Villa’s Premier League season set for a delayed start

Aston Villa's English head coach Dean Smith (3R) talks with his players during the drinks break during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Manchester United at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on July 9, 2020. (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Aston Villa's English head coach Dean Smith (3R) talks with his players during the drinks break during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Manchester United at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on July 9, 2020. (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Premier League 2020/21 campaign will start in little more than three weeks time and the fixtures have been released today.

However, Aston Villa fans will have to wait an extra week for the restart of their Premier League season due to a postponement.

It was scheduled to be against Manchester City, however their involvement in the Champions League knockout stages means Pep Guardiola’s team will have an extra week to prepare.

The fixture at the Etihad Stadium is yet to be rescheduled.

The now “opening fixture” on 19 September will take place at home against Sheffield United, followed by an away trip to Fulham in September.

Villa Park fixtures against Liverpool and Leeds United, with an away trip to Leicester City rounds off the first five games .

Fans always look at three stages of the fixture list – the openers, Christmas period and the run-in – with all fixtures falling in-between becoming inconspicuous, especially as you all play the 19 teams twice.

The fixtures over Christmas and New Year period will involve Crystal Palace at home and two away fixtures against Chelsea and Manchester United.

Villa’s eight points from their last four games helped ensure the Premier League survival from a precarious position. If they were to find themselves in a similar position then they will have to do it against Chelsea and Manchester United at Villa Park, with away games at Crystal Palace and Tottenham sandwiched in between.

The month of December will also be a key date in fans diaries with games against our local rivals. A trip to the Molineux on 12 December, followed by a shorter trip to the Hawthorns a week later is likely to be highlighted for the Holte End faithful.

The corresponding fixtures at Villa Park will take place at the beginning of March and the end of April.

No date has been agreed on when the crowds can return to sporting events but let’s hope there are points on the board come the return of packed stadiums.

Certainly possible given the relative easy two opening fixtures.