An early reunion with Rickie Lambert and Mauricio Pochettino for Southampton - and two difficult trios later on.
Southampton's reluctant new era begins with a painful reminder of what was once theirs with an opening day visit to Liverpool.
The club allowed star striker, and boyhood Liverpool fan, Rickie Lambert to complete a dream move to Anfield earlier this summer. The England international - who scored 117 goals in 235 games for The Saints is now likely to feature, in some part, against his former club on the opening day of the season.
But it might not just be Lambert they come up against on the 16th April. Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana and potentially more are being linked with a Brendan Rodgers swoop - meaning it could be a difficult day for Southampton under new boss Ronald Koeman.
Then, just six games later, another ghost of the past awaits. Mauricio Pochettino, who took over at Tottenham Hotspur earlier this summer - taking the place of Tim Sherwood - will welcome his old club to White Hart Lane, and again he might have some former players in his ranks. Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw have recently been linked with a move.
A full list can be seen below, dates and times subject to change for television purposes.
| Home Team | Away Team | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 16 Aug 2014 | Liverpool | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Sat 23 Aug 2014 | Southampton | v | West Brom | 15:00 |
| Sat 30 Aug 2014 | West Ham | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Sat 13 Sep 2014 | Southampton | v | Newcastle | 15:00 |
| Sat 20 Sep 2014 | Swansea | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Sat 27 Sep 2014 | Southampton | v | Queens Park Rangers | 15:00 |
| Sat 04 Oct 2014 | Tottenham | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Sat 18 Oct 2014 | Southampton | v | Sunderland | 15:00 |
| Sat 25 Oct 2014 | Southampton | v | Stoke | 15:00 |
| Sat 01 Nov 2014 | Hull City | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Sat 08 Nov 2014 | Southampton | v | Leicester City | 15:00 |
| Sat 22 Nov 2014 | Aston Villa | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Sat 29 Nov 2014 | Southampton | v | Man City | 15:00 |
| Tue 02 Dec 2014 | Arsenal | v | Southampton | 19:45 |
| Sat 06 Dec 2014 | Southampton | v | Man Utd | 15:00 |
| Sat 13 Dec 2014 | Burnley | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Sat 20 Dec 2014 | Southampton | v | Everton | 15:00 |
| Fri 26 Dec 2014 | C. Palace | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Sun 28 Dec 2014 | Southampton | v | Chelsea | 15:00 |
| Thu 01 Jan 2015 | Southampton | v | Arsenal | 15:00 |
| Sat 10 Jan 2015 | Man Utd | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Sat 17 Jan 2015 | Newcastle | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Sat 31 Jan 2015 | Southampton | v | Swansea | 15:00 |
| Sat 07 Feb 2015 | Queens Park Rangers | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Tue 10 Feb 2015 | Southampton | v | West Ham | 19:45 |
| Sat 21 Feb 2015 | Southampton | v | Liverpool | 15:00 |
| Sat 28 Feb 2015 | West Brom | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Tue 03 Mar 2015 | Southampton | v | C. Palace | 19:45 |
| Sat 14 Mar 2015 | Chelsea | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Sat 21 Mar 2015 | Southampton | v | Burnley | 15:00 |
| Sat 04 Apr 2015 | Everton | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Sat 11 Apr 2015 | Southampton | v | Hull City | 15:00 |
| Sat 18 Apr 2015 | Stoke | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Sat 25 Apr 2015 | Southampton | v | Tottenham | 15:00 |
| Sat 02 May 2015 | Sunderland | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Sat 09 May 2015 | Leicester City | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
| Sat 16 May 2015 | Southampton | v | Aston Villa | 15:00 |
| Sun 24 May 2015 | Man City | v | Southampton | 15:00 |
They face a tough three game period in November-December. They take on reigning champions Manchester City on the 29th November, Arsenal at The Emirates on the 2nd December before Manchester United visit on the 6th December. That will give new boss Koeman a chance to go head to head with Louis van Gaal - apparently they are not best of friends.
They have another difficult trio of games at the turn of the year. Chelsea at home, Arsenal at home and United away - a great way to see in the new year.
Lambert and Pochettino return to St Marys on the 21st February and 25th April respectively - all before they finish off with anice easy game against ... Manchester City away.
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