Champions Manchester City and Liverpool have been handed easy fixtures on the opening day of the 2019-20 English Premier League season.
Manchester City will be away to West Ham United at the London Stadium, while Liverpool will host newly promoted Norwich City at the Anfield Stadium.
The opening weekend’s marquee fixture sees Manchester United host Chelsea on Sunday, August 11, with both teams enjoying strong records.
United have won their last four opening-day fixtures and eight out of 10, while Chelsea have only lost once on opening day in the last 20 years – although that came the season before last against Burnley.
Watford have the longest unbeaten run among current top-flight clubs at 12 games, though eight of those came as a Championship club and the run is evenly split between draws and wins.
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Last season’s 2-0 win over Brighton was their first on opening day since returning to the top flight and the Hornets have the same fixture this time around.
Arsenal have lost three of their last four opening fixtures, but face a Newcastle side who are winless in six, with the Magpies’ only point coming courtesy of 2015’s 2-2 draw with Southampton.
Tottenham will look to build on back-to-back opening day wins when they face promoted Aston Villa who have only one defeat in their last six curtain-raisers. Harry Kane broke his August duck last season but has still never scored in the first game.
Southampton have started with a draw four years in a row, against Newcastle, Watford, Swansea and Burnley, and the Clarets have another chance to end that run this year.
Everton are unbeaten in seven, though with only two wins, and face a Crystal Palace side who have begun with a defeat in six of their last eight campaigns.
Wolves, unbeaten in six opening games, face a Leicester side who have lost three in a row while Bournemouth, with two wins in their last five openers, host Sheffield United who have won only one out of five.
FIXTURES
Friday, August 9
Liverpool vs Norwich City
Saturday, August 10
West Ham United vs Manchester City
Bournemouth vs Sheffield United
Burnley vs Southampton
Crystal Palace vs Everton
Leicester City vs Wolves
Watford vs Brighton
Tottenham vs Aston Villa
Saturday, August 11
Newcastle United vs Arsenal
Manchester United vs Chelsea
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