The Premier League Champions will kick off their latest title defence at the London Stadium, as the World Cup in Qatar plays havoc with the traditional domestic footballing calendar, with just four league matches being played throughout the final two months of the year.
Pep Guardiola’s side have a surprisingly poor record at the start of campaigns, but with an action-packed first three months, including a potentially key set of matches in October, City can ill-afford a sloppy start to the new season.
Just like the 2019/20 season, Manchester City will begin their campaign away to West Ham at the London Stadium, though the 5-0 win on that day was the Blues’ last victory at the home of Hammers, who have drawn their past three home games against the Sky Blues.
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Manchester City’s first match at the Etihad Stadium - and Erling Haaland’s potential home debut - will be against newly-promoted AFC Bournemouth on Saturday 13th August.
The Blues are then set to conclude the opening month of the season away to Newcastle United before home matches against Crystal Palace and then Nottingham Forest - another newly promoted team.
In September, Manchester City will travel to Villa Park on Saturday 3rd September and are then scheduled to welcome Spurs to the Etihad Stadium one week later. The second month of the season will finish with a trip to Molineux to face Wolves, while two Champions League group stage games are also set to be included during the same month.
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Champions League Group Stage involvement means Pep Guardiola’s side are due to play nine matches in October, and six of those games will come in the Premier League; with fixtures including trips to Anfield, the Emirates Stadium and the first Manchester Derby of the season.
In October, City will welcome both Manchester United and Southampton to the Etihad and then play both Liverpool and Arsenal away from home. The visit of Brighton and a trip to the Midlands to face Leicester will mark the end of an undoubtedly hectic five week period.
The World Cup kicks off on Monday 21st November, and as a result, only two gameweeks will take place in November prior to the tournament in the Middle East, although the third round of the Carabao Cup is also scheduled for that month.
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Manchester City will play both Fulham and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium before the planned pause in the season, plus the club's final Champions League group stage clash, as a clash against Thomas Frank’s side marks the end to the first half of the Champions’ campaign.
Manchester City Premier League Matches BEFORE The World Cup:
07/08/22 - West Ham (A)
13/08/22 - Bournemouth (H)
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20/08/22 - Newcastle (A)
27/08/22 - Crystal Palace (H)
31/08/22 - Nottingham Forest (H)
03/09/22 - Aston Villa (A)
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10/09/22 - Tottenham (H)
17/09/22 - Wolves (A)
01/10/22 - Manchester United (H)
08/10/22 - Southampton (H)
15/10/22 - Liverpool (A)
18/10/22 - Arsenal (A)
22/10/22 - Brighton (H)
29/10/22 - Leicester (A)
05/11/22 - Fulham (H)
12/11/22 - Brentford (H)
Topics: Manchester City, Premier League, Football World Cup
Harry Winters