Champions Manchester City begin their title defense at Chelsea

Manchester City will begin their quest for a fifth consecutive Premier League title away to Chelsea on the opening weekend of the new season.

The match on Sunday 18 August will pit Pep Guardiola against his former assistant Enzo Maresca, who was appointed Chelsea boss this summer after guiding Leicester to the Championship title last season.

FA Cup holders Manchester United will host the opening game of the campaign when Fulham visit Old Trafford on Friday 16 August.

Newly promoted Ipswich Town, back in the Premier League for the first time in more than 20 years, host Liverpool for the lunchtime kick-off under their new manager Arne Slot on Saturday.

Leicester, back in the top flight after a season in the Championship and yet to appoint Maresca’s successor, host Tottenham for the first Monday Night Football of the new season on August 19.

Final day fixtures on May 18 see City travel to Fulham, Liverpool host Crystal Palace, Arsenal play away at Southampton, United face Aston Villa at Old Trafford and Chelsea travel to Nottingham Forest.

The opening weekend is the only one so far for which games have been selected for television, with all other games subject to change.

Big matches and derby encounters to watch

Manchester United host arch-rivals Liverpool just two weeks into the new season on August 31, with the reverse fixture on January 4. The third round of the FA Cup takes place next weekend and there is no winter break scheduled for this term.

The first Manchester derby of 2024/25 will be at the Etihad Stadium and is listed for December 14, although it will move to Sunday December 15 once United’s Europa League fixtures are confirmed. City travel to Old Trafford on April 5.

Arsenal, runners-up for the past two seasons, face a difficult opening few games. The Gunners will be away at rivals Tottenham on September 14, just after the first international break of the season, and a week later, Mikel Arteta’s men will head north to face City.

These matches come either side of the first round of the Champions League group stage.

The second north London derby at the Emirates Stadium is scheduled for January 14, while Arsenal are due to host City on February 1.

The last Merseyside derby to be played at Goodison Park is set to be played on December 7, with the reverse fixture at Anfield a midweek fixture on April 2.

Villa are due to host local rivals Wolves on September 21, the weekend after their Champions League opener.

Everton’s final season at Goodison Park

One of the side fixtures of the 2024/25 season will be Everton’s final campaign at their historic home of Goodison Park. The Toffees are moving to a brand new 55,000 capacity stadium at Bramley Moore Dock in the summer of 2025, meaning this will be their last season at their beloved North Liverpool ground – one of the oldest and most famous stadiums in world football.

Everton’s first game of the season is at home to Brighton on August 17 and their final home game at Goodison – the first purpose-built football stadium in world football, opened in 1892 and the venue for more English top-flight games than any other . other ground – it will be against Southampton on May 18.

Tough start for the new boys from Ipswich

It promises to be a baptism of fire for Premier League new boys Ipswich, back in the top flight for the first time since 2002. The Tractor Boys open their campaign at home to Liverpool on August 17 and then visit Manchester City on August 24.

Updated: June 18, 2024, 08:44