Champion Manchester City begins its Premier League title defence away at West Ham, while Manchester United will host Chelsea in a blockbuster meeting to start the campaign after next season’s fixtures were revealed on Thursday.
City will be confident of a fruitful start after scoring four times in each of its last three visits to the London Stadium, but faces a tougher clash when Champions League finalist Tottenham Hotspur visits the Etihad on the second weekend of the season.
Runner-up and Champions League winner Liverpool begins with a home game to newly-promoted Norwich.
Last season’s top two meet at Anfield on November 9 with the return at the Etihad scheduled for April 4, subject to TV confirmation.
Chelsea will begin life without the influential Eden Hazard at Old Trafford with United in need of a fast start after a dismal end to last season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
On its return to the top-flight Aston Villa host Spurs, whilst Sheffield United is away at Bournemouth.
Easier run-in
City only edged Liverpool by a point in last season’s thrilling duel but would appear to have the easier run-in this time round should the title go down to the wire once more.
Pep Guardiola’s men do not face any team who finished in the top half last season in their final six matches, following the visit of Liverpool.
In contrast, the European champion travels to Arsenal and hosts Chelsea before a visit to Newcastle in its final three games of the campaign.
For the first time in Premier League history, the clubs will get a short mid-season break in February.
Over a two-week period, there will be only five matches on one weekend, with the other five games taking place the following weekend, ensuring that each team gets one week off.
