Premier League Fixtures Announced

Chelsea at home for the opening win!

Tough opener, but got a great recent home record against them.

Home fixtures for the first and last games. Nice.

Not a bad first month. Home for the first and final games of the season.

Blue flares at the ready, Danny!!

I quite like having Chelsea as our first game of the season.

It should properly fire up the fans, ensuring we have the sort of atmosphere that was being conjured-up back in May, and Frank will be abso-fucking-lutely desperate to tear them a new one.

The next 4 after that are all winnable, and then the derby will be whatever it will be (dodgy VAR decisions; prima-donnas claiming they were shot by blue-clad snipers; perfectly good goals ruled offside etc.)

UTFT!

At least we only have Brighton, Wolves and Bournemouth to worry about in our relegation battle.

Chelsea is a 5:30 pm kick-off on the Saturday afternoon. Thought Sky didn't announce their TV games until at least a couple of weeks after the fixtures were announced?

Great having both first and last games at home. We desperately need to get off to a good start. The away fixtures at Brentford and Leeds will give a good indication of which direction we are heading in.

Unlike last season, we will need to pick up points away from home if we are to stay in the top flight. Five points from Villa, Brentford and Leeds should set us on course for a relatively calm season.

It's unusual to be at home for both the first and last games. Fine by me though.

Attacking players need to be sorted before end of August. It's not beyond the possibility that Richarlison could be in a Chelsea shirt.

Nice thought, John, but I think we had 10 points after the first 4 games last time? And that was rather far removed from a "relatively calm season".

I still cannot understand why, after years and years of watching football, people still try to predict the results. Don't we ever learn???

Not only home for the first and final games but also Boxing Day and the first game of the New Year,

Got the fixtures set up good home game to start – just need the bloody right players in to give them a game.

Considering there’s a large gap in the season due to the World Cup, there doesn’t seem to be too many midweek fixtures. I can only see two, Leeds and Newcastle, both away. I would have thought there would have been quite a few midweek games this coming season.

Michael @ 12. Yes, if we hadn't started brightly last season we'd have gone down. Leeds and Brentford away are, therefore, exactly the sort of fixtures we need to pick up points in to dodge the relegation bullet and not rapidly descend into another bottom-of-the-table dog fight. My cardiologist demands it.

Micheal, such as when we play relegation candidates.

The biggest surprise is us being at home on Boxing Day. To quote my late father, "that hasn't happened since Adam was a lad"

I always think it's nice to play one of the 'big teams' in the opener in the hope they haven't truly got up to speed yet but of course it's impossible to predict.

The main and rather sad thing that occurs to me is that after last season (and the last few seasons?) there are basically no matches that I look at now and think 'that should probably be 3 points for us!"

Sam (18) - It used to be easy to pick out the fixtures that were at least a draw.

I hate to say it but at points last season, my favourite fixture was no fixture. It saved a weekend of anxiety followed by pain, anger and a feeling of hopelessness!

It's a long old season and we have to play everyone twice. I'm never too concerned with the fixtures list therefore.

As I see it, it'll be difficult for any club to oust the Rich 6 from the top 6 spots.

Below that you've got a few sides with good squads, good managers and a bit of money (and Newcastle who have a lot of money).

If Lampard is prepared to be pragmatic and we recruit effectively then we can be part of that group. None of them are outstanding.

In my view, next season is about reversing our downward trajectory, getting into the top 10, trying to sneak Europa League and going for the cups big time.

That's something to build on when we start our BMD era.

Away on Boxing Day, Liverpool again getting that favourable home fixture – check.

Home derby first – check.

Home on New Year's Day with a shit hungover atmosphere – check.

How does this happen every year, rather than 50:50 chance? Answers to the Premier League is bent.

Ian, what season's fixture list are you looking at?

Rob,

That's interesting about the limited number of midweek fixtures – there is another, I think, in Newcastle at home, 25 April. By my quick count, we had 8 in 21-22 and 20-21.

