Pretty much every football fan looks for the same three fixtures first when the list is announced: opening day, Boxing Day and the final day of the season.
For Chelsea, respectively, they are three home matches – against Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth. One of those in particular stands out and that is the challenge of Liverpool on the opening weekend of the season.
In the last four meetings between the two clubs – in all competitions – the match has ended goalless. That includes two finals that went to extra-time and two Premier League games. But Mauricio Pochettino has the chance to really make a statement in his first match as Chelsea head coach – and who better to do that against than Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool?
Chelsea supporters will be hoping Pochettino can make any way near the same sort of impact than Klopp has at Anfield over the past eight years. The Reds boss has won every possible trophy since joining the club and that is exactly what Pochettino has been brought in to try and replicate. To build a dynasty.
So making an early statement against Liverpool could be crucial to Pochettino's reign, especially when you look at the run of fixtures Chelsea have following the opening weekend. There are trips to West Ham United and Bournemouth, with three home games against Luton Town, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa in the Blues' opening six matches of the season.
If, and it is a big if, Pochettino can get off to the perfect start; the confidence that will instil in his squad cannot be overstated. The fact they haven't been able to beat Liverpool in so long. The 'new manager bounce', all of that jazz. The fixtures coming up after that.
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It might sound ridiculous to say but the opening game could have a really big impact on how Pochettino's first season back in England pans out. Of course it's not all down to that but it could work absolute wonders for the Argentine.
Starting in November, it's a real 'sink or swim' period for Chelsea. The Blues make the trip to Tottenham on November 4, in what will be a return to north London for Pochettino for the first time since moving to Stamford Bridge.
Following that is a home clash with champions Manchester City, which is always going to be extremely challenging, especially with Pep Guardiola looking to strengthen his team again this summer. Newcastle United away follows in what has become one of the most difficult fixtures in the Premier League calendar with the Magpies now a real force under Eddie Howe.
Brighton at home is after that and we saw last season just how difficult that can be for Chelsea. Hopefully the Blues will have Seagulls midfielder Moises Caicedo to use against his former club by then. Finally, a trip to Old Trafford follows.
Manchester United are looking to add to their squad in Erik ten Hag's second season and if last term is anything to go by, then the Red Devils are set to pose a really difficult test for Chelsea. That run of fixtures is going to be very tricky for the Blues, no doubt about it, but fans will be hoping there is at least some progression by then under Pochettino.
It is not going to be an overnight fix for the Argentine. However, he will be desperate to get his ideas across as early as possible as he looks to turn Chelsea into contenders once again.
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