The 2022/23 Premier League fixtures are out and the opening round has thrown up some belters.
The season kicks off with a mouthwatering London Derby as Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace entertain his old club Arsenal. The Eagles performed well under the former Gunners midfielder last season with a comfortable 12th place finish and they will provide a tough test for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who are hoping to improve on their fifth place.
And the two best teams in England will be heading to the capital city over the opening weekend too.
Manchester City fans will get the chance to see their marquee signing Erling Braut Haaland on 13th August when newly-promoted Bournemouth are the visitors to the Etihad Stadium.
But before that, the Sky Blues head to East London to face West Ham on the opening weekend. The Hammers are in the Europa League again after finishing seventh last season and David Moyes will be hoping to hang on to his prize asset Jarrod Bowen. It’s not the easiest start for Pep Guardiola’s champions, who are hoping to win a fifth Premier League title in six campaigns.
2021/22 runners-up Liverpool will head to the west side of London to play newly-promoted Fulham at Craven Cottage, the most picturesque ground in European football. But Jurgen Klopp’s Reds will not be in the West End to do any sight-seeing since they will be City’s biggest challengers once again.
Liverpool’s pursuit of striker Darwin Nunez came to a conclusion this week as the Benfica striker put pen to paper and will join the Merseysiders for a princely sum of €100-M.
He hopes to emulate his countryman Luis Suarez who also starred for Liverpool, and the 22-year-old Uruguayan has every chance. He scored 34 goals in all competitions for Benfica last season and is ready for the Premier League challenge.
Chelsea open their campaign with a rendezvous with former playing legend Frank Lampard, now manager of Everton. The two sides meet at Goodison Park just over three months after their last encounter there, a match the Toffees won at a time they looked all but doomed to relegation, while high-flying Chelsea were confirming their Champions League spot.
Lampard can expect no favours from his old club, with both sides on zero points and everything to play for. Chelsea and Inter Milan have been inching closer to an agreement to move Romelu Lukaku back to the Serie A club and it remains to be seen who will be leading the line for the Blues in attack this season, but the excellent Mason Mount is sure to be a big player in Tuchel’s side once again.
Outside the big three, Tottenham could be dark horses for the title if their early Premier League 2022 results keep pace with the teams at the top.
It’s a tall order for sure, as the Sky Blues in particular might be even better than they were last term. But in Antonio Conte, Tottenham have a head coach who is a proven winner. The fiery Italian won the Premier League with Chelsea in 2017 and, just one year ago, he led Inter Milan to the Scudetto.
The pre-season Premier League 2022 betting odds predict a tough campaign for all three promoted teams, but Nottingham Forest have been out of the top-flight for 23 seasons and will be desperate to avoid a speedy return to the Championship.
They open the campaign with a trip to Newcastle, the richest club in the world, and many neutrals will be hoping the newcomers can spring a surprise.
Fulham, promoted as champions, will relish their chance at another pop at Premier League survival and a home match against Klopp’s Liverpool is an exciting taster of what is to come, while Bournemouth start with a winnable opener at home to Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa.
Leeds United will hope for a better season than the last. The Whites survived the drop on the final day when all seemed lost, thanks to a win away to Brentford and results elsewhere going their way. Leeds were beset by injury problems throughout the campaign and, if they can keep the physio room quiet, then a repeat of their top half-finish in 2020 is possible.
The Whites have a great chance to get off the mark when they host Wolves on Saturday 6th August.
It promises to be another enthralling campaign and you can follow the 2022/23 season every step of the way right here at SBOTOP.
Roll on August the 5th.
The Opening Weekend Fixtures in Full
Friday August 5th
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal
Saturday August 6th
Fulham vs Liverpool
Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
Newcastle United vs Nottingham Forest
Leeds United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Leicester City vs Brentford
Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton
Everton vs Chelsea
Sunday August 7th
Manchester United vs Brighton
West Ham United vs Manchester City
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