Sunday 7 August – Manchester City (H)
For the second time in four seasons, we’ll kick off our Premier League campaign against defending champions Manchester City at London Stadium – a mouth-watering clash for more reasons than one.
Not only could the Irons be backed by the raucous noise of an increased matchday capacity of 62,500 (subject to the safety certificate being issued and in agreement with Newham Council and planning authority LLDC) for the first time, but the equivalent fixture with Pep Guardiola’s last month – a 2-2 draw in Mark Noble’s final home game – was an enthralling, dramatic and end-to-end affair.
Both sides could boast fresh faces and having proven our ability to beat the very top teams on home soil last year, an exciting opening to our season lies in wait for West Ham United.
Saturday 13 August – Nottingham Forest (A)
A trip to tackle the ‘Tricky Trees’ is next up for David Moyes’ men, our first away game of the season coinciding with EFL Championship play-off winners Nottingham Forest hosting their first Premier League home fixture since May 1999.
We have come up against Forest nine times since then, of course, winning six of them – including four of our six league clashes – but despite Steve Cooper’s side likely being one of the favourites to head straight back down, there will be no doubt they will give the Hammers a real game, particularly in front of a vociferous City Ground.
Tuesday 30 August – Tottenham Hotspur (H)
The one many a Hammer's eyes – and most certainly Michail Antonio’s – would immediately jump to, our first London derby of the season is at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
The Irons have got the better of Spurs at London Stadium in back-to-back seasons in the Premier League, and will be hoping to make it a hat-trick at the end of August upon the visit of Antonio Conte’s side.
It was, of course, our No9 who made the difference in a 1-0 home win in the same game last October, the third matchwinner against our north London rivals of his career.
Saturday 12 November – Leicester City (H)
A unique complexity of the schedule will see the Premier League season pause for six weeks in November and December for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, our first slate of fixtures ending with a home clash against Leicester City in mid-November.
Buoyed by the London Stadium crowd and memories of a remarkable 4-1 home win over the Foxes last year – a match in which Antonio became our record Premier League goalscorer – the Hammers will have every hope of signing off off for the break on a high.
Boxing Day (Monday 26 December) – Arsenal (A)
Our return to domestic action following the World Cup will come with the festive season programme, which we kick off on Boxing Day with another London derby, facing Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.
The Irons have not won away to the Gunners since August 2015 but could consider themselves highly unfortunate in recent years, slipping to narrow, and arguably undeserved, defeats in March and September 2020; the Christmas period will therefore offer the chance to bring our own Claret & Blue brand of yuletide cheer to the fixture!
To ease fixture congestion, there is no fixture scheduled between our trip to Arsenal and our final fixture of a memorable 2022, at home to Brentford on New Year’s Eve.
Monday 2 January – Leeds United (A)
The new 2023 year will get underway for us with an always-eventful trip to Elland Road, a ground which features one of the Premier League’s finest atmospheres – and at which we have come from behind to notch late winners in both of the last two seasons.
Last year, Raphinha’s early goal looked to have put Leeds on course for victory, only for an own-goal from Junior Firpo – deflecting in Jarrod Bowen’s effort – and a strike from Antonio, deep into injury time, to spark jubilant celebrations in the away end.
Saturday 4 February – Newcastle United (A)
Speaking of enjoyable away days, our furthest trip of the season falls in early February with the 250-mile voyage to St James’ Park, where we kicked off our 2021/22 season in style.
Twice coming from behind, a 4-2 win – courtesy of goals from Aaron Cresswell, Saïd Benrahma, Tomáš Souček and Antonio – set the tone for a strong season to come, and the Hammers will be aiming to produce a similarly clinical display upon making the long journey to Tyneside this season.
Tuesday 25 April – Liverpool (H)
Speaking of outstanding displays, who could forget the brilliant collective showing which led to us inflicting a first defeat of the campaign – and indeed one of only four in 63 matches in all competitions – upon Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool at London Stadium last season?
An early Alisson own goal was followed by strikes from Pablo Fornals and Kurt Zouma to ensure Liverpool's goals by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Divock Origi counted for little; results seldom come more impressive, nor do atmospheres - the backdrop to an instant Club classic.
More of the same, please!
Saturday 20 May – Leeds United (H)
Our final home game of the season falls against Leeds and, as ever, the Claret & Blue are sure to summon a spectacular atmosphere in east London to salute our players’ efforts.
The Irons overcame the Whites 2-0 at home in the FA Cup last January, but were on the wrong end of a see-saw 3-2 thriller a week later – so there can be no better time than the season’s climax to put that right.
Sunday 28 May – Leicester City (A)
Our season finale will fall at the King Power Stadium against Leicester City, a team we have enjoyed some favourable results against of late, with three wins in our last four games, including an impressive 3-0 win at the home of the Foxes in 2020/21.
While we needed a last-minute Craig Dawson equaliser to earn a point there in February, the Hammers will be hoping that whatever result we can secure in Leicester on the final day of 2022/23 will pave the way for further continental football the following campaign.
There remains, of course, plenty of football to be played between now and then...
