Magpies Swoop Into Stratford for First Game

The fixture list for the 2020/21 Premier League season was announced earlier this morning and David Moyes has to cope with another tough start in his first full season in charge of West Ham United.

The campaign opens on the weekend of 12 September and will come to a close on Sunday 23 May with Newcastle United being the first visitors to Stratford.

A first London derby of the season is next up for Moyes, as the Hammers make the trip to The Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal a week later before the month ends with Nuno Espírito Santo bringing his Wolverhampton Wanderers’ side to East London.

October is looking a tricky month with games against both Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur either side of an international break and if the Irons thought they were then in for an easier run afterwards, they shall have to think again, as a home game with Manchester City is followed by a visit to Anfield and current Champions Liverpool.

The team then get the chance to test themselves against one of the newly-promoted sides to begin November as play-off winners Fulham, under the guidance of former West Ham midfielder Scott Parker, visit Stratford.

Another break then occurs before the trip to Bramall Lane and the challenge of Sheffield United. The end of the month will surely bring back special memories for Dean Smith’s Aston Villa side who grabbed a vital point to preserve their top-flight status in Stratford and they will return there on November 28.

It’s always a busy month in December and this year it is no different with six games.

One of the highlights of Manuel Pellegrini’s tenure in charge of the Hammers was the 2-0 win over Manchester United last September. Moyes faces his latest reunion with the Red Devils when Ole Gunnar Solskjær brings his side to the East End for the first game of the month which also includes battles with Sky Bet Championship title winners Leeds United, as well as games against Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton.

Depending on their progress in the FA Cup when it gets going in January, it could be an equally hectic month. Highlights include Slaven Bilic’s second return to Stratford, where the Hammers will be looking to make amends for their fourth-round exit last season, as Bilic guided West Bromwich Albion to victory. The reverse fixtures against both Crystal Palace and Liverpool see West Ham face a tricky finish to the start of 2021.

Things show no sign of letting up in February either with another five games. Having said that, the run looks a little bit easier although the reverse fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City are scheduled for the end of the month.

On paper, you would say that the matches in both March and April don’t look favourable for the Hammers but as the campaign concludes in May, it might provide chances for the team to pick up points in order to stay clear of the relegation zone. The last five matches see the Irons face Burnley, Everton, Brighton and Hove Albion and West Bromwich Albion before the Saints arrive on the final day.

A full fixture list is available on www.whufc.com but before the season opener however, this site will keep its readers up to date with the latest ins and outs from Stratford.