Chelsea 2026-27 fixtures: Why Blues have reason to feel aggrieved with Premier League, Sky Sports

Chelsea person been near successful a baffling concern successful the aftermath of their 2026-27 Premier League docket being revealed.

Xabi Alonso has learned that the Blues volition marque the abbreviated travel to neighbours Fulham successful his archetypal competitory game.

Having played big to Crystal Palace connected the archetypal play of 2025-26, the West Londoners are nary strangers to opening-day London derbies.

However, theoretically-speaking, Chelsea person been enactment successful an unfair presumption by the Premier League and Sky Sports during the closing days of August.

Why Chelsea should beryllium aggravated with 2026-27 Premier League schedule

With nary European shot connected their schedule, Chelsea participate the EFL Cup astatine the second-round signifier adjacent season.

As per their authoritative fixture announcement connected Friday, Chelsea highlighted that they would beryllium successful EFL Cup enactment connected the week commencing August 24, the day of the Fulham game.

Furthermore, they are presently down to play big to Brighton & Hove Albion connected August 29, conscionable 5 days aft the Fulham contention with different fixture to beryllium scheduled successful between.

Sky Sports are yet to denote their fixtures for the 2nd Premier League matchday, truthful Chelsea against Brighton could beryllium moved backmost until the Sunday.

As a effect of Brighton participating successful the Conference League playoffs connected August 27, adjacent a Monday fixture astatine Stamford Bridge remains a plausible outcome.

Nevertheless, Chelsea person needlessly been scheduled for the last Premier League fixture of matchday one, ensuring that they person the slightest clip to retrieve for the EFL Cup.

In erstwhile years, the contention whitethorn person been viewed arsenic their lowest priority, but Alonso volition presumption the EFL Cup with a precocious level of value successful 2026-27.

What were Fulham vs. Chelsea alternatives?

The Friday nighttime slot was ever going to beryllium taken by a higher-profile fixture. Premier League champions Arsenal against Championship winners Coventry City makes cleanable sense.

As does Newcastle United versus Liverpool successful the header televised spot connected Sunday, but Fulham against Chelsea makes much consciousness for a 2pm kickoff connected a Sunday than Manchester City against Bournemouth erstwhile neither of those clubs participate the EFL Cup astatine the second-round stage.

There is caller past of the fixture taking spot with that time and kickoff time, with the corresponding 2024-25 fixture taking spot connected Easter Sunday with a 2pm kickoff.