Ipswich Town

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Ipswich Town now know who they will play in their first Premier League fixtures for 22 years when they return to the top flight in August.

Former striker Alex Mathie is not intimidated by the news they will host Liverpool on the opening weekend followed by a trip to Etihad Stadium to face champions Manchester City, telling BBC Radio Suffolk: "It could be worse!"

He added: "I think it is probably a good time to play Liverpool and Manchester City, especially after the Euros. It is probably a good time to get them in early doors. There might be a few of their players that might be left out or carrying injuries."

With Ipswich among the pre-season favourites for relegation, Mathie believes the start of the season will be instrumental in defining where they will end up.

"Looking at all of the fixtures, I think we will know what we are fighting for by the end of November," he said.

"If we can get through and get something out of Liverpool and Manchester City - which will be tough, we know that - the other fixtures up until the end of November are not too bad.

"The run-in doesn't look too bad either. Everton, Brentford, Leicester City, West Ham in the last four games of the season - you would like to think we would get something out of those games.

"So, if we are fighting for anything, we will have a good chance."

BBC Radio Suffolk sports editor Graeme McLoughlin believes an "incredible start" is in store for Ipswich Town supporters, after learning that Kieran McKenna's side will be hosting Liverpool in their first game of the 2024-25 season before travelling to champions Manchester City for their second.

Image source, PA Media

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna has said the club's opening two fixtures of the new season against Liverpool and champions Manchester City bring home the fact that the Tractor Boys are now a Premier League club.

Ipswich's first top-flight game for 22 years will be the visit of Liverpool to Portman Road on 17 August, in what will be Arne Slot's first game in charge of the Reds, with a trip to Etihad Stadium following seven days later.

McKenna, who has led Ipswich to consecutive promotions from League One through to the top flight, told Sky Sports:, external "It's a fantastic start.

"Everyone's going to be so excited, two of the biggest clubs in world football and a home start against Liverpool - it brings it all to life and it's an amazing start for us.

"We're delighted to have a home game first. We know the atmosphere that's been created over the past couple of years in the stadium will carry on even more so this year."

When Ipswich were relegated in 2001-02, their final game of the season was a 5-0 defeat at Anfield.

Not that has any impact on what McKenna feels will be a wonderful occasion to welcome them back to the big time.

"It's great to have a home start," he said. "To have one of the best teams in the league is a big challenge, but we're certainly not going to underestimate the scale of the challenges we're going to have all season and certainly Liverpool will be that on the first day.

"The atmosphere is going to be fantastic, the players will be as ready as they can be and it's a game we're really looking forward to."

Ipswich Town's Premier League fixtures for the 2024-25 season have arrived and if you haven't seen them yet you can find them here.

The Tractor Boys first home game comes against Liverpool on the opening weekend and they face fellow promoted sides Southampton and Leicester City in September and November, while champions Manchester City will host the side in the second game of the campaign.

On Boxing Day it's set to be Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, while the first game of 2025 will be a trip to Craven Cottage to face Fulham.

Kieran McKenna's side end with games against Brentford, Leicester and West Ham.

Fixtures for the Premier League opening weekend have been released.

The 2024-25 season will begin at Old Trafford with Manchester United welcoming Fulham.

Ipswich Town's 22 years away from the top flight will come to an end with a visit from Arne Slot's Liverpool, while fellow newly promoted sides Southampton and Leicester will visit Newcastle and welcome Tottenham respectively.

Elsewhere, champions Manchester City will begin their quest for a fifth Premier League title in a row by travelling to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in Enzo Maresca's first game in charge.

The games will take place between 16-19 August.

Ipswich Town will begin their 2024-25 Premier League campaign against Liverpool at Portman Road.

The match will take place on Saturday, 17 August at 12:30 BST.

You can find all of Ipswich's fixtures here

Image source, Getty Images

The 2024-25 Premier League fixtures are being released on Tuesday at 09:00 BST - and you will see them on the BBC Sport website and app as soon as they are announced.

What should you look out for?

By chief football news reporter Simon Stone

Matches around European games

This will be even more keenly assessed than usual given the four clubs in the Champions League and two in the Europa League will have eight first-phase games rather than six. Long trips before or after European games do not go down well with managers.

Matches around internationals

There are international breaks in September, October, November and March. In Europe, the first three of those are for Nations League fixtures. World Cup qualifiers in Europe start in March 2025, though in South America and Asia they are being played in all four windows.

England managers tend not to be keen on blockbuster league matches immediately before a break and club bosses are equally unhappy at having to play key matches after them when so many players get back on Thursday or Friday.

Festive fixtures

To allow for a mid-August start, there will not be a winter break this season. The Premier League has assured clubs they will not be asked to play twice in less than 60 hours at any point over Christmas and New Year. That rules out any club playing on 26 December also having a game on 28 December. There will be no Christmas Eve fixture in the 2024-25 season.

