CLARETS chief executive David Baldwin is pleased to see Burnley starting the Premier League season with a home fixture they can ‘compete’ in.

Burnley welcome Swansea to Turf Moor on the opening day of the campaign on the weekend of August 13, and it presents them with an opportunity to get points on the board early on, having faced Chelsea at home on the opening weekend two years ago, a match that ended in a 3-1 defeat.

The Clarets also end their Premier League campaign at home when they welcome West Ham United, while they are also at home on Boxing Day, to Middlesbrough, and New Year’s Eve, to Sunderland.

“I think it’s great to get a home game on the first day of the season,” explained Baldwin. “No disrespect to Swansea but it’s different to the Manchester United’s and Chelsea’s of this world.

“Two years ago we experienced Chelsea coming here on the opening day when we took the lead but they went on to another gear.

“Every game is difficult in the Premier League but it’s nice to get one at home where we can start to compete.” Burnley’s second fixture of the season could yet change, with Liverpool writing to the Clarets to ask them to switch the Anfield clash to Turf Moor.

The Reds are undertaking redevelopment work on the Main Stand during the summer, and although

they are confident the work will be completed in time, they have still asked Burnley to move the game.

If the Clarets agree to the switch they will start with two home games in a row and five of their first seven games will be at Turf Moor, but conversely they could face four consecutive away games in February and March if the return fixture with Liverpool is switched to Anfield.

Burnley are yet to respond to Liverpool’s request to swap the games.

Boss Sean Dyche insists his side will relish every game, but believes they have been handed a tough start with Chelsea away the third game of the campaign.

“It’s great to back in the Premier League and we’re all relishing the challenge ahead,” he said.

“It’s a difficult start but it is nice for the fans for the first game to be at home.

“Like every game in this league, it’ll be tough as Swansea are a good side who had a great end to the season under Francesco Guidolin.

“We then play Liverpool who will have had their first full pre-season under Jurgen Klopp and there have been changes at Chelsea of course.

“Everyone knows the demands of the Premier League but this is where we all wanted to be so we’re looking forward to all the games.”

Burnley are yet to add to their squad this summer but Baldwin insists work is progressing on securing targets.

“On the playing side, we’re working really hard on that,” he said. “Across the Premier League there is not a great amount of deals crossing the line at the minute.

“But there is plenty of work going on behind the scenes so it’s a case of watch this space.

“There is a lot of speculation at the minute which we would never comment on until any deal is over the line.

“It’s a case of making sure players fit into a well-established culture that has brought us success under Sean and I feel confident with time and patience that will occur.

“One good illustration of that is last season when I think it would be fair to say Andre Gray and Joey Barton had a huge impact but neither one of them were in the building by the second week of August.”