CHAMPIONS MANCHESTER UNITED will begin their title defence with a trip to League Cup winners Swansea, the Premier League said todsay as it announced the 2013/14 fixtures.
New manager David Moyes, who was appointed after Alex Ferguson retired in May, takes his team to south Wales on 17 August and will take charge for his first home game the following week.
United’s opponents for Moyes’ debut at Old Trafford will be Europa League-winners Chelsea, with Jose Mourinho reinstalled as manager and hungry for fresh success.
Chelsea begin their campaign at home against newly promoted Hull City, while Manuel Pellegrini will get his first taste of English top-flight football when Manchester City welcome Newcastle United to Eastlands. Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal take on Aston Villa at the Emirates in their opener, while Tottenham Hotspur travel to promoted Crystal Palace.
Last year’s third promoted team from the Championship, Cardiff City, travel to West Ham. Moyes and Pellegrini will taste the highly charged atmosphere of the Manchester derby for the first time on 21 September, when City host United, with the return fixture at Old Trafford on 1 March, 2014.
Northwest England rivals Liverpool play Manchester United at Anfield on 31 August, with the return fixture on 15 March. The two dates for the north London derby between Arsenal and Spurs are 31 August and 15 March.
The Merseyside derbies between Roberto Martinez’s Everton and Liverpool take place on 23 November and 28 January. In south Wales, Cardiff City play their first Premier League derby against Swansea at home on 2 November, with both sides meeting again at the Liberty Stadium on 8 February.
The season runs through until 11 May when Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal — who are all expected to be in the running for the title — playing away. United are are Southampton, Chelsea at Cardiff and Arsenal play Norwich City. Manchester City play West Ham United at home.
Check out the full fixture list here
