New Campaign Opens With Sunderland Trip
At the end of the 2024/25 season West Ham United faced one of the Premier League newcomers in the shape of Ipswich Town and they also begin the new campaign against a newly-promoted team. They head to The Stadium of Light to take on last season’s Sky Bet Championship play-off winners Sunderland, on Saturday 16 August.
The Hammers haven’t won at home since February 27 and they will look to atone for that fact at the first attempt. Having said that though, they face a tough challenge, as Graham Potter’s former club Chelsea are the first visitors to Stratford a week later.
Both David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui failed to win away at Nottingham Forest. Can the new Head-Coach fare any better when he gets the chance, as he takes the Irons to The City Ground for the final game of the month on 30 August?
The first international break of the season occurs at the start of September but when the top-flight swings back into action on Saturday 13th, it is one that the East London faithful always look forward to. Yes, Tottenham Hotspur come to town under new management, as former Brentford boss Thomas Frank is now at the helm in North London.
Another derby follows the visit of Spurs on September 20 and its back-to-back home games for Potter’s men, as Crystal Palace travel to the East End.
West Ham will face a reunion with former manager David Moyes when they come up against Everton in one of three pre-season games as part of the Premier League Summer Series. However, a first competitive meeting between the two teams will take place on 27 October, as the travelling contingent get their first glimpse of the Toffees’ new stadium.
It’s consecutive London derbies again to start November as an encounter at Arsenal is followed by a home match with Brentford, who confirmed Irishman Keith Andrews as the man to replace Thomas Frank. The month ends with a visit to Elland Road to face last season’s Sky Bet Championship title winners Leeds United.
Just as in September, there are back-to-back home games to start November as Newcastle United and newly-promoted Burnley make respective journeys to East London. After which, the Irons are then away at AFC Bournemouth, before a tough looking month ends with a visit from current Premier League Champions Liverpool.
As always, December is a busy month and it starts with three matches in the space of just ten days. The first scheduled midweek fixture programme starts the month. For the Hammers, it’s the first of back-to-back away trips which sees them head to Manchester United followed three days later by a visit to one of Potter’s former clubs in Brighton and Hove Albion. Aston Villa provide the opposition before the hectic festive period take shape.
There may be no Boxing Day games this year but the busy festive period includes encounters at home to Fulham and away at Manchester City. Brighton and Hove Albion appear twice in December’s fixture run, as the reverse fixture takes place on Tuesday 30 December.
I referred to there being no Boxing Day matches above and it appears that there are no encounters set for New Year’s Day either, as action resumes on 3 January with the Hammers taking a trip to the Black Country to face Wolverhampton Wanderers. Nottingham Forest are being hosted by the East London club four days later. There is then a break for the Emirates FA Cup to take place before top-flight action is back in focus with games against Tottenham Hotspur, newly-promoted Sunderland and then a trip to Chelsea.
The highlights of February include a home game with Manchester United, as well as a trip to Liverpool. Burnley and AFC Bournemouth are West Ham’s other opponents that month.
Much like last term, it’s a curtailed schedule for Potter’s side in March and it starts with a Wednesday night trip to Fulham, while Manchester City and Aston Villa are the other two encounters.
There is then a sizeable break before April follows a similar pattern to the preceding month with three games taking place against’ Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace, before David Moyes brings his Everton side to his former club for what will be their third meeting of the season.
Enticing fixtures against both Arsenal and Newcastle United are in amongst the final four games of the campaign with Leeds United arriving in Stratford for the final fixture on Sunday 24 May. Prior to that though, the Irons will attempt to claim a first ever league win at The Gtech Community Stadium a week before.
A Full fixture list is available on the club’s official website.
Jean-Clair Todibo is currently the only player joining West Ham this summer meaning that Potter is yet to make his first move in the transfer market. Never fear, as soon as he does, this site will have all the latest information for its readers.