Looks like only the FA Cup 3rd and 4th Rounds have dedicated weekends? But having the 5th Round midweek has been a thing, I guess.

Perhaps it's down to the dreaded International Breaks not disrupting the bulk of the season, albeit they are concentrated into 6 weeks in beautiful Qatar.

Why do I feel scared when looking through the fixtures match by match? We'll be ok this time. Won't we?

(Tony, I enjoyed the international weekends most as well.)

The perfect season to win the FA Cup.

I'm with Michael (12) - I'm just taking this shit one match at a time.

I do think opening against Chelsea could work in our favor. It should guarantee a fired up home crowd that will hopefully carry over the positivity and solidarity from the end of last season.

Fixtures seem a bit jumbled in terms of easy and hard fixtures. Ideal to have a nice run of fixtures to get points on the board and get some confidence. Panic can set in if a few of them don’t go our way.

Home to Brighton on 2nd January 2022, home to Brighton 2nd January 2023. Hopefully with a different result.

With the World Cup being played for the first time in the middle of the season, we will play 16 games before it starts and 22 games after the World Cup.

I suppose this will definitely increase the activity in the January transfer window with the majority of games still to be played. Also with teams now being allowed to use 5 substitutions, this will definitely favour the bigger clubs.

I think the other point is: How will this unusual break in the season affect the teams who have very few playing in the competition against those clubs who have most of their squad involved? Certainly it increases the likelihood of these players playing in the World Cup to pick up injuries.

Also what do the teams who have few players involved do, as arranging any possible friendly fixtures in this period would be almost impossible. Do these clubs give players not involved a couple of weeks rest during this period?

Rob, at the last Chelsea home fixture, I couldn't see my chips and my eyes were streaming beyond severe hayfever!!

Did you have to announce the late kick off? I'll be in trouble before a ball is kicked as that's an overnight stop for me!! I think she watches ToffeeWeb to see what I'm planning!

Villa away. I need advice:

1. Do I make it a family day out with Mrs Danny?

2. If so, do I try to get away tickets and take her into the spirit of the blues, knowing that she knows Everton are the other woman in my life?

3. Or obtain home tickets and risk being evicted or complained about?

I hope she's not reading this.

Squeezed in amongst the RS news is this from the BBC website|:-

Everton are unbeaten in their opening Premier League match in the past 10 seasons (W4 D6).

Danny, have you seen the price of hotels in Liverpool on a Saturday night? I'd say you're in dead lumber, lad!

That's an interesting observation (Brian #29). I suppose with regard to the Qatar World Cup, Everton won't have too many players in the tournament, unlike the Sky Six clubs.

As for the Chelsea opener, it will be interesting to see who lines up in their defence – and ours? They have lost both Christiensen and Rudiger, but may sign Kounde, and also Chilwell may then be fit to play.

We may well have signed Tarkowski, who could potentially start with Mina, Keane or maybe Godfrey? I just hope we can strengthen where we need to in the Summer, and somehow cope with the inevitable sale of our talisman, Richarlison.

Only one thing is certain… Everton will let you down then pick you up just to let you down again.

Liverpool to win everything, Lampard sacked by Christmas, and Billy Boy still telling everyone that we have had good times.

Other than that, I'm quite optimistic...

Not predicting results, but 7 points from the first 3 fixtures. 7th place finish and finally win the League Cup, Mark.

More like 7 points from the first 10 games unless Frank can bring in some class.

Mark @34. Do you slow down to look at car crashes?

Very interesting observation about the World Cup, and with such a long break being incorporated into the middle of the season for many, I think it might be easier for certain teams with those fresher players, to go and play with a lot more intensity.

With two mini-seasons, maybe a little bit of innovation might just go a very long way?

Pretty much what the Germans do every year, Tony.

It is interesting because it is not uncommon for teams to have two completely different half seasons.

For some, it's a welcome break so they can reset. For others, it takes the momentum out of a good first half and they nosedive.

It will be interesting to see how English clubs adapt to it.

They heard me. No Arsenal away on the last game. Mixed bag. Top of the league mid September.

