KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTING —- Fixture pressure enforced by the World Cup finals in Qatar in November and December means a return to action in England is only six weeks away.

Champions Manchester City and FA Cup-holders Liverpool renew their rivalry on Saturday, July 30, in the FA Community Shield. The venue will be Leicester City’s King Power Stadium since Wembley the UEFA Women’s Euro final the next day.

The season pauses after the November 12/13 weekend for the World Cup and resumes with the traditional Boxing Day programme on December 26. The second tier also halts on November 12/13 but resume on December 10/11. The third and fourth divisions will play as normal throughout the World Cup.

No Premier games are scheduled between Boxing Day until New Year’s Eve but, after playing on the final day of 2022, clubs will be back in action on January 2. Top prospect is Chelsea v Manchester City.

Premier competition kicks off on Friday, August 5, with a London derby between Crystal Palace and Arsenal. The following day sees Liverpool visit promoted Fulham at lunchtime.

The Manchester rivals must wait until Sunday: Manchester City begin their title defence at West Ham while United’s Erik ten Hag makes his managerial debut at home to Brighton.

Aug 5: C Palace v Arsenal. Aug 6: Fulham v Liverpool; Bournemouth v Aston Villa, Leeds v Wolves, Leicester v Brentford, Newcastle v Nottm Forest, Tottenham v Southampton; Everton v Chelsea. Aug 7: Man. Utd v Brighton; West Ham v Man. City.

###########