Nigerian in diaspora who used to work as a security personnel at Anfield and witnessed Man United get beaten 7-0 back in March said, “I am tired of supporting Man United because of the Glazers, they don’t seem to care about the protests from fans, the club is big enough and always makes them money so they aren’t chasing results like other owners.

“Then Ten Hag is too stubborn as a manager and rigid. It is almost like he doesn’t adapt to the games as they are going on. Anyone with eyes can see that Eriksen can’t play against a pacy team anymore and his obsession with players trained in Holland has not yielded results on the pitch. If I was Ten Hag I’d resign after this because he even seems to have lost the trust of the dressing room.”

A fan who asked to remain anonymous fan says United have been woeful and queries the passion of the owners.

“For me, it is a horrible start, we can make excuses for the coach and say injuries, a couple of off-field issues, but that said, there hasn’t been one match this season that United have looked like deserving winners.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have owners who care about the club or who are even concerned about the fans, they are just happy to make their dividends each year since the club still makes a lot of money,” she said.

United will look to bounce back against Burnley on Saturday, but the pressure is already on and they need to get three points to lift the doom and gloom surrounding Old Trafford

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Joao Felix took serious pay cut to make Barcelona transfer possible

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Joao Felix has revealed that he took a serious pay cut in order to join Barcelona from Atletico Madrid and is open to completing a permanent transfer.

The Portugal international forward made his way to Camp Nou on an initial season-long loan agreement towards the end of the summer window.

He never shied away from the fact that Barca were his “dream” club – much to the annoyance of some of those in the Spanish capital.

Felix, who spent time on loan at Chelsea last season, has told Mundo Deportivo of making personal sacrifices in order to link up with the reigning La Liga champions

“It’s true I gave up a significant part of my salary, but I needed a change. I needed to come to a place where I can play my style of football and I have always said I think this is the ideal place. Things are going well – I didn’t expect to start so well – and it was an effort I needed to make to be able to find joy playing football again.”

Felix has registered three goals and an assist through three appearances for Barca in La Liga and Champions League competition and would welcome the opportunity to stay on in Catalunya if Atletico play ball in future negotiations.

He added: “Well, for me it depends on how the season ends. Afterwards, Barcelona is the one who has to negotiate with Atleti and that depends after Atleti, if they want to make things easier or not. But those are business things, values, which I don’t get involved in. I do my job on the field, I try to do my best so that they want to sign me in the end and that thing about values, whether I go or not go or for how much, doesn’t interest me.”

There is no purchase option within Felix’s deal at Barcelona, meaning that the 23-year-old – who joined Atletico for €126 million (£109m/$134m) back in 2019 – is going to have to play his way into contention for another big-money move

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