How Premier League fixture list is decided as Arsenal's title rivals get another easy start

The 2024/25 Premier League fixture list has presented Arsenal with an opening game against Wolves, and the Gunners will hope to start their campaign with a home win as Mikel Arteta's side strive to finally win the title.

There could have been tougher tests for Arsenal, but the fixture computer has thrown up a familiar pattern for Liverpool's opening game. New manager Arne Slot will take charge of his first league match against newly-promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

It will be the Tractor Boys' first top-flight game since 2002 and, though facing a promoted side comes with risks, Liverpool will be heavily expected to travel back from East Anglia with three points. Bizarrely, it will be the fifth time In six seasons that Liverpool have faced a promoted side on the opening weekend – arguably giving the Merseyside club a more favourable start than Arsenal in the title race.

Apart from last season's challenging opener against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, which ended in a 1-1 draw, Liverpool have often been pitted against teams freshly promoted from the Championship. This trend started with a 4-1 home victory over Norwich City in 2019, followed by a thrilling 4-3 win against Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United to begin the following season.

In 2021, Norwich returned to the Premier League only to suffer a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Carrow Road. However, Jurgen Klopp's side were held to a 2-2 draw by recently crowned Championship winners Fulham at Craven Cottage in 2022.

The Premier League fixture list, a process that takes nearly 18 months to finalise, is largely determined by a computer following the play-off final. Fixture compiler Glenn Thompson from IT services company Atos explained how the system works after receiving dates for international breaks and cup competitions.

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"We place each club in a pairing grid, which defines the dates they will be at home," he said. "For every date in the season, the fixture computer knows which clubs are at home and who are away and then it will mix them up randomly to determine the matches."

When asked if the previous season's fixture list influences the next set of games, Thompson responded: "If there are issues with a club's fixtures one year, you try to take that into account the next year. You try to ensure if there is an undesirable set of fixtures, they don't get it two seasons in a row.

"If we have got any issues, we might have to go back and start again to produce a different set of fixtures. I'm reviewing the fixtures all the time to ensure other things can be met."

Arsenal will start the season at home and look to pick up where they left off, having won 16 of their last 18 games during the recent title run-in. Meanwhile, Liverpool will hope to be in title contention but could be at a crossroads as Slot begins to fill the void left by Jurgen Klopp's departure.

The Premier League season will kick-off on Friday, August 15 with Manchester United welcoming Fulham to Old Trafford. The standout match from the opening round of fixtures sees Enzo Maresca's Chelsea hosting reigning champions Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, August 17 in a 4.30pm kick-off.

Fresh from their top-four finish, Aston Villa will be heading to West Ham United, now managed by Julen Lopetegui. Meanwhile, play-off victors Southampton have a lengthy journey to Newcastle United for their first match.