The five key fixtures for Ipswich Town this season

Ipswich Town are back in the Premier League again and the fixture list is out.

Scanning down the list of big names, left-back and lifelong Newcastle supporter Leif Davis said he was most looking forward to playing his hometown club, and also hopefully beating their local rivals, Sunderland, in Town's opening game.

But which fixtures will be the most pivotal this season?

The first game of the season may not be as eye-catching a fixture as Liverpool at Portman Road two years ago, but a home match with which to begin only a second Premier League campaign in 20-plus years is welcome.

On paper, it's a more winnable game as well, but Town won't underestimate a Black Cats outfit that shocked the majority last season, with a seventh-place finish off the back of their play-off success the previous season.

And Newcastle fan Leif Davis is certainly looking forward to playing the Mackems!

Town's first away day sees them at Old Trafford and the home of the Premier League era's most successful team.

Granted, United are not the force they were under Sir Alex Ferguson but they have improved significantly under Michael Carrick.

They are also likely to invest heavily this summer as they aim to close the gap on the top two and make an impression on their return to the Champions League.

Town's first match of 2027 sees them away at the current Premier League champions.

The Blues will have rounded off 2026 at home to Chelsea only days earlier.

When I saw these two fixtures, it was difficult not to think about the same period two years ago.

Town beat Chelsea at home and came agonizingly close to making it back-to-back wins away at Fulham early in the New Year.

Conceding a stoppage time goal at Craven Cottage severely derailed Town going into the depths of winter.

Can they do the reverse this time around?

With all due respect to the Tigers, this is not a glamour tie, both clubs having been in the Championship last season.

But given Hull won promotion against the odds via the play-offs, this will be seen by many supporters and pundits as one of the fixtures Town have to win if they are to keep hold of their seat at English football's top table.

A final match of the Premier League campaign sees Town back at Portman Road, and hopefully their top-flight status will have long been secured.

If that's the case, while there won't be the noise during the build-up and the post-match pitch invasion, it will still be a very special day for the club and its owners, considering where Town were before their takeover.

Come on you Blues!

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