London (Reuters)
The English Premier League said that Manchester City will begin the campaign to defend its fifth consecutive title with a trip to Stamford Bridge, to face Chelsea on August 18.
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s new coach, faces a familiar team, given that he previously assisted Pep Guardiola during the team’s treble-winning season, and he also trained City’s youth team.
Manchester United, the winner of the FA Cup, will host Fulham in the first match of the season on August 16, while Arsenal, last season’s runner-up, will host Wolverhampton Wanderers in its first match on August 17.
Among the other opening matches, Leicester City hosts League Two winners Tottenham Hotspur, and Newcastle United hosts Southampton, winners of the promotion play-off final.
Ipswich Town, returning to the English Premier League after 22 years of promotion twice in a row, will host Liverpool in an early match on August 17.
The English Premier League begins in mid-August, after canceling the mid-season break from the tournament schedule, in order to allow a longer rest period at the end of the season.
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