Less than a month since the end of the 2021-22 campaign, the Premier League has already announced the schedule for next season, one which has an unfamiliar look to it given the 2022 World Cup.
Just two matches will take place in November and December respectively, putting the onus on club's making fast starts and equally-strong finishes.
Chelsea are no different, particularly after their title challenge started to tail off by the halfway stage last season, and Thomas Tuchel's side have been provided with some interesting fixtures placements.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at five contests which could make or break Chelsea's 2022-23 campaign.
AUGUST 6: EVERTON (A)
What a way to kick off the season. Frank Lampard will always have the strongest of affinities with the Chelsea fanbase, but the Blues record goalscorer will recognise the importance of getting another victory against the West Londoners on the opening day of the season.
On May 1, Everton won the corresponding fixture by a 1-0 scoreline, and Chelsea have now lost on their last four visits to Goodison Park.
Records and streaks are there to be broken and all that, but this is one of the games that Tuchel would not have wanted, despite Everton likely to field a side missing several of the players who featured in their most recent victory in this fixture.
SEPTEMBER 17: LIVERPOOL (H)
Chelsea have some testing home fixtures during the opening six weeks - including Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United - and that streak continues with a Stamford Bridge showdown with Liverpool in the middle of September.
The Blues faced a similar fixture at a similar time last season, going down 1-0 at home to Manchester City, and the game is being played at the back end of a busy six weeks.
By this date, the Champions League group stages would have also gotten underway, and it will be interesting to see how both teams have handled the packed schedule ahead of a potentially-pivotal game in the title race.
JANUARY 2: MANCHESTER CITY (H)
Whether this turns out to be a positive or negative remains to be seen, but Chelsea will not face Manchester City until after the World Cup and into 2023.
By comparison, both fixtures between the sides had taken place by January 15 in 2021-22, Chelsea coming out on the wrong side of a 1-0 scoreline on both occasions.
This will be the third fixture played in quick succession after the World Cup, throwing up the potential for many sets of tired legs, but the result in this game could kick-start either side's second half of the season.
APRIL 22: MANCHESTER UNITED (A)
Only time will tell if Manchester United become a force to be reckoned with under Erik ten Hag, but Chelsea's record at Old Trafford has not been great over the past decade, regardless of the circumstances.
The Blues have not won at the Theatre of Dreams since 2013, and this particular chapter of their rivalry kick-starts a difficult end to the season on the road.
Arsenal and Man City will still need to be played at the Emirates Stadium and Etihad Stadium respectively, increasing the importance of collecting something from this encounter.
MAY 20: MANCHESTER CITY (A):
As already mentioned, Chelsea face a late-season trip to face Man City on away territory, the penultimate game of the campaign to be precise.
Assuming that at least one of these teams are still in contention for the Premier League title or attempting to qualify for the Champions League, it will be billed as a monumental fixture.
Even with Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United to come either side of this clash, all eyes will be on the game in the North West if the clubs are direct rivals at a pivotal point of the season.
body check tags ::
