UEFA Cup dates will mean Everton fixture changes

Jun 17 2008 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post

AT LEAST two of Everton’s fixtures from the list announced yesterday will be changed – before television even becomes involved.

Everton’s qualification for the UEFA Cup means that they will be playing their first round opponents in Europe on Thursday September 18 and Thursday October 2.

As a result, the away trip to newly-promoted Hull City must be put back 24 hours to Sunday, September 21 and the home game with Newcastle United will take place on Sunday, October 5.

Several fixture changes for all Premier League clubs will be announced when Sky choose their first batch of live games later this month and Setanta pick their matches at the start of July.

David Moyes’s side begin the campaign at home to currently managerless Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, August 16 while Liverpool kick-off away at Sunderland on the same day.

The fixture computer has picked out a couple of early Merseyside derbies with the sides clashing first at Goodison Park on September 27 and then at Anfield on January 17.

Everton complete their Premier League season away at Fulham on May 24 while Liverpool host Tottenham Hotspur.