Manchester United will play Arsenal in the enormous headline clash of the Premier League’s first round of fixtures next season.
The game is one of English football’s most historic fixtures and all eyes will be on the heavyweight encounter. It’s is scheduled for a 4:30 kick-off on Sunday, August 17.
Arsenal were desperately disappointed to finish last season without silverware – ending as runners-up to Liverpool as their title challenge stuttered towards the end of their campaign. They have a tricky first few weeks this time, playing United first before visiting Anfield in week three and Man City a fortnight later.
Mikel Arteta’s men will be determined to come flying out of the blocks this time around and there’s a different kind of pressure on his opposite number, Ruben Amorim.
An unsuccessful first few months of next season would pile pressure on the Portuguese manager after United’s dreadful last season and United also have a tricky start.
They play Fulham away after the Arsenal game, then host Burnley before facing local rivals Man City at the Eithad in the derby the week after that.
Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United take on Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in the opening game
Mo Salah will be playing for Egypt during AFCON and miss important Liverpool games
Bramley Moore Dock, Everton’s new home, will host the first game against Brighton in week two
And the first Monday night of the season should provide a cacophonous atmosphere at Elland Road, with newly-promoted Leeds facing Everton.
Life with the Toffees has started brilliantly for David Moyes in his return to the club and the first game in their new stadium will come against Brighton the following weekend.
It will be Liverpool, Arne Slot’s reigning champions, who feature in the first game next season.
Mo Salah and Co face Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday, August 15 at 8:00. No doubt the stadium will be rocking for a night game as Slot’s side embark on the mission to defend their title.
But Reds fans will also be concerned about the prospect of losing Mo Salah to AFCON for some vital fixtures.
Liverpool will travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal, who are expected to be fellow title contenders again, without their Egyptian talisman on January 7.
Salah could also miss games against Wolves, Leeds, Fulham and Burnley – which on paper should not provide as many issues.
The first Saturday’s early kick-off sees Aston Villa play Newcastle in a battle between two sides who fought tooth and nail to reach the Champions League last term, with the Magpies finishing on top.
There are four 3:00pm matches on the first Saturday, with Brighton playing host to Fulham in an evenly-matched affair.
Nottingham Forest, who enjoyed a sensational season last term, only to fall out of the European places at the end, take on Brentford.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool begin their title defence on the first Friday night against Bournemouth
Chelsea take on Crystal Palace in a fixture they drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge last term
The Bees will not have the reassuring presence of Thomas Frank in the dugout and it will be fascinating to see how they fare with some instability.
One of the sides hoping for a dip in Brentford’s usually reliable Premier League performances will be newly-promoted Sunderland.
The Black Cats won the Championship play-off final against Coventry to book their place in the top flight and they play West Ham, who will be hoping to see signs of improvement under Graham Potter following what has been a poor start to his tenure.
The first Saturday 5:30 kick-off of the season pits Wolves against Manchester City – a fixture Guardiola’s men have found to be a bit of a banana skin in the past.
The Spaniard with his new-look backroom staff and array of new signings are bidding to regain the imperious form that saw them win four titles on the trot, of course boosted by the returning Rodri.
There will be a welcome return for Rodri after the season missed with an ACL injury
Sunderland begin their campaign at home against West Ham next season
The first kick-off on the opening Sunday of the campaign sees Chelsea begin their season at Stamford Bridge against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace.
The sides drew both fixtures 1-1 last term and it could be a barometer of how well the Blues could perform now with one season under Enzo Maresca’s belt.
United then play Arsenal in the 4:30 game – no doubt the footage of their old battles will do the rounds again – Martin Keown shouting in Ruud van Nistelrooy’s face and Roy Keane’s row in the tunnel at Highbury.
