Ipswich Town

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BBC Radio Suffolk's Tractor Social podcast assessed Ipswich Town's Premier League fixture schedule, with the first two matches of the season against probable title contenders Liverpool and reigning champions Manchester City.

Connor Bennett said: "Immediately when I saw the fixture list I was like 'yikes', but the more you think about it, I think the script writes itself.

"It's Arne Slot's first game [as Liverpool manager] and the players are going to be coming back late from international duty, and a massive party atmosphere at Portman Road.

"When Brentford came up and battered Arsenal on the opening day [in August 2021], it was crazy. It's going to be like that, I can really see it. I'm more confident now I've had 24 hours to think about it that we can get a result. Manchester City, very much less so!"

Graeme McLoughlin added: "All of the predictions from people outside of Suffolk will be that they get zero points from those first two games. If you can get one point from one of those games, that's a bonus.

"Is it good to get them out of the way? Given Liverpool's transition, there are worse times to play them through the season. Other than playing them off the back of a long trip away in Europe, I think it's the best time."

Listen to their thoughts on the rest of the fixtures and more on BBC Sounds

The fixtures for the new Premier League season are out and we asked you for your predictions on where Ipswich Town will be after 10 games.

Here is a selection of your comments:

James: It will be a tough start no doubt, but this Ipswich side specialise in defying expectations. Realistically, they can get 10 or more points out of the first 10 games, but it wouldn't shock me if they got above 15.

Shaun: After 10 games, we will have 16 points and be mid-to-lower table. Overall, we have some great games to look forward to and some where we should be definitely looking for the three points. Exciting times.

James: Being overly optimistic, we could maybe fetch 10 points and be sitting just outside relegation. Realistically, we get one point from a 97th-minute equaliser against Leicester and sit comfortably at the bottom.

Dave: It's hard to say where we'll be after 10 games without knowing the new and improved squad, which is completely dependent on how much McKenna is allowed to spend and how new players settle in. I'm sure we won't have a repeat of our last promotion, finishing fifth, but 14th-16th is a realistic target. It's a very different world since our last visit!

Adam: Being honest, I think we will be 10th.

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

Graeme McLoughlin and Connor Bennett react to Ipswich's recently announced Premier League fixtures list.

First up is Liverpool at home and they discuss memories of playing the Reds in their most recent Premier League game in 2002.

Listen to the full episode here

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Ipswich Town will get their first Premier League campaign for more than 20 years under way at home to Liverpool on Saturday, 17 August.

It is a tough start for The Tractor Boys, but they are unbeaten in their opening league match of the campaign in each of the past 10 seasons (W6 D4) since losing 2-1 to Reading in the Championship in 2013-14.

Kieran McKenna's side will be hoping to fare better than the club's most recent match in the top flight, which was a 5-0 defeat by the Reds at Anfield in May 2002.

Now the fixtures for the new Premier League season are out, it is time to start looking ahead to your club's 2024-25 campaign and all the key matches.

So, where do you think Ipswich will be after the first 10 games?

Let us know, external

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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.

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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

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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.

Want to see all the latest Ipswich Town news on your homepage and get it sent directly to your phone or tablet?

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If you're reading this on the app, all you need to do is hit follow to add to your My Sport feed and press the bell icon at the top of the page making sure "Ipswich News" is selected to get push notifications.

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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.

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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