English Premier League Champions, Man City to kick off season at West Ham
Champions Manchester City will kick off their 2019-20 English Premier League (EPL) season with an away trip to West Ham United, while Liverpool will get the ball rolling with a Friday evening home clash against promoted Norwich City.
The fixtures, released on Thursday by the English Football Association, also included a meaty first-weekend clash between Manchester United and Chelsea, who finished third last season.
Tottenham Hotspur, who completed the top-four last season, will be at home to Aston Villa, who returned to the top flight via the playoffs after a three-season absence.
Arsenal travel to Newcastle United, while Sheffield United, the other promoted club, will start at Bournemouth.
Leicester City host Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley face Southampton, Crystal Palace host Everton and FA Cup runners-up Watford are at home to Brighton and Hove Albion.
READ ALSO; Premier League: Man City Crowned Champion, Liverpool finish second
The season begins on Friday, Aug. 9.
The upcoming top flight season will be the first to include a brief mid-season break. A set of fixtures will be spread over a two-week period in February, meaning all clubs get a week off.
It will also feature the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system for the first time.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who completed an unprecedented domestic treble last season, have a relatively comfortable start to the new campaign, although they do face Tottenham, who knocked them out of last season’s Champions League in the quarter-finals, at home on the second weekend.
They then travel to Bournemouth, host Brighton, visit Norwich and then take on Watford at the Etihad.
EPL runners-up and European champions Liverpool’s first six games feature a home match against Arsenal and an away trip to Chelsea.
The first game between last season’s title rivals takes place at Anfield on Nov. 9.
Tottenham and Arsenal fans will not have long to wait for the season’s first North London derby, with the sides meeting at the Emirates on Aug. 31.
Other notable dates include Liverpool’s trip to Manchester United on Oct. 19, and the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium on Dec. 7.
The season will end on May 17, when City will host Norwich and Liverpool will play away at Newcastle, just as Tottenham go to Crystal Palace and Chelsea host Wolverhampton Wanderers.
City are the bookmakers’ favourites to retain the title, followed by Liverpool, Tottenham, and Chelsea.
Sheffield United, who have returned to the EPL for the first time since 2007, are favourites for the drop.
Opening Weekend
09/08/2019 – 20:00 – Liverpool v Norwich City
10/08/2019 – 15:00 – A.F.C. Bournemouth v Sheffield United
10/08/2019 – 15:00 – Burnley v Southampton
10/08/2019 – 15:00 – Crystal Palace v Everton
10/08/2019 – 15:00 – Leicester City v Wolverhampton
10/08/2019 – 15:00 – Watford v Brighton
10/08/2019 – 17:30 – Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
10/08/2019 – 12:30 – West Ham United v Manchester City
11/08/2019 – 14:00 – Newcastle United v Arsenal
11/08/2019 – 16:30 – Manchester United v Chelsea
Gameweek 2 – Commencing 17/08/19
Arsenal v Burnley
Aston Villa v A.F.C. Bournemouth
Brighton v West Ham United
Chelsea v Leicester City
Everton v Watford
Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
Norwich City v Newcastle United
Sheffield United v Crystal Palace
Southampton v Liverpool
Wolverhampton v Manchester United
Gameweek 3 – Commencing 24/08/19
A.F.C. Bournemouth v Manchester City
Aston Villa v Everton
Brighton v Southampton
Liverpool v Arsenal
Manchester United v Crystal Palace
Norwich City v Chelsea
Sheffield United v Leicester City
Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United
Watford v West Ham United
Wolverhampton v Burnley
Gameweek 4 – Commencing 31/08/19
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
Burnley v Liverpool
Chelsea v Sheffield United
Crystal Palace v Aston Villa
Everton v Wolverhampton
Leicester City v A.F.C. Bournemouth
Manchester City v Brighton
Newcastle United v Watford
Southampton v Manchester United
West Ham United v Norwich City
Our fixtures for the 2019/20 @PremierLeague season have been released 👇 #MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 13, 2019
Gameweek 5 – Commencing 14/09/19
A.F.C. Bournemouth v Everton
Aston Villa v West Ham United
Brighton v Burnley
Liverpool v Newcastle United
Manchester United v Leicester City
Norwich City v Manchester City
Sheffield United v Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace
Watford v Arsenal
Wolverhampton v Chelsea
Gameweek 6 – Commencing 21/09/19
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Burnley v Norwich City
Chelsea v Liverpool
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton
Everton v Sheffield United
Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester City v Watford
Newcastle United v Brighton
Southampton v A.F.C. Bournemouth
West Ham United v Manchester United
Gameweek 7 – Commencing 28/09/19
A.F.C. Bournemouth v West Ham United
Aston Villa v Burnley
Chelsea v Brighton
Crystal Palace v Norwich City
Everton v Manchester City
Leicester City v Newcastle United
Manchester United v Arsenal
Sheffield United v Liverpool
Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton
Wolverhampton v Watford
Gameweek 8 – Commencing 05/10/19
Arsenal v A.F.C. Bournemouth
Brighton v Tottenham Hotspur
Burnley v Everton
Liverpool v Leicester City
Manchester City v Wolverhampton
Newcastle United v Manchester United
Norwich City v Aston Villa
Southampton v Chelsea
Watford v Sheffield United
West Ham United v Crystal Palace
Gameweek 9 – Commencing 19/10/19
A.F.C. Bournemouth v Norwich City
Aston Villa v Brighton
Chelsea v Newcastle United
Crystal Palace v Manchester City
Everton v West Ham United
Leicester City v Burnley
Manchester United v Liverpool
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur v Watford
Wolverhampton v Southampton
