The Premier League fixtures for the 2020/21 season have been announced, and champions Liverpool will take on Leeds United first.
The Reds romped to their first league title in 30 years last season but the pressure is on to muster a good defence of their credentials.
Their opening test is a visit of Marcelo Bielsa’s men to Anfield, with the Whites keen to impress. Liverpool and Leeds have met twice since the 2003/04 season, the Merseyside club winning both matches.
As revealed on Wednesday, both Manchester United and Manchester City have been granted an extra week off after their European runs. The pair have both, therefore, been left out of the opening round of fixtures.
United will travel to Turf Moor while City will host Aston Villa, with both ties to be scheduled at a later date.
Elsewhere on the opening weekend, Chelsea will travel to Brighton, where new arrivals Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner will be looking to make their top-flight debuts.
Reports on Wednesday revealed that the Blues, as well as Wolves, will be allowed to start their campaigns on September 14, after they were also involved in European competition.
Tottenham face Everton in north London and and Arsenal travel across the capital to face Fulham.
With Championship winners Leeds travelling to Anfield, fellow automatic promotion winners West Brom will play Leicester at The Hawthorns.
Opening weekend fixtures in full:
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Fulham v Arsenal
Liverpool v Leeds United
Manchester City v Aston Villa
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton
West Bromwich Albion v Leicester City
West Ham United v Newcastle United
Brighton v Chelsea
Sheffield United v Wolves
To be scheduled at a later date:
Burnley v Manchester United
Manchester City v Aston Villa
As always, December is set to be the busiest month for Premier League action, with the Boxing Day fixtures the headline acts of the month.
The headline act is a clash between Arsenal and Chelsea at The Emirates, with Liverpool hosting West Brom at Anfield.
Elsewhere, Manchester United travel to Leicester in their Boxing Day clash with Leeds hosting Burnley.
Boxing Day fixtures in full:
Arsenal v Chelsea
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
Fulham v Southampton
Leeds United v Burnley
Leicester City v Manchester United
Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion
Manchester City v Newcastle United
Sheffield United v Everton
West Ham United v Brighton
Wolverhampton v Tottenham Hotspur
As for derby matches between sides, Everton host Liverpool in the first Merseyside derby of the season on October 17. Jurgen Klopp’s men then host their arch-rivals on February 20.
Manchester United host Manchester City on December 12, before travelling to the Etihad Stadium on March 6.
Meanwhile, Tottenham face Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 5, before the sides meet at The Emirates on March 13.