The 2023-24 Premier League season begins with Vincent Kompany’s newly-promoted Burnley hosting his former side Manchester City, while Mauricio Pochettino’s first league game as Chelsea boss is a blockbuster meeting with Liverpool.
It will be an emotional start to life back in the top flight for Kompany, who captained Manchester City as a player.
The two sides met back in March in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, which City won 6-0, and under the lights at Turf Moor on a Friday night (8pm kick-off), Burnley will be eager for some redemption.
But the pick of the opening round of games is unquestionably in south west London as Pochettino starts his time as Chelsea boss with a blockbuster meeting with Liverpool as part of the first Super Sunday of the season.
Erik ten Hag and Manchester United play on the first Monday night slot against Wolves, title-chasing Arsenal host Nottingham Forest in opening Saturday’s early kick-off, while new Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou begins life in English football with a tricky trip down the road to Brentford.
As for the two other promoted teams that joined Burnley in coming up, Luton Town start on the road against Brighton – they need to play away due to ongoing work on their Kenilworth Road stadium – and Sheffield United host Crystal Palace at Bramall Lane.
Bournemouth face newly crowned Europa Conference League champions West Ham, Everton host Fulham, and Newcastle United play Aston Villa in the other matches on the opening weekend.
Arsenal will be one of the teams most eager to hit the ground running following their disappointing finish to last season, fading away in their title race with eventual champions Manchester City – but it won’t be straightforward for boss Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners face a box-office treble of home games against Manchester United (September 2), Tottenham Hotspur (September 23) and Manchester City (October 7), all in their first eight matches of the 2023-24 season.
Arteta’s side beat Manchester United and Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium last season, but faltered in a 3-1 loss to City – and they will be eager to make amends this time around.
There will be plenty of eyes on the team across north London too and in the second weekend of the season, slated for August 19 – although subject to change for TV selections – new Tottenham boss Postecoglou will get his first league experience at home, up against Manchester United.
There has been a mixed response to Postecoglou’s appointment from supporters but as Nuno Espirito Santo proved last season, laying down an early marker, as he did in beating Man City 1-0 at home in his first game, can go a long way to winning over any naysayers.
Games against Bournemouth, Burnley and Sheffield United follow, giving Postecoglou a chance to make a quick start in his bid to restore European football in his first season.
Key Derby Dates
- North London derbies: Arsenal at home, September 23; Tottenham at home, April 27
- Manchester derbies: City at home, March 2; United at home, October 28
- West Midlands derbies: Aston Villa at home, March 30; Wolves at home, October 7
- North West derbies: Liverpool at home, December 16; Manchester United at home, April 6
- Merseyside derbies: Everton at home, March 16; Liverpool at home, October 21
- M23 derbies: Brighton at home, February 3; Crystal Palace at home, December 23
2023-24 Opening Weekend Premier League Fixtures
- August 11, 8pm – Burnley v Manchester City
- August 12, 12.30pm – Arsenal v Nottingham Forest
- August 12, 3pm – AFC Bournemouth v West Ham
- August 12, 3pm – Brighton v Luton Town
- August 12, 3pm – Everton v Fulham
- August 12, 3pm – Sheffield United v Crystal Palace
- August 12, 5.30pm – Newcastle United v Aston Villa
- August 13, 2pm – Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur
- August 13, 4.30pm – Chelsea v Liverpool
- August 14, 8pm – Manchester United v Wolves
What game are you looking forward to seeing?