The Premier League fixture list was released this morning which sees all of last season’s top eight teams avoid each other in the first week and a tough start for Manchester United. The spotlight will therefore be on newly promoted sides Cardiff City, Crystal Palace and Hull City on the opening weekend.
Cardiff City will begin life in the Premier League with a trip to the capital to play West Ham whereas Crystal Palace will host Tottenham and Hull will travel to Chelsea FC. All three sides will hope for a good start to their Premier League campaign however Hull look to have the hardest game of the three as they will be Jose Mourinho’s first opponents in the Premier League in his second spell at Stamford Bridge. They will be tasked with stopping a Chelsea side that hold the record for the biggest opening day victory (a 6-0 win over West Brom in 2010) and Frank Lampard who has seven previous goals on the opening day of the Premier League.
New Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini will see his side host Newcastle United in what could be the biggest match of the opening weekend. Elsewhere Mark Hughes will take charge of his first match as Stoke manager at Anfield and Roberto Martinez will begin his Everton career away at Norwich City.
Perhaps the most difficult start to their managerial career at a new club is for David Moyes at Manchester United who face Swansea at the Liberty Stadium in their first game. This is followed by a home game against Mourinho’s Chelsea, which many will see as the first big clash of the season. A trip to Anfield to face Liverpool, Crystal Palace at home and then the first Manchester derby of the season at the Etihad on the 21st September. Fans of Manchester United and the Premier League will be eager to see how Moyes gets on in these early stages of his new job.
Football fans should also make a note in their diaries of the 2nd of November which will see the first ever Welsh derby in the top flight as Cardiff City host Swansea in what is sure to be a feisty encounter. The first North London derby will take place on the 31st of August when Arsenal host Tottenham and the first Merseyside derby will be held at Goodison Park on the 23rd of November.
