Fans could be allowed back to Old Trafford at the perfect time

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Manchester United’s fixture list for the 2020/21 season was released yesterday.

For some, it’s an opportunity to get excited and analyse the permutations, the run-in, and the other crucial periods.

Others may say ‘you still play everyone twice’, but there is one reason why the timing of fixtures may be more significant this season than in any other.

Fans back in October?

As per the Telegraph, the government’s most recent plan is for football fans to return to stadiums after October 1.

They report that crowds will be limited to 30 per cent of the ground’s usual capacity once supporters are allowed back.

The timing of the fixtures means that United’s first game back with some fans in the ground would be at home to Tottenham on October 3.

That could make the difference in an early crunch clash with a traditional top-six rival.

More to come

The next two home league matches after the Spurs one are biggies too.

United host Chelsea and Arsenal on consecutive weekends at the end of October.

We will be looking to make home advantage count and get off to a good start to the season while putting a dent in the aspirations of other members of the chasing pack looking to close the gap on Manchester City and Liverpool.

Of course the atmosphere won’t be the same inside Old Trafford with limited capacity.

But after months of absence from the ground, those fans who do get in should be in good voice.

That should help United make home advantage count in the early weeks of the season.

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