Seeing the fixture list just brings it home to you that the Premier League is a tough place to be unless your house is in order.

The potential sale cannot distract the club from giving Frank Lampard and the coaches every opportunity to make us competitive.

There’s one thing for sure, none of our outfield players will be coming back from the World Cup knackered. Small mercies.

Because of our constant struggles these last few years, I've gotten into the habit of looking at May's fixtures before August. Just to check who we will have to beat to stay up. Brighton, Wolves and Bournemouth. It could be worse.

I think it's also a good fixture having Chelsea at home, especially as a later kick-off.

It should galvanize the support and with the time winding down at Goodison before moving to the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, you'd like to think that opening days like this will be truly memorable.

Having said that, we could get smashed up… who knows? Chelsea could be out for some revenge, particularly after Firework-gate, lol.

As someone has already stated, however, we badly need to improve our rancid away record.

You can win 12 home games but our away form is so bad that you probably still wouldn't get a top-half finish.

I'm looking at beating Crease Head Gerrard's Villa this time, getting sick of letting them do us over.

Trips to Brentford and Leeds, one of those needs winning in my opinion.

Start as you mean to go on.

I love this fixture list, absolutely love it.

Because it doesn't include Millwall, Boro, Blackburn, Coventry and Stoke.

I couldn't care less about what order we play our games in... as long as they're against Premier League clubs.

Nothing else matters.

Whew.

For me, we need to improve our away form massively, finish in a European spot (even the Europa Conference League one) as we need big nights under the floodlights at Goodison Park again before we move to the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

And most of all... our useless boardroom need to go!

I've never really understood momentum, Danny, and have always preferred to believe that, if you're prepared, and your mindset is also correct, then the rest usually takes care of itself.

But I do hope our crowd carries on from where it left off, especially now we all know how important we really are.

The only thing that is certain is nothing is certain.

We don't even know who our owners will be come the start of the season – let alone the playing squad – so predictions at this stage are a bit meaningless.

I just hope we get at least 10 points more than this season and play some good stuff.

I think and hope Tarkowski will be the influence we have needed in the back 4 and with the addition of a couple of midfield players, in addition to keeping Richarlison, to replace Gomes, Delph and Van de Beek, we will see a massive improvement.

One other thing is certain, Jay. It's what Allen @32 says. Hotel room prices in Liverpool on a Saturday make your eyes water more than walking directly into a recently lit blue flare.

October and April look very harsh with both having six games. Not sure how the FA Cup will add to that mix and may be wrong but is the Carabao Cup suspended for this new season?

On the bright side, get a few decent signings in and we could do well. The Top 8 will also have European games to play in a very broken and disrupted season.

C'mon, Everton, with this bizarre winter World Cup, that was won by Qatar and was all above board and is all about growing the game! The top teams could be well and truly running on empty in 2023, we may have half a chance.

Good to see Everton start and finish the season, as it stands and Goodison Park.

The Euphoria of the Palace game and survival was a building point for the club.

I hope there's stability pre-season and the Everton squad can go about their business unhindered and without doubts.

A great start, consistency, fire in the players' bellies every game, create the unrivalled bastion of Goodison Park, every home game, and take the same tempo and play with the same heart and desire on the road.

A long road ahead, but that would be nice.

When it comes to fixtures, the only thing you can predict with any certainty is that we won't win all the games we expect to win, and we won't lose all the games we expect to lose!!

Not interested in conspiracy theories of fixtures being selected to favour the Big Boys. Everyone will have a tough run of games against the Big 6, and everyone will have a run of matches against the bottom half teams.

Just play better.

Looking forward to the first game on Sky v Chelsea,

In the last 4 weeks of the season, I was having nightmares of Everton v Wigan next season.

The pessimist in me looked at our last four matches in May. Not a bad run in if we're struggling, other than Man City.

Nice early chance to crunch Van Dijk for the season.