As the FA Cup third round has been moved from its traditional home on the first weekend of January to the second, it does seem there will be four rounds of fixtures over the festive period - starting on 21 December and ending on 5 January.

New managers

Four Premier League clubs already have new managers - Fabian Hurzeler (Brighton), Enzo Maresca (Chelsea), Arne Slot (Liverpool) and Julen Lopetegui (West Ham) - with a fifth to come at Leicester. So that's a new era beginning at 25% of clubs before a ball has been kicked. Russell Martin will take charge of a top-flight game for the first time after Southampton's promotion.

We asked what you were most (and least) looking forward to about seeing Ipswich Town return to the Premier League after 22 years away.

Here are some of your responses:

Kev: Looking forward to visiting all the new grounds. Just hoping we can stay up as it's going to be difficult with having two promotions. Obviously it's going to be a big challenge, plus we'll need quite a few new signings - I reckon at least seven. But, I have total confidence in our management team.

Tom: Watching Kieran McKenna and the current squad (hopefully including Hutchinson, Sarmiento and Moore) and 3-4 additional, astute signings turn a beautifully refurbished full capacity Portman Road into a Premier League fortress. England call-ups for Davis, Woolfenden and Hirst. The academy becoming elite. Including Town players in my fantasy football team.

Jason: Looking forward to being able to see Ipswich on Match of the Day!

Peter: Not sure how their style of football will work in the Premier League. Also not sure if the players can raise their standards yet again.

DC: Chelsea, Manchester United and Brighton all tasty given McKenna was linked to them before signing a new contract. Liverpool and Spurs are the only two clubs I haven't seen live, so those on a personal level.

Alan: On the positive side, I just can't wait for the release of the 2024-25 sticker book and turning to the Ipswich page! Then having the challenge to decide on which three players to include in our fantasy football team every week. The only negative has to be getting to learn how to celebrate a goal with VAR.

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Ipswich Town are making their Premier League return after 22 years away.

A lot has changed since then.

There are more TV games, new stadiums to visit, goalline technology - not to mention the introduction of VAR.

So as you look ahead to the new season, we want to know what you are most (and least) looking forward to about the Tractor Boys being back in the top flight of English football?

Let us know here, external

Looking for your fix of Ipswich Town news and analysis?

BBC Radio Suffolk's Graeme McLoughlin and Connor Bennett bring you all the latest Blues talking points each week on the Tractor Social podcast.

Listen to the latest episode on BBC Sounds and make sure you subscribe, and have your Ipswich news notifications turned on in the BBC Sport app, to be updated when a new one lands.

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They took Ipswich Town back to the Premier League for the first time in more than 20 years, but how well do you know the players who won promotion last season?

We have picked out some of those that featured the most for the side in 2023-24 and you can test your knowledge of them in our quiz.

Try it here

Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton are among the clubs interested in signing 26-year-old Wales and Tottenham defender Joe Rodon. (Football.London), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

If you could only buy one, sell one, and loan out one player at Ipswich Town, who would you pick?

That was the question we asked you to answer, with the transfer window set to open on Friday.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Alex: Buy: Ben Sheaf from Coventry City - an athletic and strong midfielder, which is something we badly need. Sell: Vaclav Hladky - only if the price is right; he has been great but we will probably need to replace him with a better shotstopper. Loan (in): Omari Hutchinson - we need to get him back on loan.

Adam: Buy: Sam Gallagher from Blackburn. Sell: Marcus Harness. Loan: Jesurun Rak-Sakyi from Crystal Palace.

Rikki: Buy: More defenders and midfielders - the defence last season was not good enough. Sell: Marcus Harness - for half of last season Jeremy Sarmiento took his place. Loan: Ladapo or Al-Hamadi - we have so many attackers and they are both not Premier League standard.

Adrian: Buy: Armando Broja - there is so much talent there and he has the perfect attributes for our team. Sell: George Edmundson - he isn't good enough for the Premier League. Loan: Omari Hutchinson.

Robert: Buy: Omari Hutchinson - he was fantastic for us this season and I think he would be a real asset next season. Sell: Marcus Harness - I don't think he will cope in the Premier League. Loan (in): Kieffer Moore - Kieran McKenna's style needs a tall forward and he was excellent injury cover.

Image source, Getty Images

The transfer window opens on Friday, and we want to know what matters to you most this summer.

If you could only buy one, sell one, and loan out one player at Ipswich, who would you pick?

Tell us here, external

Ipswich fans can expect to see a slightly different Portman Road when they return to the stadium in a couple of months.

The home of the Tractor Boys is undergoing some upgrades to meet the requirements of a Premier League ground.

