With the wait over and the Premier League fixtures released for the 2020/21 season, attention now turns to the opening weekend on September 12th.
For Leicester City, their first test of the campaign will be a short trip to The Hawthorns to face newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion before following up their trip to the West Midlands with their first home game against Burnley a week later.
Brendan Rodgers' men made a positive start last season however after a drastic drop in form during the second half of the season, resulting in the disappointment of missing out on Champions League football. The Foxes will need to ensure they make a repeat of last year's early form if they have any aspirations of competing for a coveted top four spot once again.
Taking advantage early doors
It might only be a slim advantage, but with certain clubs not in action on the first weekend of the season, Leicester need to seize their opportunity early doors if they want to go toe to toe with the clubs they now consider direct rivals for a place in Europe.
With Manchester City's opening game at home to Aston Villa and Manchester United's trip to Burnley rescheduled as well as Monday night fixtures for Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers due to their involvement in the latter stages of the Champions League and Europa League in August, the Foxes have a great chance to lay down a marker straight away.
Although it would only be one game, with both Chelsea and Wolves only playing two days later, a win for Leicester would certainly give them the perfect start as well as pile some pressure on their rivals going into their opening games.
Extra games to contend with
Just like the end of the 2019/20 campaign, this season is guaranteed to be a unique one for all clubs, but Leicester in particular.
A September start with plans to finish the season on Sunday 23rd May, the Premier League is far more congested than a typical season, with plenty more midweek fixture dates to contend with.
Furthermore, in addition to the league and two domestic cup competitions, the East Midlanders will also have the Europa League as part of their hectic schedule.
With games against Arsenal, Leeds United, Wolves, Fulham, Sheffield United and Brighton and Hove Albion to come after each group stage fixture, a strong start from Leicester's opening six games may take a little bit of the pressure off Brendan Rodgers and co.
A tough end to the season
It looks like the Foxes almost have a carbon copy to last season's fixtures - with their hardest run of games seemingly coming at the end of the year.
The final three games of the season sees Leicester face back-to-back away trips to Manchester United and Chelsea before a final day clash at home to Tottenham Hotspur, and if last season is anything to go by, a strong start to the season could prove vital for Leicester.
With a spot in Europe likely to be more competitive than ever this season, Rodgers and his squad know that picking up points in the early stage will not only help them in the short-term but also throughout the course of the season.
Furthermore, with a good run of results at the start of the season, confidence could be high and with a bit more consistency in the second-half of the season - the Foxes may stand themselves a better chance of holding onto a top four spot - which is likely to be the ambition come May 2021.
