Associated Press
Manchester City begin the defence of their English Premier League title away to Newcastle, the same opposition they started their championship-winning campaign against with a 4-0 win last season, then face Liverpool at home.
The 2014/15 league fixtures were announced on Wednesday, with the season beginning on August 16 and 17.
Manchester United, with new Dutch manager Louis van Gaal, will play all three newly promoted sides – Burnley, Queens Park Rangers, Leicester – in their opening five games.
The first Manchester derby is at City on November 1.
Liverpool start off at home against Ronald Koeman’s Southampton, then travel to City and have another difficult away game against Tottenham. They host Merseyside rivals Everton on September 27, and encounter United for the first time at Old Trafford on December 13.
The Merseyside derby is not the only clash between fierce rivals scheduled for September 27. Arsenal also host Tottenham that day in the first clash of the season between the north London teams.
Arsenal follow that game by playing Chelsea on October 4, when new signing Cesc Fabregas will face his former club. Jose Mourinho’s side travel to City on September 20, and to Anfield on November 8.
Should Chelsea mount a title charge, they have perhaps the toughest finish, compared to their rivals. Chelsea go to Old Trafford in the reverse fixture against United, on April 18, and a week later play Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
On May 9, they have Liverpool at home.
In comparison, City play none of last season’s top four in the final three months. Their toughest game in that time will most likely be when they make the short trip across Manchester to United on April 11.
Liverpool’s finish includes United at home on March 21, Arsenal away on April 4, and back in the capital for Chelsea in May.
Van Gaal has a tricky end to his first season at the helm of United, with City and Chelsea on April 11 and 18, respectively. That’s followed by an away trip to Everton. United’s penultimate game is against Arsenal at Old Trafford.
The full slate of fixtures for the 2014/15 season can be found here.
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