New Spurs and Palace managers facing early drama after fixtures are announced

THE new managers of Tottenham and Crystal Palace are facing baptisms of fire on the opening day of the new season, while Brentford’s first taste of Premier League football will be a London derby at home to Arsenal in what should be the first full-capacity match at their new stadium.

Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor at Spurs — expected to be Paulo Fonseca — will begin the campaign at home to champions Manchester City, who are leading the pursuit of Harry Kane, while Palace face a visit to European champions Chelsea in another London derby.

Frank Lampard remains a contender for the Palace job, raising the possibility that he could return to a full Stamford Bridge in his first game back in management.

West Ham get underway with a trip to Newcastle and Watford’s first game back in the top-flight is against Aston Villa at Vicarage Road, which was last full for a 3-0 win over champions-elect Liverpool in February, 2020.

The new season is scheduled to start on Saturday, August 14, but several matches will be moved for television, with Leeds’s visit to Manchester United likely to be of particular interest to broadcasters.

Of the capital’s clubs, Palace have the most noteworthy start, beginning the season with four consecutive London derbies and meetings with five of the so-called ‘big six’ before the end of October.

After the trip to Chelsea, the Eagles host newly-promoted Brentford, then a run of games against West Ham, Tottenham and Liverpool. They are also scheduled to face Leicester, Arsenal and City before October 30, leaving chairman Steve Parrish under increased pressure to find a successor to Roy Hodgson who will hit the ground running. As well as Lampard, Burnley’s Sean Dyche and Swansea’s Steve Cooper are in the frame for the job. Tottenham’s new boss also faces a tricky run of four London derbies between late August and the end of September, with matches against Watford and Palace followed by back-toback derbies against Chelsea and Arsenal. Spurs are also due to play their two biggest rivals consecutively in the new year, with the Gunners due to visit N17 on January 15 and Spurs travelling to Stamford Bridge the following weekend. Spurs are continuing talks with Fonseca (below, left), who is expected to be named as their new manager on a two-year deal, with the option of a further year.

The new manager must also navigate an inconvenient two-legged Europa Conference League play-off, scheduled for August 19 and 26, while Kane’s future is sure to a major talking point if not resolved by the match against City on the opening day. The transfer window is due to close on August 31, following the first three rounds of the campaign.

Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea also need to start strongly if they are to assert their title-challenging credentials, with meetings against Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool in their first six games, while Mikel Arteta could find himself under early pressure if the Gunners are not quick out of the blocks. Arsenal’s first six matches include Chelsea, City and Spurs.

Brentford will hope to build some early momentum, with matches against Palace, Villa, Brighton and Wolves following their opening clash with Arsenal.

September 25-26 is already shaping up to be the first real bumper weekend of the season for the capital, with the first north London derby of the campaign at Arsenal, Chelsea hosting City in a rematch of the Champions League Final, Palace’s ‘derby’ with Brighton, Brentford entertaining Liverpool and West Ham hosting Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds.

West Ham’s squad will face a test, with Manchester United set to visit London Stadium the weekend commencing September 18, following the Hammers’ first Europa League group game, which is scheduled for Thursday, September 16.

Newly-promoted Norwich host Liverpool in the first match of their return to the top flight, Brighton start the season with a visit to Burnley, Everton welcome Southampton and Leicester entertain Wolves in a Midlands derby.