Project Restart: Manchester City's remaining 2019-20 Premier League fixtures

By Barney Corkhill | 11 Jun 2020 13:30, Last updated: 04 Jun 2025 23:29

Project Restart: Man City's remaining 2019-20 Premier League fixtures

Manchester City will be one of the first teams back in action when the Premier League makes its long-awaited return on Wednesday, with the champions hosting Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

Defeat in the derby to Manchester United immediately prior to lockdown left Pep Guardiola's side 25 points adrift of runaway leaders Liverpool, and it seems to be only a matter of time before the Reds end City's two-year reign as champions of England.

City's ability to stave off that fate for as long as possible is limited; Liverpool need only six points to secure the title, which means that even if City beat Arsenal in their first game back and Burnley at home the following Monday, they could be dethroned by their third outing.

Two home fixtures as their first games back should allow them to ease back into the season to a certain extent - albeit in front of empty stands - but they face a difficult trip to Champions League-chasing Chelsea in their third match after the restart - on Thursday, June 25.

If City are still clinging on to their title by that stage then their opening league game of July could prove decisive as they welcome Jurgen Klopp's champions-elect to the Etihad Stadium, again on a Thursday night.

A trip to Southampton will follow after that top-two showdown, while Man City will then host Newcastle United for a second time in the space of 10 days, with an FA Cup quarter-final between the two teams pencilled in for the end of June.

Indeed, Man City's last six games all come against teams placed 13th or below as things stand, including games against four of the current bottom six to finish the campaign.

Away trips to Brighton & Hove Albion and Watford come either side of a home game against Bournemouth, before Guardiola's side will finish the campaign at home to bottom-of-the-table Norwich City.