Leicester receive Premier League fixtures boost after Champions League games for 2016/17

Leicester City have been handed a significant boost as they look to defend their Premier League crown in the 2016/17 season.

In Wednesday morning's Premier League fixture announcement, Claudio Ranieri's side were handed six Premier League home games directly after their Champions League group matches.

It is an incredible stroke of luck which gives the Foxes the chance to recuperate after their European excursions without having to contend with arduous away trips a few days later.

Leicester's Champions League rivals have not been so fortunate. Tottenham, by contrast, have four Premier League away games out of six after their Champions League group fixtures, including daunting visits to Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United.

The Gunners have four home games out of six, while Pep Guardiola's Manchester City will be at home in three out of six if they successfully navigate their Champions League qualifying play-off in August, with the two legs of that tie coming either side of a trip to Stoke.

In the Europa League, Jose Mourinho's Manchester United have three home games out of six directly after their group games, the same number as Southampton, who qualified for the competition with a sixth-placed finish last season.

Slaven Bilic's West Ham will also have an even split of home and away games - but they must navigate two qualifying rounds in order to reach the group stages.