Southampton’s official Premier League fixtures released
By Chris Hughes
The Saints will open their campaign against Paul Clement’s Swansea City before playing Manchester City in the team’s curtain closer.
Whether he’s in charge come August or not, Claude Puel’s side have had their official fixture list released for the upcoming 2017/18 season.
The game against the Swans is Southampton’s only home game in August, with trips to West Ham and promoted Huddersfield the other games.
The Saints’ first big game comes on the 23rd of September however, as they host Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United at St. Mary’s Stadium either side of games against Crystal Palace and Stoke City.
The first media-dubbed south coast derby against Bournemouth is on the 2nd of December, but Southampton’s first game against Brighton is at the end of October.
Christmas will prove arguably the Saints’ trickiest part of the season, with five games between the 16th of December and new year’s day. Among those include the reverse fixture against United and game’s against Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs and the champions Chelsea.
Home fixtures against Brighton and Tottenham highlight Southampton’s start to the calendar year, whilst February will see Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool travel to St. Mary’s, either with or to face Virgil van Dijk.
March could prove a key month for Southampton in their end-of-season hopes, with no games against the big six. Stoke, Newcastle, West Ham and the away fixture against Swansea make up a realistically successful month, in which the Saints could easily pick up nine or more points.
However the south coast side face a tricky end to the campaign with Chelsea and Arsenal in back-to-back games before an away trip to Leicester and the reverse fixture against the Cherries. They end the season against Ronald Koeman’s Everton before facing Manchester City on the 13rd May.