Man City to meet Newcastle in league opener

Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United to face Swansea at Old Trafford in first game

Louis van Gaal’s new club Manchester United will face Swansea in the opening match of the new season. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Louis van Gaal’s new club Manchester United will face Swansea in the opening match of the new season. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Premier League champions Manchester City will start the new Premier League campaign at Newcastle. The opening weekend of 16 August also sees promoted Burnley face London aristocrats Chelsea, while Louis van Gaal's Manchester United host Swansea and Ronald Koeman's Southampton visit Liverpool.

In Scotland, Celtic's stadium is being used for the Commonwealth Games so their Scottish Premiership game with Partick Thistle on 9 August is postponed, but Rangers face Hearts in the Championship.

The postponement at Celtic Park means the club do not play a top-flight game until they visit Scottish Cup winners St Johnstone on 13 August.

Spurs will begin life under new boss Mauricio Pochettino with a local London derby at West Ham, while the Premier League's other new manager, Alan Irvine, sends his West Brom side into action at home to Sunderland.

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Last season’s Championship winners Leicester will look forward to a meeting with Everton and QPR’s Championship play-off triumph has earned them an opening day fixture with Hull at Loftus Road.

Arsenal, who ended their nine-year wait for a trophy at Wembley in the FA Cup final last month, entertain Crystal Palace.

Of the three rounds of fixtures that are played prior to the first international break, Manchester City’s encounter with Premier League runners-up Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, pencilled in for August 23, is the most eye-catching.

Everton, who have a Europa League campaign to look forward to after finishing fifth in Roberto Martinez's debut season, have successive home games against Arsenal and Chelsea once their trip to Leicester is out of the way.

Opening fixtures (weekend of 16 August)

Arsenal v Crystal Palace

Burnley v Chelsea

Leicester City v Everton

Liverpool v Southampton

Manchester United v Swansea City

Newcastle United v Manchester City

Queens Park Rangers v Hull City

Stoke City v Aston Villa

West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland

West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur