How the Premier League decide new season fixtures as Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal await announcement

The release of the 2023/24 Premier League fixtures is coming up this week and fans are eagerly anticipating who their teams will be facing first.

The confirmation of when all 380 matches will be played next season is the result of a painstaking process that lasts half a year.

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How are the fixtures worked out?

Contrary to popular opinion, there is a method to the madness and a random generator doesn’t decide the fixture list.

The man behind the list is Glenn Thompson, who has collated over 60,000 matches since taking charge back in 1992.

On when he starts work on the next season’s fixture list, Thompson said: “For me it is at the start of the year when I get the playing dates from the Premier League.

“The whole thing is built up, putting in the international dates from FIFA, then the European club competitions. Then the Football Association adds the dates for its competitions. You’re left with the dates when you can play league and League Cup matches.

“We also consult fan representatives, from the Football Supporters’ Federation, and other stakeholders, to take on board their views.

“Around March, the Premier League sends to its clubs a form asking questions such as whether there are there any dates they wish not to be at home – which is answered in conjunction with the local police – and whether there are any teams they do not wish to play at home on Boxing Day.”

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Thompson is then responsible for creating a fixture sequence which places each club in a pairing grid, which defines the dates they will be at home.

For every game, the fixture computer knows which clubs are at home and which teams are away and then it will mix them up at random.

In any five matches, the building blocks are that sides should get three home ties and two away, with the process then reversed.

This system prevents teams playing successive home or away games at the start or end of the season to avoid a disadvantage.

Some clubs will have a partner team that their home games cannot clash with such as the two Manchester outfits and Liverpool and Everton.

Another added rule is that if you are scheduled to play at home on Boxing Day, you will then be away on New Year’s Day, and vice-versa.