West Ham United's full 2021/22 Premier League fixture list has been revealed!
The Hammers will be looking to build on a consistently impressive 2020/21 top-flight campaign, after David Moyes' men picked up a Club-record 65 Premier League points, 19 wins, nine away wins - and a top-six finish and UEFA Europa League football.
And while all Premier League fixtures are subject to change, that hasn't stopped us from already highlighting ten of the standout prospective dates from the upcoming campaign...
Saturday 14 August 2021 - Newcastle United (A)
West Ham United’s season-opening game coincides with their longest journey of the campaign, as David Moyes’ Irons make the near-300 mile trip to the north-east to kick off 2021/22 proper.
The fixture also marks something of a reciprocal of last season’s opening game, when Newcastle visited London Stadium on the opening day of the season, winning 2-0. The Magpies went on to win the reverse fixture in April, so there will be no shortage of incentive for the Hammers to get the season off to the best possible start.
The Premier League has also expressed its hope that COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted sufficiently by 14 August to allow away fans to attend matches in stadiums containing capacity crowds - so there's every chance this date will mark the return of the travelling Claret and Blue Army, guaranteed to be in fine voice on Tyneside.
Saturday 21 August 2021 - Leicester City (H)
Our first home game of 2021/22 falls against an opponent against whom the Irons produced arguably two of our finest displays last season.
Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City might have finished the 2020/21 Premier League season a solitary point and place above us, but the Hammers produced two displays of attacking vivacity in 3-0 (away) and 3-2 (home) wins against them last season, and will have ambitions of overhauling the Foxes this time around. Expect goals - but above all, expect entertainment!
Saturday 2 October 2021 - Brentford (H)
While this season’s other two promoted sides are familiar faces in modern top-flight football, 2021/22 will mark Brentford’s first Premier League venture in their history. As such, West Ham’s first game against the West London-based Bees since April 1993 will fall in early October - a date likely already to be on former Brentford talisman Said Benrahma's radar.
Back in 1992/93 – an old Division 1 match at Boleyn Ground – the Irons emerged 4-0 winners at Boleyn Ground, and Moyes will be hoping that it will be a case of history repeating itself when Brentford return to east London as a top-flight side.
Saturday 23 October 2021 - Tottenham Hotspur (H)
Declan Rice and the band will have until the end of the third month of the campaign to fine tune their next release, as Tottenham Hotspur – the game every West Ham fan looks out for – travel to east London on Saturday 23 October.
Hammers fans won’t soon forget the triumphant memories of their 2-1 win over Spurs back in February, when Michail Antonio and Jesse Lingard struck at the opening of each half before a stout defensive performance kept Jose Mourinho’s team at bay. "They have done a brilliant job,” Moyes surmised at full-time – and hopefully they'll repeat the trick again this autumn.
Saturday 4 December 2021 – Chelsea (H)
The most festive month of the year kicks off for West Ham with a home game against Thomas Tuchel’s Champions League-winning Chelsea outfit – and therefore the perfect acid test for the Irons’ aspirations of retaining their status as European contenders.
The Blues admittedly did the double over the boys in Claret and Blue last season, but West Ham were not without their chances in both matches and, on another day, both results could have gone their way. Saturday 4 December could well mark that day.
Boxing Day 2021 – Southampton (H)
The Hammers will welcome the prospect of facing the Saints at London Stadium on Boxing Day – a rematch of the triumphant final game of 2020/21.
On that occasion, a 3-0 win – courtesy of Pablo Fornals’ brace and Rice’s late strike – sealed a Club-record points tally in the Premier League (65), sixth place and UEFA Europa League football, so there are plenty of happy recent memories which Moyes’ team will look to add to this Christmas.
The only gift the Irons will be looking for is three points - and, fittingly, they'll do so against a side they’ve wrapped up seven of their last nine Premier League games against.
New Year’s Day 2022 – Crystal Palace (A)
Any Irons fans preparing to enjoy New Year’s Eve frivolities will be relieved to know Moyes’ men will be keeping it local the following day!
A trip to Crystal Palace and Selhurst Park awaits on the first day of 2022 – and one man that will likely appeal to is Tomáš Souček, who enjoyed arguably his best game of last season on that ground, netting a brace in a thrilling 3-2 win in January.
Having also scored the winner on New Year’s Day 2021 at Everton, Souček will have this date pencilled in to kick-start another inspirational January.
Saturday 5 March 2022 – Liverpool (A)
While results haven’t gone our way at Anfield in recent seasons, West Ham United’s performances at Liverpool have certainly warranted more – and Saturday 5 March 2022 could be the day we'll be hoping to finally attain it.
With goals on both of his visits to Liverpool thus far, Fornals is the Irons’ man-in-form on Merseyside, but in truth every player in Claret and Blue will feel they have something to prove as they seek to address narrow, late defeats in consecutive seasons to Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Sunday 15 May 2022 – Manchester City (H)
Footballing fates never fail to serve up poetry.
It is truly fitting that captain Mark Noble’s last home appearance for West Ham United, at the culmination of an 18-year career in Claret and Blue, is likely to fall against the reigning Premier League champions at London Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s team dominated the top-flight table in 2020/21, but all eyes are likely to instead be on Noble on an afternoon where one man’s service, dedication and commitment – all supplied the West Ham Way – will be celebrated in front of the Club’s vociferous supporters.
We already can’t wait for that rendition of ‘Bubbles’!
Sunday 22 May 2022 – Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
The Irons’ season finale could yet present an opportunity to right a recent wrong in terms of their Premier League record, having failed to defeat Brighton & Hove Albion in eight top-flight meetings thus far.
The two teams exchanged late goals last month in a 1-1 draw – indeed, the last five games between the Irons and the Seagulls have finished level pegging – but the relatively short journey to the Amex Stadium could yet yield final-day Premier League glory once more.
One thing's for sure: with this group of players, with this manager and with this Club, West Ham United supporters will have no shortage of dates to look forward to this coming campaign.
