Following the release of the new Barclays Premier League fixtures on Monday morning, a schedule for Chelsea's potential matches in four competitions can be compiled.

With the league season finishing later than before, there will be just a three-day gap before a big night in Rome for any English club making the Champions League Final.

The FA Cup Final will then take place the Saturday after the destination of the European Cup is decided.

The Champions League campaign for Chelsea begins on Tuesday 16 or Wednesday 17 September and will be followed immediately by a league game against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

Both Arsenal and Liverpool at home follow Champions League fixtures and of our six group games, five will be followed by Stamford Bridge games, as will potential first knockout and quarter final ties.

Chelsea enter the Carling Cup at the third round stage on Tuesday 23 or Wednesday 24 September. The FA Cup third round retains its traditional first weekend in January position and there is no New Year's Day fixture.

Looking at the league fixtures for the rest of last season's top four, Man United's first game will be at home to Newcastle with their last away at new boys Hull. A home match at Arsenal takes place the weekend before. They travel to Anfield and Stamford Bridge in the first five games.

Arsenal open with a home match against newly-promoted West Brom and play both Chelsea and Man United in May before finishing at home to Stoke.

Liverpool kick-off in the north-east at Sunderland and end at home to Spurs with Newcastle at home and West Ham and West Brom away their other May fixtures.


Chelsea's 2008/09 fixture schedule (dates subject to change for television and policing requirements):

Sat 16 Aug - Chelsea v Portsmouth
Wed 20 Aug - International fixtures
Sat 23 Aug - Wigan Athletic v Chelsea
Sat 30 Aug - Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur

Sat 6 -Wed 10 Sep - International fixtures
Sat 13 Sep - Manchester City v Chelsea
Tue 16/Wed 17 Sep - Champions League Matchday 1
Sat 20 Sep - Chelsea v Manchester United
Tue 23/Wed 24 Sep - Carling Cup third round
Sat 27 Sep - Stoke City v Chelsea
Tues 30 Sep/Wed 1 Oct - Champions League Matchday 2

Sat 4 Oct - Chelsea v Aston Villa
Sat 11-Wed 15 Oct - International fixtures
Sat 18 Oct - Middlesbrough v Chelsea
Tue 21/Wed 22 Oct - Champions League Matchday 3
Sat 25 Oct - Chelsea v Liverpool
Tue 28 Oct - Hull City v Chelsea

Sat 1 Nov - Chelsea v Sunderland
Tue 4 Nov/Wed 5 Nov - Champions League Matchday 4
Sat 8 Nov - Blackburn v Chelsea
Tue 11/Wed 12 Nov - Carling Cup fourth round
Sat 15 Nov - West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea
Wed 19 Nov - International fixtures
Sat 22 Nov - Chelsea v Newcastle United
Tue 25/Wed 26 Nov - Champions League Matchday 5
Sat 29 Nov - Chelsea v Arsenal

Tue2/Wed 3 Dec - Carling Cup fifth round
Sat 6 Dec - Bolton Wanderers v Chelsea
Tue 9/Wed 10 Dec - Champions League Matchday 6
Sat 13 Dec - Chelsea v West Ham United
Sat 20 Dec - Everton v Chelsea
Fri 26 Dec - Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion
Sun 28 Dec - Fulham v Chelsea

Sat 3 Jan - FA Cup third round
Tue 6/Wed 7 Jan - Carling Cup semi final first leg
Sat 10 Jan - Manchester United v Chelsea
Sat 17 Jan - Chelsea v Stoke City
Tue 20/Wed 21 Jan - Carling Cup semi final second leg
Sat 24 Jan - FA Cup fourth round
Wed 28 Jan - Chelsea v Middlesbrough
Sat 31 Jan - Liverpool v Chelsea

Sat 7 Feb - Chelsea v Hull City
Wed 11 Feb - International fixtures
Sat 14 Feb - FA Cup fifth round
Sat 21 Feb - Aston Villa v Chelsea
Tue 24/ Wed 25 Feb - Champions League first knockout round - first leg
Sat 28 Feb - Chelsea v Wigan Athletic

Sun 1 Mar - Carling Cup Final
Tue 3 Mar - Portsmouth v Chelsea
Sat 7 Mar - FA Cup sixth round
Tue 10/Wed 11 Mar - Champions League first knockout round - second leg
Sat 14 Mar - Chelsea v Manchester City
Sat 21 Mar - Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea
Sat 28 Mar-Wed 1 Apr - International fixtures

Sat 4 Apr - Newcastle United v Chelsea
Tue 7/Wed 8 Apr - Champions League quarter final - first leg
Sat 11 Apr - Chelsea v Bolton Wanderers
Tue14/Wed 15 Apr - Champions League quarter final - second leg
Sat 18 Apr - Chelsea v Everton or FA Cup semi-final (Sat 18/Sun 19 Apr)
Sat 25 Apr - West Ham United v Chelsea
Tue 28/Wed 29 Apr - Champions League semi final - first leg

Sat 2 May - Chelsea v Fulham
Tue 5/Wed 6 May - Champions League semi final - second leg
Sat 9 May - Arsenal v Chelsea
Sat 16 May - Chelsea v Blackburn
Sun 24 May - Sunderland v Chelsea
Wed 27 May - Champions League Final
Sat 30 May - FA Cup Final