After all, it will be the first time the stadium has hosted top flight football in over 20 years.

Image source, LUKE DEAL/BBC

Five changes fans can expect to see:

• Extension of the West Stand corridor and new executive lounges created

• About 750 Cobbold Stand season ticket holders being relocated to new seats elsewhere

• Capacity for away fans increased by 10% - close to 3,000 supporters. Mr Carpenter, head of operations, said more safe standing, external would be added and accessibility for fans with disabilities would be improved

• Expansion of media facilities

• Television changes: More than 40 camera positions created around the stadium - as opposed to the "nine or 10" Mr Carpenter said were there last season

Read more on the plans here

Listen as Radio Suffolk's Luke Deal is given a tour by Town's head of operations Rich Carpenter

Image source, LUKE DEAL/BBC

Image source, LUKE DEAL/BBC

Crystal Palace, Ipswich and Southampton are battling it out for Rochdale's 18-year-old Welsh defender George Nevett. (HITC), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

There are just nine weeks to go before Premier League football returns to Portman Road, but are Ipswich Town ready for it?

The club's head of operations, Rich Carpenter, has been speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk about the 90 projects that have been started since the end of the Championship season.

"There about 30 new projects just because we are in the Premier League," he said.

"The most noticeable changes will be the new television studio and floodlights. But we have also had to increase the away capacity to just under 3000 and put in safe standing.

"There is an awful lot of work to do to bring the stadium up to speed because we have not been in the top flight for a while.

"We started planning this work in December, so we were ahead of the game and the Premier League helped us talk through those plans."

But where is the money coming from?

Carpenter says although the building work has to be done to meet Premier League standards, Ipswich "are being very careful" with the budget to not overspend.

"The money is largely coming from investment into the club," he added. "But also there is the money from the Premier League as well.

"In terms of the facilities you have to provide, it is very tough. It was well documented what Luton Town had to do last season to Kenilworth Road and we are having to do pretty much the same thing."

Listen to more from Carpenter on BBC Sounds

Ipswich Town are set to rival Turkish side Besiktas for Rangers and Wales midfielder Tom Lawrence, 30. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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The 2023-24 Premier League season may have only just finished but there is only 10 weeks until the 2024-25 season is scheduled to start.

So what are the key dates that you need to know?

When does the season start and finish?

The 2024-25 Premier League campaign will get under way during the weekend of 17-18 August.

It will take place over 33 weekends, with four midweek rounds and one Bank Holiday matchweek.

To allow for a mid-August start, there will not be a 'winter break' this time around. However, to avoid Christmas and New Year fixture congestion, the league will give more rest time to sides over three of the festive match rounds, with no club playing within 60 hours of another match.

The final round of fixtures will be played on Sunday, 25 May 2025, with all games to kick off at the same time.

When are the fixtures released?

09:00 BST on Tuesday, 18 June.

We will have all the details here for your club as soon as the fixtures are released.

Sign up for news notifications to find out all the key fixtures

When does the transfer window open and close?

The summer window will officially open on Friday, 14 June, which also happens to be the start of Euro 2024, and will remain open until Friday, 30 August at 23:00 BST.

Transfer deadline day has been brought forward this year to be in line with the other major leagues in Europe. The closing dates were set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.

Follow your club page and make sure your notifications are on so you don't miss a transfer deal.

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The latest episode of BBC Radio Suffolk's Tractor Social podcast is available now on BBC Sounds.

Graeme McLoughlin and Connor Bennett enjoy Ipswich Town being officially confirmed as a Premier League club, discuss how they think the Tractor Boys will fare in the top flight, and if Kieran McKenna's new contract is the best signing that the club will make this summer.

We asked for you for your thoughts on what Ipswich's summer priority is.

Here is a selection of your responses:

Steve: With many players returning to their clubs, we need to invest in quality and Premier League experience in order to have a chance of staying up.

Stephen: I'd like to see Omari Hutchinson recruited into the team and a couple of seasoned Premier League defenders too. At least one midfielder similarly moulded to those we already have but younger to step in when we will inevitably need them. The team is not broken, it just needs a few more quality Premier League players added who fit our requirements.

Liam: Personally, at this stage in terms of our squad, it is not ready for the Premier League. Key players like Omari Hutchinson, Jeremy Sarmiento and Kieffer Moore are all going back to their clubs after their loan spells. These three players were part of the reason we are in the Premier League. We need to make some big signings if we want to stay up.

Paul: There is a lot of transfer talk around purchasing of forward players, but I think the number one priority should be to bring in a couple of good defenders. Promoted teams always struggle defensively and we shipped a lot of goals in the Championship (although partially due to the style of play).

Tim: Get Omari Hutchinson secured on a permanent contract. Superstar in the making.