Manchester City and Manchester United will both be spared having to start their 2020-21 Premier League season on 12 September – but fellow European contenders Wolves will be in action on the opening weekend.
However, whilst City and United will have fixtures listed for the opening weekend, they will be moved as a result of the agreement amongst all Premier League clubs for every squad to get a minimum of 30 days between their final game of the 2019-20 season and their first of the new campaign.
Both Manchester clubs were knocked out of Europe last weekend, four weeks before the new campaign. It means, in theory, City could play on 15 September, with United in action the following night.
However, these dates clash with the EFL Cup second round, which Wolves are in after their failure to secure a top-six spot.
It is understood both Wolves and Chelsea felt they should have been given a delayed start on the basis their preparation for the new season would be severely hampered by the international break.
As City and United enter the EFL Cup at the third round stage on 22 September, with the fourth round the following midweek, the scope for re-arranging games is severely limited.
Tottenham are already aware if they get through the second qualifying round of the Europa League on 17 September, they will be involved in European competition and the EFL Cup during the following week and – potentially – the week after.
With Champions League and Europa League group games arranged for October, November and December, there are no spare midweek dates for the Premier League to slot spare fixture into until the end of January.
BBC
