The excitement ahead of Southampton’s top flight return has intensified as the 2024/25 Premier League fixture list has now been released.
Southampton‘s target will be simply be to survive relegation in their first season back in the big time, with hopes they can build on that in the season that follows.
Manager Russell Martin has a huge job on his hands in what will be his first taste of the Premier League in the dugout, having played in the competition for Norwich City.
The 2022/23 season ended in misery as Southampton got through three managers and finished bottom of the Premier League, relegated with just 25 points.
Now that Martin knows how the fixtures will fall he can start to think about planning for specific opponents in a bid to finish above the relegation zone.
Leicester City and Ipswich Town were the other two clubs promoted from the Championship last season and Southampton will view both teams as direct relegation rivals, whilst the last two seasons suggest Everton and Nottingham Forest will face the threat of a bottom three finish two.
With that in mind, here is how Southampton’s first five fixtures of the 2024/25 Premier League season compares to their relegation rivals’…
Southampton’s first five 24/25 Premier League fixtures
The Premier League has confirmed that Southampton will kick-off the season with an away trip to Newcastle United on the Saturday August 17th.
Sat 17th August – Newcastle United (A)
Sat 24th August – Nottingham Forest (H)
Sat 31st August – Brentford (A)
Sat 14th September – Manchester United (H)
Sat 21st September – Ipswich Town (H)
Leicester City’s first five 24/25 Premier League fixtures
Leicester City won the Championship title last season in impressive fashion but find themselves shrouded in uncertainty after manager Enzo Maresca left to join Chelsea a fortnight ago.
Southampton will hope this derails the Foxes’ Premier League campaign, with Leicester starting the season at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Monday 19th August.
Mon 19th August – Tottenham Hotspur (H)
Sat 24th August – Fulham (A)
Sat 31st August – Aston Villa (H)
Sat 14th September – Crystal Palace (A)
Sat 21st September – Everton (H)
Ipswich Town’s first five 24/25 Premier League fixtures
Ipswich were impressive as they secured an automatic promotion spot in the Championship last season despite only being promoted from League One the summer prior.
Kieran McKenna will oversee Ipswich’s first Premier League game in 22 years as they welcome Liverpool to Portman Road for the 12:30pm kick-off on Saturday August 17th in the first of an incredibly difficult first two fixtures.
Sat 17th August – Liverpool (H)
Sat 24th August – Manchester City (A)
Sat 31st August – Fulham (H)
Sat 14th September – Brighton (A)
Sat 21st September – Southampton (A)
Everton’s first five 24/25 Premier League fixtures
Everton managed to stay in the top flight last season despite points deductions and will be hoping for a smoother ride next campaign.
Sean Dyche is a master at beating the drop and will be looking to get some early points on the board at home to Brighton on Saturday 17th August.
Sat 17th August – Brighton (H)
Sat 24th August – Tottenham Hotspur (A)
Sat 31st August – Bournemouth (H)
Sat 14th September – Aston Villa (A)
Sat 21st September – Leicester City (A)
Nottingham Forest’s first five 24/25 Premier League fixtures
Like Everton, Nottingham Forest were docked points last season but managed to stay in the top flight owing much to the fact the three promoted sides were very poor.
Forest kick off the 2024/25 season at home, with Bournemouth travelling to The City Ground on Saturday 17th August.
Sat 17th August – Bournemouth (H)
Sat 24th August – Southampton (A)
Sat 31st August – Wolves (H)
Sat 14th September – Liverpool (A)
Sat 21st September – Brighton (A)