Key points from the Premier League fixture list

The Premier League fixtures have been announced.

The greatest, not so great league in the world returns on the weekend of August 8th/9th, with Manchester United hosting Tottenham Hotspur, last season's fourth v fifth, the stand out fixture. Here's a breakdown of next seasons key fixtures for last season's top four, (and Liverpool), and you can read the entire fixture list here.

Arsenal

The Gunners begin their campaign against West Ham at home, host Liverpool on August 22nd, and face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in their final away fixture. After a enduring a difficult start to last season, the fixture list appears to be kinder to Arsenal this time round. https://twitter.com/Eurosport_UK/status/611082560655990784 However, both of those two games against last season's top six, Chelsea away on September 19th, and Manchester United at home on October 3rd, come after mid-week Champions League fixtures.

Chelsea

The Premier League champions open their campaign at home to Swansea, before playing Manchester City away in their second game, which will undoubtedly be a boring scoreless draw. Chelsea will travel to Old Trafford on December 28th, and finish the season at home to Leicester City. Jose Mourinho will be secretly delighted that his side face Everton away and Arsenal at home in a Champions League week, which will likely prompt his first mention of the secret campaign to derail his side.

Liverpool

The fixtures computer seems to possess a cruel sense of humour, after scheduling Liverpool away to Stoke on the opening weekend of the season. Brendan Rodgers side lost 6-1 at the Britannia Stadium on the final day of last season, and won't have to wait long to try exorcise that demon. The trip to Stoke is just the first leg of what looks like a very tricky series of away fixtures. https://twitter.com/br_uk/status/611083202875260928 There is something of a silver lining though. https://twitter.com/JBcommentator/status/611081225281867776 But mostly Liverpool fans aren't pleased with their opening set of fixtures. https://twitter.com/Realaldo474/status/611094982477414401

Manchester City

October 24th, and March 19th, the dates of the two games against city rivals Manchester United. Last season's runners-up travel to Old Trafford for the October fixture, before hosting United next spring.

Manchester United

Louis van Gaal's side face potentially tricky post-Champions League fixtures. Should United make the competition's group stages, they'll play Liverpool before their opening European game, and Southampton away after it. While, after their second Champions League fixture, United will play Arsenal away, and their following European fixture is sandwiched between Everton away  and Manchester City at home on the weekend after it. https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/611085707994624000