The Premier League’s fixture list for the 2022-23 season has been released this morning.
Two of the league’s biggest new arrivals Haaland and Núñez will be hoping to hit the ground running in their opening matches and justify their massive price tags.
Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag will be looking to kick start his new era at Old Trafford on the right foot.
101 Great Goals takes a look at some of the biggest talking points in the Premier League’s new fixture list.
Erling Haaland’s debut
Erling Haaland’s arrival at the Etihad is possibly the story of the summer.
The Norwegian’s first match in the English top-flight will see him travel to east London.
Manchester City are away at West Ham in their opening fixture, a game which they slipped up in last season.
The Hammers held them 2-2 draw at the London Stadium back in May.
The defending champions have a fairly favourable run of games after that, playing two newly promoted sides and three sides from midtable last season.
Haaland’s first six fixtures:
West Ham (A)
Bournemouth (H)
Newcastle (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Nottingham Forest (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick on his Dortmund debut. Will he do the same against the Hammers? (Photo by David Inderlied/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Darwin Núñez’s debut
Darwin Núñez arrives at Anfield with huge expectations on his shoulders.
The striker must, first of all, replace the incredible Sadio Mane whilst also having the pressure of costing up to €100 million.
His first game for the Reds will see him travel to the capital to take on the newly-promoted Fulham, handing Nunez an ‘easy’ first assignment in theory.
Núñez could then quickly make himself a hero on Merseyside as Liverpool are at Old Trafford on August 20, before a Merseyside derby at Goodison park which could earn him more credit in the bank.
Núñez’s first six fixtures:
Fulham (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Manchester United (A)
Bournemouth (H)
Newcastle United (H)
Everton (A)
Darwin Nunez arrives with big shoes to fill at Anfield (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images).
Erik ten Hag’s debut
Erik ten Hag has his work cut out as he attempts to pick Manchester United up from their worst ever Premier League finish last season.
The Ten Hag era at Old Trafford will commence with the Red Devils hosting Brighton on August 7, with Manchester United having been smashed 4-0 in the most recent clash between the sides last campaign, albeit at the AMEX stadium.
Then, after a trip to Brentford, he faces his first major task, as he prepares his side to face Liverpool. After that, he faces a trip to the King Power as well as welcoming Arsenal to Old Trafford in what is a tricky start to the season.
Ten Hag’s first six fixtures:
Brighton (H)
Brentford (A)
Liverpool (H)
Southampton (A)
Leicester City (A)
Arsenal (H)
Manchester United’s manager Erik ten Hag has been handed a tricky start to the season (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Promoted teams’ openers
Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest are the three teams who will be added to the Premier League this season.
For Fulham and Bournemouth, these are familiar settings, but for Forest, it is their first top-flight campaign since 1999.
The Cottagers will be looking to remain in the Premier League this time around with their last three top-flight finishes ending in relegation, and it doesn’t get any easier as they welcome Liverpool to Craven cottage for the curtain-raiser.
Meanwhile, the Cherries are back in the division following a two-season absence, and host Aston Villa in their opening game.
The major story, however, is the return of two-time European champions Nottingham Forest who are finally back in the big time.
Steve Cooper will be hoping to continue his incredible chapter at the City Ground having guided Forest from the bottom of the Championship after 8 games to play-off winners.
Nottingham Forest’s first game:
Newcastle (A)
Bournemouth’s first game:
Aston Villa (H)
Fulham’s first game:
Liverpool (H)
Brennan Johnson of Nottingham Forest celebrates after scoring a penalty during the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi-Final match between Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United at the City Ground, Nottingham on Tuesday 17th May 2022. (Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
