Premier League fixtures 2014-2015: How does your team do in the first game?
Champions Manchester City will kick off the defence of their Premier League crown with a trip to Newcastle, while newly promoted Burnley host Chelsea in their first game back in the big time.
Louis Van Gaal's opening match in charge of Manchester United sees him come up against Swansea at home, while Arsenal welcome Crystal Palace on the weekend of August 16.
Promoted Leicester City play Everton, while Harry Redknapp's QPR face Hull City in their first game back in the big time. On average in the Premier League era, promoted clubs have won one in five of their opening games.
Here is the full list of the opening weekend fixtures.
| 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 |
The pressure will be on Manuel Pellegrini as the defending champions have never lost their first game in the Premier League, while the team that goes on to win the league that season have won 60 per cent of their games in the opening weekend.
Chelsea, who may feel they have an easy start to the season as they host another promoted club Leicester in their second game, and Manchester United have the joint best record when it comes to the first game of the season in the Premier League, having won 64 per cent of them.
Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham also have good records on the opening weekend having recorded wins in at least half of their games over the last 22 seasons.
In six attempts, QPR have failed to win any of their opening games, while Tottenham, Aston Villa and Sunderland have won one in three.
In terms of big games worth getting excited over before Christmas, Manchester City host Liverpool in the second week of the season, Mauricio Pochettino will get his first taste of the North London derby on September 27, while Louis van Gaal will be reunited with his old student Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford on October 25.
Click here for the full fixture list for the entire 2014-2015 season.