EPL: Premier League starts August 16/17 with Man city and Newcastle

Manchester City will open the defence of their
Barclays Premier League title with a trip to
Newcastle on August 16.
City secured their second championship in
three seasons on the final day of the 2013-14
campaign last month with a 2-0 win over West
Ham, beating Liverpool by two points and
Chelsea by four.
Liverpool are at home on the opening day of
the season, providing new Southampton
manager Ronald Koeman with a tough first
game in charge.
There is a home start for new Manchester
United manager Louis Van Gaal, with the Old
Trafford support getting an early chance to
welcome him as they take on Swansea on the
opening weekend.
Burnley have a dream start to life back in the
Premier League, welcoming Jose Mourinho's
Chelsea, with all three teams promoted from
the Sky Bet Championship handed home
openers.
Champions Leicester City host Everton and
QPR, who came up through the playoffs, take
on Hull City at Loftus Road.
The opening day fixture list also provides two
London derbies with Arsenal hosting Crystal
Palace and West Ham taking on Tottenham at
Upton Park, a tough baptism of fire for new
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Alan Irvine's first game in charge at West
Brom will come at The Hawthorns, with
Sunderland the visitors, while Stoke City are at
home to Aston Villa.
The second weekend of the season sees the
first clash between last season's title
contenders with City hosting Liverpool, and
QPR's first away trip is a short one as Harry
Redknapp makes the return to White Hart Lane
to take on former club Spurs.
There is an early Merseyside derby on the
schedule with Liverpool taking on Everton at
Anfield on September 27, and the first
Manchester derby takes place at the Etihad
Stadium on November 1.
Boxing Day sees two London derbies with
Arsenal hosting QPR and West Ham making
the trip to Chelsea, with another huge clash on
New Year's Day when Tottenham play host to
Chelsea.
If there is another exciting race for the title,
the closing set of fixtures on May 24 sees
Arsenal host West Brom, Chelsea at home to
Sunderland, Liverpool travel to Stoke and City
take on Southampton at the Etihad.
Opening fixtures - weekend of August 16
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Burnley v Chelsea
Leicester City v Everton
Liverpool v Southampton
Manchester United v Swansea City
Newcastle United v Manchester City
QPR v Hull City
Stoke City v Aston Villa
West Brom v Sunderland
West Ham v Spurs