Premier League - Rafa rues fixtures headache
Eurosport - Thu, 18 Jun 09:13:00 2009
Rafa Benitez was left cursing the Premier League fixture computer after Liverpool were handed a Champions League headache by the schedule for the 2009-10 season.
Benitez's side face a series of three tough away fixtures and two testing home matches immediately after each of the Champions League group stage matches, while their Premier League rivals have several more low-key fixtures.
The possibility of travelling across Europe for a crucial fixture in the continent's top club competition and then returning to England for another daunting domestic game will infuriate Benitez.
The Liverpool boss was embroiled in a row with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson last season, during which he claimed Liverpool were "handicapped" by the timings of matches.
He is unlikely to feel any better about the issue after flicking through Liverpool's Premier League fixtures.
After the opening games of the new Champions League season on September 15/16, the Reds are set to travel to West Ham, while all of their rivals will be at home - United involved in the Manchester derby which could well be switched to a Sunday kick-off giving the league champions more recovery time.
On Matchday Two, Liverpool head to title rivals Chelsea, while again United and Arsenal are also at home.
United visit Anfield after Matchday Three, while the Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park follows Matchday Five on the weekend of November 28.
Liverpool find themselves involved in another big clash after the concluding group matches in early December when Arsenal visit Anfield.
Only on Matchday Four do the Reds appear to get a break, when they host promoted Birmingham, while United travel to Stamford Bridge that weekend and Arsenal are at Wolves.
Even if Liverpool qualify for the knock-out stages, they won't escape the fixture curse. With the second leg of the knockout round scheduled for either March 09/10 or 16/17 next year, the Reds could be faced with a trip to Old Trafford on March 20 - again another potentially decisive fixture in the domestic title race so soon after a European game.
United and Chelsea, meanwhile, are scheduled to clash immediately after the Champions League quarter-finals first leg on March 30/31.
If still involved by the semi-final stage, which swiftly follows the FA Cup semi-finals, then Liverpool are set to travel to Chelsea - who knocked them out of Europe last season - over the penultimate weekend of the Premier League campaign.
FIXTURES:
Saturday 15 August
Aston Villa v Wigan 15:00
Blackburn v Man City 15:00
Bolton v Sunderland 15:00
Chelsea v Hull 15:00
Everton v Arsenal 15:00
Man Utd v Birmingham 15:00
Portsmouth v Fulham 15:00
Stoke v Burnley 15:00
Tottenham v Liverpool 15:00
Wolverhampton v West Ham 15:00
- - -
Tuesday 18 August
Arsenal v Bolton 19:45
Birmingham v Portsmouth 19:45
Burnley v Man Utd 19:45
Fulham v Blackburn 19:45
Hull v Tottenham 19:45
Sunderland v Chelsea 19:45
West Ham v Aston Villa 19:45
Wigan v Wolverhampton 19:45
- - -
Wednesday 19 August
Liverpool v Stoke 19:45
Man City v Everton 19:45
- - -
Saturday 22 August
