The Premier League fixture list is out, and of course every team plays each other twice but there nevertheless remains plenty to be gleaned from Chelsea's outline. The Blues open their campaign with a stern test against Liverpool but it could be the perfect opportunity for Mauricio Pochettino to find some momentum.
The new Chelsea boss will hope to kick off the season with a glut of wins to get his team and supporters well and truly on side and with three of his first games at home, Pochettino will sense opportunity. Following Liverpool, Chelsea's August fixtures will be key to ensuring things start well as the Blues take on West Ham and Luton Town, before welcoming Nottingham Forest to Stamford Bridge in early September.
In order to improve on last term's 12th-placed finish, the Blues will have to prove they can beat teams in the top half of the table. They were only able to achieve that once during 2022/23.
While Pochettino will not be tasked with facing a team from a Champions League spot until late October, things quickly turn from there. The west London side will first take on Arsenal at home before welcoming Brentford to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea's new boss will then make his return to Tottenham before the visit of Manchester City and a trip to Newcastle before December begins with Brighton and Manchester United tasks.
It is impossible to skip over the fixture list without glancing at the Boxing Day fixtures and Chelsea have been gifted a match at home for the occasion. They will take on Crystal Palace with festivities underway and Luton Town away awaits before the year is out.
A second nightmare period lies in wait come February, with Chelsea facing a difficult run ahead of March's international break. A trip to Man City precedes a stretch of games against Tottenham, Brentford, Newcastle and Arsenal, with Burnley separating Manchester United when Premier League action returns.
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Should Chelsea have something to play for in the final weeks, they may be heartened by how the season could be capped off. Again the Blues have a key fixture at home with Bournemouth making the visit on the final day of the season. Sheffield United, Everton, Brighton, Aston Villa, West Ham and Nottingham Forest will all present challenges but also offer the opportunity for a good run, heading into the match against the Cherries.
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