Manchester City will begin their pursuit of an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title away to Chelsea. The match on Sunday 18 August will pit Pep Guardiola against his former assistant Enzo Maresca, who was appointed by Chelsea after guiding Leicester to promotion.
The FA Cup winners Manchester United will host the opening game of the campaign when Fulham visit on Friday 16 August.
Promoted Ipswich, back in the Premier League for the first time in 22 years, welcome Arne Slot’s Liverpool for the 12.30pm BST kick-off a day later, when the Championship playoff winners Southampton travel to Newcastle. Leicester, back in the top flight after one season in the Championship and yet to name Maresca’s successor, will host Tottenham on the Monday night.
Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton reign will begin at Everton on the Saturday, when the new West Ham manager, Julen Lopetegui, will welcome Aston Villa. The other opening weekend fixtures will see Arsenal host Wolves and Bournemouth head to Nottingham Forest on the Saturday, while Brentford face Crystal Palace on the Sunday.
The final-day fixtures on 25 May see Manchester United host Villa, while Manchester City travel to Fulham. Liverpool host Palace and Arsenal are at Southampton.
The opening weekend is the only one so far for which games have been selected for television, with all other fixtures subject to change. Manchester United are due to host Liverpool two weeks into the season on 31 August, with the reverse fixture on 4 January. The third round of the FA Cup takes place the following weekend, and there is no winter break this season.
The first Manchester derby will be at the Etihad Stadium and is listed for 14 December, although it will move to Sunday 15 December once United’s Europa League fixtures are confirmed. City are due to head to Old Trafford on 5 April.
Arsenal face an early fixture crunch. They will be away to Tottenham on 14 September, immediately after the first international break, and a week later head north to face City. Those fixtures come either side of the first round of Champions League group stage games. The second north London derby is scheduled for 14 January, and Arsenal are due to host City on 1 February.
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The last Merseyside derby due to be played at Goodison Park before Everton’s move to their new home at Bramley Moore Dock is scheduled to be played on 7 December, with the reverse fixture a midweek match on 2 April.
Villa are set to host their local rivals Wolves on 21 September, the weekend after their opening Champions League fixture. Tottenham will be in Europa League action on 25 or 26 September and then face a trip to Manchester United that weekend.
Source: theguardian.com