Arsenal v Portsmouth 15:00
Birmingham v Stoke 15:00
Burnley v Everton 15:00
Fulham v Chelsea 15:00
Hull v Bolton 15:00
Liverpool v Aston Villa 15:00
Man City v Wolverhampton 15:00
Sunderland v Blackburn 15:00
West Ham v Tottenham 15:00
Wigan v Man Utd 15:00
- - -
Saturday 29 August
Aston Villa v Fulham 15:00
Blackburn v West Ham 15:00
Bolton v Liverpool 15:00
Chelsea v Burnley 15:00
Everton v Wigan 15:00
Man Utd v Arsenal 15:00
Portsmouth v Man City 15:00
Stoke v Sunderland 15:00
Tottenham v Birmingham 15:00
Wolverhampton v Hull 15:00
- - -
Saturday 12 September
Birmingham v Aston Villa 15:00
Blackburn v Wolverhampton 15:00
Fulham v Everton 15:00
Liverpool v Burnley 15:00
Man City v Arsenal 15:00
Portsmouth v Bolton 15:00
Stoke v Chelsea 15:00
Sunderland v Hull 15:00
Tottenham v Man Utd 15:00
Wigan v West Ham 15:00
- - -
Saturday 19 September
Arsenal v Wigan 15:00
Aston Villa v Portsmouth 15:00
Bolton v Stoke 15:00
Burnley v Sunderland 15:00
Chelsea v Tottenham 15:00
Everton v Blackburn 15:00
Hull v Birmingham 15:00
Man Utd v Man City 15:00
West Ham v Liverpool 15:00
Wolverhampton v Fulham 15:00
- - -
Saturday 26 September
Birmingham v Bolton 15:00
Blackburn v Aston Villa 15:00
Fulham v Arsenal 15:00
Liverpool v Hull 15:00
Man City v West Ham 15:00
Portsmouth v Everton 15:00
Stoke v Man Utd 15:00
Sunderland v Wolverhampton 15:00
Tottenham v Burnley 15:00
Wigan v Chelsea 15:00
- - -
Saturday 3 October
Arsenal v Blackburn 15:00
Aston Villa v Man City 15:00
Bolton v Tottenham 15:00
Burnley v Birmingham 15:00
Chelsea v Liverpool 15:00
Everton v Stoke 15:00
Hull v Wigan 15:00
Man Utd v Sunderland 15:00
West Ham v Fulham 15:00
Wolverhampton v Portsmouth 15:00
- - -
Saturday 17 October
Arsenal v Birmingham 15:00
Aston Villa v Chelsea 15:00
Blackburn v Burnley 15:00
Everton v Wolverhampton 15:00
Fulham v Hull 15:00
Man Utd v Bolton 15:00
Portsmouth v Tottenham 15:00
Stoke v West Ham 15:00
Sunderland v Liverpool 15:00
Wigan v Man City 15:00
- - -
Saturday 24 October
Birmingham v Sunderland 15:00
Bolton v Everton 15:00
Burnley v Wigan 15:00
Chelsea v Blackburn 15:00
Hull v Portsmouth 15:00
Liverpool v Man Utd 15:00
Man City v Fulham 15:00
Tottenham v Stoke 15:00
West Ham v Arsenal 15:00
Wolverhampton v Aston Villa 15:00
- - -
Saturday 31 October
Arsenal v Tottenham 15:00
Birmingham v Man City 15:00
Bolton v Chelsea 15:00
Burnley v Hull 15:00
Everton v Aston Villa 15:00
Fulham v Liverpool 15:00
Man Utd v Blackburn 15:00
Portsmouth v Wigan 15:00
Stoke v Wolverhampton 15:00
Sunderland v West Ham 15:00
- - -
Saturday 7 November
Aston Villa v Bolton 15:00
Blackburn v Portsmouth 15:00
Chelsea v Man Utd 15:00
Hull v Stoke 15:00
Liverpool v Birmingham 15:00
Man City v Burnley 15:00
Tottenham v Sunderland 15:00
West Ham v Everton 15:00
Wigan v Fulham 15:00
Wolverhampton v Arsenal 15:00
- - -
Saturday 21 November
Birmingham v Fulham 15:00
Bolton v Blackburn 15:00
Burnley v Aston Villa 15:00
Chelsea v Wolverhampton 15:00
Hull v West Ham 15:00
Liverpool v Man City 15:00
Man Utd v Everton 15:00
Stoke v Portsmouth 15:00
Sunderland v Arsenal 15:00
Tottenham v Wigan 15:00
- - -
Saturday 28 November
Arsenal v Chelsea 15:00
Aston Villa v Tottenham 15:00
Blackburn v Stoke 15:00
