EVERTON HANDED FAVOURABLE PREMIER LEAGUE START

Merseyside club Everton have been handed a favourablestart in the Premier League ahead of the 2021/22 campaign after the fixtures were released by the league body. In the fixtures unveiled by the Premier League earlier this week, the Toffees will start the new season with an home game against Southampton on matchday one.

The Everton vs Southampton can be called the Theo Walcott derby after the England international moved to boyhood club Southampton permanently. Walcott had spent last season on loan with the Saints in what was the last year of his Everton contract. His existing deal with the Toffees ends in the coming days and Southampton have already given him a two-year deal to secure his signing on a free transfer once his Everton contract expires at the end of this month.

Everton were the early pacesetters in the Premier League under Carlo Ancelotti but they could not sustain that momentum from the opening weeks of the last campaign and ultimately ended up just finishing in the top half of the table. The Toffees ended the last Premier League campaign in tenth position.

On matchday two, Everton will face hosts Leeds United at Elland Road before the trip to face Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on matchday three to conclude the Everton games for the month of August.

Everton will start the month of September with an home game against Burnleyin a matchday four encounter before the away game against Aston Villa at Villa on matchday five. Everton will play hosts to newly promoted side Norwich City on matchday six to end the set of Premier League fixtures in September. Everton don't face a top six team in the Premier League until the start of October with the away game at Manchester United in a matchday seven clash.