Football
ESPN staff 8y

Premier League 2016-17 season opens with Arsenal-Liverpool, Hull-Leicester

Arsenal will host Liverpool on the first weekend of the 2016-17 season in August, while Leicester City will begin their title defence with a trip to Hull City on their return to the top flight.

Jose Mourinho's first match as Manchester United manager on the weekend of Aug. 13-14 will be a visit to Bournemouth. Pep Guardiola's competitive debut in charge of Manchester City will be at home against Sunderland.

The two coaches, who shared an intense rivalry during their time in Spain when Mourinho managed Real Madrid and Guardiola was Barcelona boss, will meet on English soil for the first time at Old Trafford on Sept. 10 in what will be the most anticipated Manchester derby in years.

Chelsea, champions in 2014-15, will also have a new head coach next season and outgoing Italy boss Antonio Conte's return to club management will be a home match against West Ham United.

The Hammers must wait until their second league match of the season to see Premier League action come to the Olympic Stadium for the first time, when they will host Bournemouth.

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to build on last season's promise when they travel to Goodison Park on the opening weekend to face an Everton side starting life under new manager Ronald Koeman.

Spurs, who were pipped to second place on the final day of last season by Arsenal, will face their local rivals at the Emirates Stadium on Nov. 5.

Koeman's former club, Southampton, begin the campaign at home to Watford who will have new manager Walter Mazzarri in the dugout.

The division's other two promoted sides, Burnley and Middlesbrough, will both start their campaigns with home fixtures against Swansea City and Stoke City respectively.

^ Back to Top ^