Everton v Liverpool 15:00
Fulham v Bolton 15:00
Man City v Hull 15:00
Portsmouth v Man Utd 15:00
West Ham v Burnley 15:00
Wigan v Sunderland 15:00
Wolverhampton v Birmingham 15:00
- - -
Saturday 5 December
Arsenal v Stoke 15:00
Aston Villa v Hull 15:00
Blackburn v Liverpool 15:00
Everton v Tottenham 15:00
Fulham v Sunderland 15:00
Man City v Chelsea 15:00
Portsmouth v Burnley 15:00
West Ham v Man Utd 15:00
Wigan v Birmingham 15:00
Wolverhampton v Bolton 15:00
- - -
Saturday 12 December
Birmingham v West Ham 15:00
Bolton v Man City 15:00
Burnley v Fulham 15:00
Chelsea v Everton 15:00
Hull v Blackburn 15:00
Liverpool v Arsenal 15:00
Man Utd v Aston Villa 15:00
Stoke v Wigan 15:00
Sunderland v Portsmouth 15:00
Tottenham v Wolverhampton 15:00
- - -
Tuesday 15 December
Birmingham v Blackburn 19:45
Bolton v West Ham 19:45
Burnley v Arsenal 19:45
Hull v Everton 19:45
Man Utd v Wolverhampton 19:45
Stoke v Fulham 19:45
Sunderland v Aston Villa 19:45
Tottenham v Man City 19:45
- - -
Wednesday 16 December
Chelsea v Portsmouth 19:45
Liverpool v Wigan 19:45
- - -
Saturday 19 December
Arsenal v Hull 15:00
Aston Villa v Stoke 15:00
Blackburn v Tottenham 15:00
Everton v Birmingham 15:00
Fulham v Man Utd 15:00
Man City v Sunderland 15:00
Portsmouth v Liverpool 15:00
West Ham v Chelsea 15:00
Wigan v Bolton 15:00
Wolverhampton v Burnley 15:00
- - -
Saturday 26 December
Arsenal v Aston Villa 15:00
Birmingham v Chelsea 15:00
Burnley v Bolton 15:00
Fulham v Tottenham 15:00
Hull v Man Utd 15:00
Liverpool v Wolverhampton 15:00
Man City v Stoke 15:00
Sunderland v Everton 15:00
West Ham v Portsmouth 15:00
Wigan v Blackburn 15:00
- - -
Monday 28 December
Aston Villa v Liverpool 15:00
Blackburn v Sunderland 15:00
Bolton v Hull 15:00
Chelsea v Fulham 15:00
Everton v Burnley 15:00
Man Utd v Wigan 15:00
Portsmouth v Arsenal 15:00
Stoke v Birmingham 15:00
Tottenham v West Ham 15:00
Wolverhampton v Man City 15:00
- - -
Saturday 9 January
Arsenal v Everton 15:00
Birmingham v Man Utd 15:00
Burnley v Stoke 15:00
Fulham v Portsmouth 15:00
Hull v Chelsea 15:00
Liverpool v Tottenham 15:00
Man City v Blackburn 15:00
Sunderland v Bolton 15:00
West Ham v Wolverhampton 15:00
Wigan v Aston Villa 15:00
- - -
Saturday 16 January
Aston Villa v West Ham 15:00
Blackburn v Fulham 15:00
Bolton v Arsenal 15:00
Chelsea v Sunderland 15:00
Everton v Man City 15:00
Man Utd v Burnley 15:00
Portsmouth v Birmingham 15:00
Stoke v Liverpool 15:00
Tottenham v Hull 15:00
Wolverhampton v Wigan 15:00
- - -
Tuesday 26 January
Bolton v Burnley 19:45
Man Utd v Hull 19:45
Portsmouth v West Ham 19:45
Stoke v Man City 19:45
Tottenham v Fulham 19:45
Wolverhampton v Liverpool 19:45
- - -
Wednesday 27 January
Aston Villa v Arsenal 19:45
Blackburn v Wigan 19:45
Chelsea v Birmingham 19:45
Everton v Sunderland 19:45
- - -
Saturday 30 January
Arsenal v Man Utd 15:00
Birmingham v Tottenham 15:00
Burnley v Chelsea 15:00
Fulham v Aston Villa 15:00
Hull v Wolverhampton 15:00
Liverpool v Bolton 15:00
Man City v Portsmouth 15:00
Sunderland v Stoke 15:00
West Ham v Blackburn 15:00
Wigan v Everton 15:00
- - -
Saturday 6 February
Birmingham v Wolverhampton 15:00
Bolton v Fulham 15:00
Burnley v West Ham 15:00
Chelsea v Arsenal 15:00
Hull v Man City 15:00
Liverpool v Everton 15:00
Man Utd v Portsmouth 15:00
Stoke v Blackburn 15:00
Sunderland v Wigan 15:00
Tottenham v Aston Villa 15:00
- - -
Tuesday 9 February
Arsenal v Liverpool 19:45
Fulham v Burnley 19:45
Portsmouth v Sunderland 19:45
West Ham v Birmingham 19:45
Wigan v Stoke 19:45
Wolverhampton v Tottenham 19:45
- - -
Wednesday 10 February
Aston Villa v Man Utd 19:45
Blackburn v Hull 19:45
Everton v Chelsea 19:45
Man City v Bolton 19:45
- - -
Saturday 20 February
Arsenal v Sunderland 15:00
Aston Villa v Burnley 15:00
Blackburn v Bolton 15:00
Everton v Man Utd 15:00
Fulham v Birmingham 15:00
Man City v Liverpool 15:00
Portsmouth v Stoke 15:00
West Ham v Hull 15:00
Wigan v Tottenham 15:00
Wolverhampton v Chelsea 15:00
- - -
Saturday 27 February
Birmingham v Wigan 15:00
Bolton v Wolverhampton 15:00
Burnley v Portsmouth 15:00
Chelsea v Man City 15:00
Hull v Aston Villa 15:00
Liverpool v Blackburn 15:00
Man Utd v West Ham 15:00
Stoke v Arsenal 15:00
Sunderland v Fulham 15:00
Tottenham v Everton 15:00
- - -
Saturday 6 March
Arsenal v Burnley 15:00
Aston Villa v Sunderland 15:00
Blackburn v Birmingham 15:00
Everton v Hull 15:00
Fulham v Stoke 15:00
Man City v Tottenham 15:00
Portsmouth v Chelsea 15:00
West Ham v Bolton 15:00
Wigan v Liverpool 15:00
Wolverhampton v Man Utd 15:00
- - -
Saturday 13 March
Birmingham v Everton 15:00
Bolton v Wigan 15:00
Burnley v Wolverhampton 15:00
Chelsea v West Ham 15:00
Hull v Arsenal 15:00
Liverpool v Portsmouth 15:00
Man Utd v Fulham 15:00
Stoke v Aston Villa 15:00
Sunderland v Man City 15:00
Tottenham v Blackburn 15:00
- - -
Saturday 20 March
Arsenal v West Ham 15:00
Aston Villa v Wolverhampton 15:00
Blackburn v Chelsea 15:00
Everton v Bolton 15:00
Fulham v Man City 15:00
Man Utd v Liverpool 15:00
Portsmouth v Hull 15:00
Stoke v Tottenham 15:00
Sunderland v Birmingham 15:00
Wigan v Burnley 15:00
- - -
Saturday 27 March
Birmingham v Arsenal 15:00
Bolton v Man Utd 15:00
Burnley v Blackburn 15:00
Chelsea v Aston Villa 15:00
Hull v Fulham 15:00
Liverpool v Sunderland 15:00
Man City v Wigan 15:00
Tottenham v Portsmouth 15:00
West Ham v Stoke 15:00
Wolverhampton v Everton 15:00
- - -
Saturday 3 April
Arsenal v Wolverhampton 15:00
Birmingham v Liverpool 15:00
Bolton v Aston Villa 15:00
Burnley v Man City 15:00
Everton v West Ham 15:00
Fulham v Wigan 15:00
Man Utd v Chelsea 15:00
Portsmouth v Blackburn 15:00
Stoke v Hull 15:00
Sunderland v Tottenham 15:00
- - -
Saturday 10 April
Aston Villa v Everton 15:00
Blackburn v Man Utd 15:00
Chelsea v Bolton 15:00
Hull v Burnley 15:00
Liverpool v Fulham 15:00
Man City v Birmingham 15:00
Tottenham v Arsenal 15:00
West Ham v Sunderland 15:00
Wigan v Portsmouth 15:00
Wolverhampton v Stoke 15:00
- - -
Saturday 17 April
Birmingham v Hull 15:00
Blackburn v Everton 15:00
Fulham v Wolverhampton 15:00
Liverpool v West Ham 15:00
Man City v Man Utd 15:00
Portsmouth v Aston Villa 15:00
Stoke v Bolton 15:00
Sunderland v Burnley 15:00
Tottenham v Chelsea 15:00
Wigan v Arsenal 15:00
- - -
Saturday 24 April
Arsenal v Man City 15:00
Aston Villa v Birmingham 15:00
Bolton v Portsmouth 15:00
Burnley v Liverpool 15:00
Chelsea v Stoke 15:00
Everton v Fulham 15:00
Hull v Sunderland 15:00
