Liverpool v Leeds United on the opening day: 2020-21 Premier League fixtures released

Tough trip for Premier League newcomers

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates with the Premier League trophy after the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday July 22, 2020. See PA story SOCCER Liverpool. Photo credit should read: Phil Noble/NMC Pool/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah with the Premier League trophy after the 2019-20 season. PA

Dominic Hart

Aug 20, 2020

OPENING FIXTURES

Saturday September 12

Crystal Palace v Southampton

Fulham v Arsenal

Liverpool v Leeds United

Tottenham v Everton

West Brom v Leicester

West Ham v Newcastle

Monday September 14

Brighton v Chelsea

Sheffield United v Wolves

To be rescheduled

Burnley v Manchester United

Manchester City v Aston Villa

Champions Liverpool will face promoted Leeds United on the opening day of the 2020-21 Premier League season as they bid to retain their crown.

Fixtures for the new season, starting on September 12, were released on Thursday and revealed an intriguing first round.

Runner-up Manchester City will be up against Aston Villa, while Chelsea go to Brighton.

Juventus' Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP

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The new season will be five weeks shorter than usual because of the late end to 2019-20 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and will finish on May 23.

As a result, the Premier League has scrapped the winter break because of fixture congestion.

Manchester City, who reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and Europa League semi-finalists Manchester United will be given delayed starts even though they appear on the list for the first weekend.

With Champions League and Europa League group games arranged for October, November and December, there are no spare midweek dates for the Premier League to slot spare fixtures into until the end of January.

How Liverpool players rated last season

File photo dated 11-01-2020 of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday June 11, 2020. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is enjoying watching his players create their own atmosphere as his side warmed up for their Premier League return with a 6-0 Anfield friendly win over Blackburn. See PA story SOCCER Liverpool. Photo credit should read John Walton/PA Wire.

LIVERPOOL 2019/20 RATINGS: Jurgen Klopp - 9 out of 10: The likeable German deserves huge credit for overseeing the best start to any season by any team and delivered a first league title to Anfield in 30 years. Late goals were a feature of this Reds team often inspired by the manager's substitutions. PA