The eagerly-awaited fixtures for the 2009/10 Barclays Premier League season have now been released.
Champions Manchester United begin their quest for a fourth successive title at home to newly-promoted Birmingham City.
It is a tough start for the Blues who won promotion by finishing runners-up in the Championship behind Wolverhampton Wanderers who are at home to West Ham United on the opening day.
The other new-boys Burnley, making their bow in the Premier League, begin away to the club they will aim to emulate - Stoke City. The Clarets then face four of last season's top five in quick succession.
Last season's runners-up Liverpool, will begin this campaign as they finished the last against Tottenham Hotspur but this time away.
Third-placed Chelsea host Hull City while Arsenal travel to FA Cup finalists Everton. Big-spending Manchester City start away to Blackburn Rovers while Fulham are away to Portsmouth.
New Sunderland manager Steve Bruce will kick off at Bolton Wanderers while Roberto Martinez takes charge of Wigan Athletic for the first time at Aston Villa.
key matches
Fans will be keen to see the key matches between the teams who finished in the top four last season, although fixture dates are still subject to change.
The first of these is currently scheduled for 29th August when Manchester United host Arsenal and the last is on 1st May when Chelsea travel to Liverpool.
Arsenal have a tough spell early in the New Year as they face successive matches against the other three teams from last season's top four. In the space of 10 days they host Manchester United (30th January), then go to Chelsea (6th February) and are at home to Liverpool (9th February).
Manchester United v Arsenal (29th Aug)
Chelsea v Liverpool (3rd Oct)
Liverpool v Manchester United (24th Oct)
Chelsea v Manchester United (7th Nov)
Arsenal v Chelsea (28th Nov)
Liverpool v Arsenal (12th Dec)
Arsenal v Manchester United (30th Jan)
Chelsea v Arsenal (6th Feb)
Arsenal v Liverpool (9th Feb)
Manchester United v Liverpool (20th Mar)
Manchester United v Chelsea (3rd Apr)
Liverpool v Chelsea (1st May)
intriguing finale
The season boils up to an intriguing finale with title hopefuls Liverpool travelling to Hull City who finished at home to newly-crowned champions Manchester United last season.
This time Sir Alex Ferguson's men end against Stoke City at Old Trafford. Chelsea finish at home to Wigan while Arsenal host Fulham.
Owen Coyle's Burnley end the campaign at home to Spurs with Wolves hosting Sunderland and Birmingham going to Bolton.
Opening day fixtures
Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic
Blackburn Rovers v Manchester City
Bolton Wanderers v Sunderland
Chelsea v Hull City
Everton v Arsenal
Manchester United v Birmingham City
Portsmouth v Fulham
Stoke City v Burnley
Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool
Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United
Boxing Day fixtures
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Birmingham City v Chelsea
Burnley v Bolton Wanderers
Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur
Hull v Manchester United
Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester City v Stoke City
Sunderland v Everton
West Ham United v Portsmouth
Wigan Athletic v Blackburn Rovers
Final day fixtures
Arsenal v Fulham
Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers
Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City
Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea v Wigan Athletic
Everton v Portsmouth
Hull City v Liverpool
Manchester United v Stoke City
West Ham United v Manchester City
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sunderland
All fixtures are still provisional and subject to change.
Reproduced under license from Football DataCo Limited. All rights reserved. Licence number FDCED0910/118839.