Man Utd v Tottenham 15:00
West Ham v Wigan 15:00
Wolverhampton v Blackburn 15:00
- - -
Saturday 1 May
Birmingham v Burnley 15:00
Blackburn v Arsenal 15:00
Fulham v West Ham 15:00
Liverpool v Chelsea 15:00
Man City v Aston Villa 15:00
Portsmouth v Wolverhampton 15:00
Stoke v Everton 15:00
Sunderland v Man Utd 15:00
Tottenham v Bolton 15:00
Wigan v Hull 15:00
- - -
Sunday 9 May
Arsenal v Fulham 15:00
Aston Villa v Blackburn 15:00
Bolton v Birmingham 15:00
Burnley v Tottenham 15:00
Chelsea v Wigan 15:00
Everton v Portsmouth 15:00
Hull v Liverpool 15:00
Man Utd v Stoke 15:00
West Ham v Man City 15:00
Wolverhampton v Sunderland 15:00
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Comment 229 - 248 of 248
BENITEZ IS RIGTH LIVERPOOL ALWAYS HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THE FIXTURES BUT IT CAN BE GOOD FOR LIVERPOOL . AND THEY WILL WIN THE PREMIER LEAGUE YNWA YNWA YNWA YNWA YNWA
Well when yer buy all your BIG signings it will be a breeze MMMMM HA
He's left "cursing" the fixture list? Where in this article is there a direct quote from Benitez? This is a pointless article based on comments he made LAST season.
That said, no-one should moan about the fixtures. You've got to play them all eventually.
Has no one noticed the huge mistake in the fixtures !!!!!!!!!! They have forgot to include Newcastle United. Oh just realised they are in the Fizzy pop league. FTM
rafa rues fixture headache? really? I don't see any quotes from rafa here. yahoo tabloid @#$%-ers @#$% stirring again. .
micpando jealousy will get you nowhere but big brown envelopes might ha ha whinging before the season starts priceless try playing as many games as we did last season then moan about it
its the same what happened to us last season so get over it rafa is a whinging t=w=a=t fact
ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING CUP
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP
ALL MATCHES ON INTERNET: PREMIER LEAGUE, FA CUP, CHAMPIONSHIP, CARLING CUP, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - UEFA CUP, WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFICATION, CONFEDERATONS CUP, FRIENDLY MATCHES AND MUCH MORE
ALL THE HIGH LIGHTS OF PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES
idiots from around the world??NO SUCH TEAM AS M**U IT'S MANCHESTER UNITED,GET OFF THE BANDWAGON NOW AND LEARN TO TYPE IT,MANCHESTER UNITED,WRITE IT DOWN A THOUSAND TIMES!!
UNITED=IS LIFE.
BRI=MANCHESTER.
God bless howard webb , and , God bless Manchester United
RE, Rafa;
moan, moan, moan, moan moan.
why are you scouser so stuck on howard web?
Rafa hasnt voiced out anything but the article is just trying to twart any mindgames Fergie may bring now or in future.TO ADD ONE MORE FIXTURE MISERY IS THAT THE MIGHTY REDS WILL HAVE UP TO 10 AWAY MATCHES IN THE RETURN LEAGUE WHILE MANCS WILL HAVE ONLY 8.MAKING IT FOR THE LIKE OF HOWARD WEBB TO AWARD ManU A PENALTY AT OT
This is surprising me! All matches will be played on the same time?!!!!
But with this kind of fixtures, I hope Man U. is going to climb the crown again. All the best Man Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
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