adminLONDON. – Chelsea will kick off their English Premier League soccer title defence against Swansea City, but it will be Brendan Rodgers who has most to fear on the opening day of the 2015-16 season with Liverpool facing a nightmare return to Stoke City.
Liverpool face an immediate return to the Britannia Stadium, the scene of their 6-1 humiliation on the final day of last season.
And things will get no easier for Rodgers, who faces trips to Arsenal and Manchester United within the first five games of the new season.
United host Tottenham Hotspur in the most mouthwatering fixture of the opening round on August 8 – but which team Harry Kane will play for is not yet certain given Louis van Gaal’s interest in the young Spurs striker.
The Dutch boss will not have long to wait for the biggest game in English football, when Liverpool visit Old Trafford on September 12.
United’s trip to Anfield is scheduled for January 16.
Jose Mourinho should be happy with his opening day clash but things soon heat up with the reigning champions facing a daunting visit to Manchester City in their second fixture on August 15.
Bournemouth will open their first ever season in the top flight of English football by welcoming Aston Villa to the Goldsands Stadium.
But Eddie Howe’s men face a potentially intriguing final day visit to Old Trafford, where all could be to play for at both ends of the table.
Of the other newly-promoted teams, Watford start their campaign at Everton while play-off winners Norwich host Crystal Palace.
West Ham’s last ever league match at Upton Park will be against Swansea on May 7, with the club set to move home to the Olympic Stadium next season.
FA Cup winners Arsenal start their campaign for a first title in 11 years at home against West Ham, but Arsene Wenger will soon face the toughest test of his season with a visit to Chelsea, where his nemesis Mourinho awaits, on September 19.
Those eager to see Mourinho clash with Van Gaal will have to wait until December 28 when United host Chelsea for the first time, while the old friends and rivals will meet again at Stamford Bridge on February 6.
The first Manchester derby of the season comes at Old Trafford on October 24 with the return at the Etihad Stadium pencilled in for March 19.
The first north London derby is scheduled for the Emirates Stadium on November 7 while Tottenham host their fierce rivals on March 5.
Steve McClaren’s opening league match in charge of Newcastle comes at St James’ Park against Southampton and his first experience of a Tyne-Wear derby will be at the Stadium of Light on October 24.
Meanwhile, with a positive start to the season crucial, Liverpool face a run of fixtures that could make or break their top four hopes.
In their first seven away fixtures, Brendan Rodgers’ men will have to make tricky-looking trips to Stoke, Arsenal, Manchester United, Everton, Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City.
Such a run could see the pressure mount on Rodgers should the Reds suffer defeats against their rivals, all before the start of December – and while Rodgers has been backed by the club’s board after “positive talks” he has already lost assistant Colin Pascoe and first-team coach Mike March from his backroom staff.
Winnable home matches sandwich those tough encounters, but with the heat on after failing to qualify for the 2015/16 Champions League, those supposed easier matches could see the Reds come unstuck.
The Red lost 6-1 at Stoke on the final day of last season while they took just five points from a possible 18 from the other six games with their only win from the corresponding fixtures a 3-0 win at Tottenham in August.
CHELSEA-ARSENAL: Sept. 19, Stamford Bridge; Jan. 23, Emirates Stadium.
CHELSEA-MANCHESTER UNITED: Dec. 28, Old Trafford; Feb. 6 Stamford Bridge.
CHELSEA-MANCHESTER CITY: Aug. 15, Etihad Stadium; April 16, Stamford Bridge.
MANCHESTER UNITED-MANCHESTER CITY: Oct. 24, Old Trafford; March 19, Etihad Stadium.
MANCHESTER UNITED-LIVERPOOL: Sept. 12, Old Trafford; Jan. 16, Anfield. -Mailonline.
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