Chelsea has a favorable Premier League schedule next season

The Premier League fixture list is finally out for the upcoming season and Chelsea was certainly one of the happier teams.

The Premier League released its 2020/21 fixture list yesterday. As clubs and their fans got a glimpse of the season ahead, the reactions from around the league were naturally a mixed bag. Chelsea has to be one of the happier groups on the day after seeing its schedule. In the end, every team plays home and away matches against the other 19 clubs; it’s how they’re spaced out that makes all the difference.

For clubs like West Ham, who faces Arsenal, Wolves, Leicester, Tottenham and Liverpool, back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back following the first game of the season, the scheduling can be cruel. Another example of this ruthlessness is newly promoted Leeds United traveling to Anfield to open the year. However, the cards fell just right for the Blues.

Chelsea was able to avoid a run matches against unfavorable opponents until the last month of the season. In May, Frank Lampard’s side will square off against Manchester City (A), Arsenal (H) and Leicester City (H) before ending the season on the road at Villa Park. Aside from the last month of the year, Chelsea’s toughest stretch comes in January when it plays Man City and Leicester in a 10-day span. Otherwise, two-straight matches against top class opposition is avoided.

The Blues will begin the season two days later than a majority of the league due to the Champions League ending their elongated campaign late. Chelsea travels to England’s southern coast to take on Brighton to kick off its 2020/21 season on September 14. Lampard’s side then hits the ground running hosting the champions, Liverpool, five days later. Following that massive match-up, the Blues have to wait more than a month to take the pitch alongside a top six team—going to Old Trafford on October 24.

Some other notable matches and their corresponding dates throughout the year include: vs. Tottenham (Nov. 28), vs. Leeds United (Dec. 5), at Arsenal (Boxing Day), at Tottenham (Feb. 3), vs. Manchester United (Feb. 27), at Leeds (March 13), at Liverpool (March 20) and vs. Fulham (May 1).

The final month of the season is a gauntlet in which could decide the Blues’ season. Lampard will aim to have his team’s fate sealed by the time those fixtures come around, but if any race is as tight as the top four race was this season, Chelsea could be in trouble. Even more emphasis will be put onto the Blues hitting the ground running this year as the late run of fixtures could prove to be a handful for any side. In this instance, the saving grace is that the team’s matches in April are relatively stress-free. Chelsea hosts West Brom and Brighton while making cross-town trips to Selhurst Park and the London Stadium in the season’s penultimate month.

The Blues escaped a fixture reveal with a much easier schedule than that of years prior in the end. Lampard and his players will be licking their chops while looking at the opening month and a half, even if it does include a bout with the title holders.