Bournemouth
13 Aug 2016: Manchester United (H)
This is a massive first game for both Bournemouth and Manchester United. It will be United’s first premier league match under Jose. Bournemouth beat United at the Vitality Stadium 2-1 in December 2015 last time they played there. Both teams will have some belief of getting a good result in this game; no matter how much Bournemouth may look up against it.
20 Aug 2016: West Ham United (A)
This has the potential to be one of the games of the season if scores from last season are anything to go by. West Ham lost 3-4 as Bournemouth took full advantage of a rare off day West Ham had last season. Callum Wilson scored a wonderful hat-trick in a match that was end-to-end for the full 90 minutes. In the return game West Ham won 1-3 away from home. That means in the two games both teams played against each other there were 11 goals. This will also be West Ham’s first premier league match at the Olympic Stadium. Make sure you get your popcorn ready for this one.
22 Apr 2017: Middlesbrough (H)
This game could be very open and free flowing due to what will be at stake at this stage of next season. Both teams could need to win this one in order to improve their chances of survival. It feels like a game that could determine who is safe too; depending on what happens in the months prior. Keep an eye out for this game as April 2017 draws near.
13 May 2017: Burnley (H)
This has a 6 pointer written all over it. Both sides could be close to each other throughout the season and this will be the penultimate match for both. Whoever comes out on top in this one could probably just about retain their premier league status and condemn their opponent to relegation.
21 May 2017: Leicester City (A)
If they are still in with a shout of survival on the last game of the season, this match will be terrific. Potentially real end-to-end stuff. It really depends on what the circumstances are for this match. If both teams still have something to play for; expect a brilliant game for the neutral.
Burnley
20 Aug 2016: Liverpool (A)
As this will be Liverpool’s first home game of the season, this game should have a terrific atmosphere. It also has the potential to be a very high paced game. Don’t expect Burnley to sit back. They will be up for the occasion and will try and utilise their pace up front to nick a goal. A draw or win at Anfield early in the season would do wonders for Burnley’s confidence.
10 Sep 2016: Hull City (H)
This is the type of game that can determine who stays up and who goes down come May. Both teams will believe they can beat each other home and away so expect both teams to go for broke for the full 90 minutes. Burnley won this closely contested match 1-0 when they faced off in the Championship and would be happy with a repeat result when they play in September.
29 Oct 2016: Manchester United (A)
This is a good game to look forward to if you are a Burnley fan. Both Manchester and Burnley are pretty close on the map so this can be seen as a pseudo-derby of sorts. Last time the two teams met in the premier league at Old Trafford; United won 3-1 and were in 3rd place whilst Burnley were in 19th. This was in 2015 and a lot has changed for both teams since then. It will be interesting to see how Burnley approach the game.
08 Apr 2017: Middlesbrough (A)
Both team are familiar with each other due to their rivalry in the championship. Burnley won the division and Middlesbrough were runners up. Matches between these two were very tight, with Burnley coming out on top when they went to the Riverside Stadium (1-2) and the game ending in a draw (1-1) at Turf Moor. Both teams may need a victory in the penultimate month of a long and tough premier league campaign so expect fireworks.
13 May 2017: AFC Bournemouth (A)
As mentioned previously this has a 6 pointer written all over it. The winner takes it all!
Chelsea
26 Nov 2016: Tottenham Hotspur (H)
The last time these two played at Stamford Bridge? TWELVE (12) yellow cards. Four goals. A half time tunnel riot. A full time tunnel riot. A player almost had his eye gouged out. As a result of trying to gouge the eye of a player one player was suspended for SIX (6) games. A London derby. Enough said.
03 Dec 2016: Manchester City (A)
Considering the way Chelsea rolled over v Manchester City at Stamford Bridge last season they will want to take the first opportunity possible to show Pep and his players that 0-3 loss was an anomaly and this new Chelsea under Conte is the real deal. It could potentially be a defining match for Pep and Antonio; both being new to the league and having the opportunity to inflict damage to a rivals’ title bid. The big games could have a significant impact on who wins the premier league by the end of the season; so this will be one of those matches Conte will really want a positive result from.
04 Feb 2017: Arsenal (H)
This match is always an important one in the calendar for both teams. It is of course a North v South London derby but it is also bigger than that. Both sets of fans do not particularly like each other and that tends to influence the behavior of players. Chelsea will no doubt be looking to maintain their superior home record against Arsenal; they have beat them in their last 4 games in the league at Stamford Bridge.
18 Mar 2017: Stoke City (A)
This match has been a bit of a banana skin for Chelsea of late. Last season Chelsea lost to Stoke twice at the Britannia (one match was in a penalty shootout in the League Cup). Chelsea would inevitably want to prove that this was a fluke and get back to winning ways in a match coming at a crucial point of the season. They will not in any European competition so can dedicate their full attention to these type of tough away games.
15 Apr 2017: Manchester United (A)
This could be a title decider if both teams apply themselves the right way the entire season. Jose’s homecoming in October is no questions a key match; but more for Jose rather than Chelsea. If Chelsea take full advantage of the lack of European competition they could be in a very strong position come April. This match could be a significant one for the blues.
Crystal Palace
13 Aug 2016: West Bromwich Albion (H)
This was a good game last season; ending 2-0 to Palace. It doesn’t stand out as a key game or one to watch but the manner in which Tony Pulis left Crystal Palace is still an issue for both manager and club. The latest on this ongoing case was that Pulis was ordered to pay Palace approximately 3.5m pounds after the premier league ruled in favour of the club concerning a breach of contract. With the animosity of that situation still lingering in the air and this being the first game of the new season for both teams; expect this one to be particularly passionate.
20 Aug 2016: Tottenham Hotspur (A)
This one stands out as an early game Crystal Palace will want to win not only as its a London derby; but also because they won at White Hart Lane last season. The belief will be there. In addition the run of games following this match Crystal Palace will view as winnable games:
- 27 Aug 2016: AFC Bournemouth (H)
- 10 Sep 2016: Middlesbrough (A)
- 17 Sep 2016: Stoke City (H)
- 24 Sep 2016: Sunderland (A)
If they could repeat the result from last season Palace maybe able to put together a decent run early in the campaign.
26 Dec 2016: Watford (A)
This is another big derby game for Palace during the exhausting month of December. Palace have three consecutive derby games during this period with two of them being away from home. Just to give you a better idea of what Palace fans should expect in December 2016:
- 03 Dec 2016: Southampton (H)
- 10 Dec 2016: Hull City (A)
- 13 Dec 2016: Manchester United (H)
- 17 Dec 2016: Chelsea (H)
- 26 Dec 2016: Watford (A)
- 31 Dec 2016: Arsenal (A)
They face both Manchester United and Chelsea at home before the Watford game and after that they travel to the Emirates. That Watford game looks like a must win in a very hectic month.
11 Feb 2017: Stoke City (A)
Palace won this match last season with a last minute goal from Lee Chung-yong. It was an entertaining match where Palace were able to prevent Stoke from using the ball effectively in the final third. These two teams maybe competing for a top 10 finish potentially even a Europa League place in the upcoming season and therefore a repeat of this result could be essential for Palace.
01 Apr 2017: Chelsea (A)
Palace performed admirably to win this game last season and will go into this game believing they can snatch another victory at Stamford Bridge. This is also another London derby which will make it a very passionate game. This will be the third consecutive derby game for them in this part of the season as they play Tottenham and Watford at home before playing Chelsea away. A good result in this one could boost confidence to the end of season run-in.
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