Little Ready Reckoner on are we improving?
Last years results would give us
End August - 7 points
End Sept - 7 points
End Oct - 13 points
Start of World Cup - 15 points
End Dec - 15 points
End Jan - 21 points
End Feb - 27 points
End March - 28 points
End April - 39 points
May - End of Season - - - yes we lost all those four fixtures last season. You were saying Bill . . .

For those of you who had sleepless nights last season get your sleeping pills ready for next season.. Those who think the big boys will falter after the world cup are deluded.. remember they have 7 subs next season most of them would be first choice in any of the bottom teams..

Hi Evertonians!

Question: does the carabao/Carling cup begin in September, august or october? I'm planning a trip to England for September maybe and knowing that would be great so as to being able to go to goodison.
COYB!

Nicolas

The second round when we join in is scheduled August 22/23 with third round in November so it looks like your September trip will miss it.

Thanks, Kieran!

Kind of expected and thought that answer but maybe I'll try and watch the derby then. Not really too enthusiastic about it by the last results against them but thinking I never saw one live and probably being one of the last ones at Goodison makes it a no-brainer, I believe... Heh!

Frank easy favourite to be first sacked next year…….the establishment looooooove us, don't they!!!!

Got to carry on what we started end of season and make it the most uniquely supported team in the league next year.

Fuck them all… marching down the Goodison Road, all the windows open wide…

Our current owner and board have already destroyed any hope of even moderate success next season and probably the season afterwards. That's the measure of the years-long gross ineptitude displayed by Moshiri and those he relied upon.

Unless Lampard and his team now reveal hitherto invisible attributes (and that's not a criticism of them in the least) in terms of turning water into wine, we're fucked before the next two or three seasons even begin.

And yet many Evertonians still go on record expounding their optimism on new ground being planted by those still on high, who've long-since crucified our status worldwide.

What actual intoxicant are these fellow Toffees consuming, and why?

Don (#65),

"What actual intoxicant are these fellow Toffees consuming, and why?"

I drink a lot.

I find it helps.

We are respected, Gary Jones!!

If Jesus can do it, Don, I'm on the wine.

Get down to Goodison Park. We're going on a European Tour.

I have long-suffering dogs. It helps. Well, helps me.

Phil (58).

What we clearly need is to repeat our points pickup between March and April 2022, in every month of the new season. That would give us 99 points and probably the league title to boot.

I can dream, can't I?

Last season left me still in shell-shock and amazement that we survived to fight another day in the Premier League.

I am concerned that the powers that be will not rest till we are obliterated from their Kingdom into the Never Never Land. They would love to give us a points deduction for the FFP for our own reckless spending in the past, and the likes of Burnley won't let it go unnoticed either.

So I for one will be holding my breath till we are finally out in the clear. Have a great Summer to all Blues. Cheers.

I fear that last season was the rehearsal for what is to come in 22-23. Richarlison looks determined to be away and Calvert-Lewin won't be far behind him. That will leave Pickford as virtually the only top-notch player on the books and I suspect money problems and Moshiri's ignorance of all things football will prohibit many meaningful signings.

So polish the tin hats, it's likely to be a season of attrition – let's just hope Lampard & Co are up to it!

Agree with you Gerry (69) and Derek (70). Last season was exhausting to watch and my confidence level is very low at the moment.

I'm just hoping we can improve our away form, make us tough to beat at Goodison Park and I'd be happy with a mid-table finish. I'd be ecstatic with anything higher. COYB

Looking at the fixtures used to get the juices flowing with anticipation. However the last season seems to have lasted about 10 years and only finished about 5 minutes ago.

I feel I need a break from watching football so can't get too excited about the list. I didn't care about the internationals just gone by, not that I care about the England team anyway.

Nice to have a ‘big boy' at home first game, though, and a home game last.

We're going to have a massive amount of churn in the squad between now and August so it's more about who we'll have in the team being the important thing for now. (At least I'm hoping we'll have a lot of churn in the squad.)

Add to that the possibility the club may be sold, the next few weeks are anyone's guess. Just keeping an eye on transfers for now and not much else.