adminChampions Leicester City will begin their Premier League title defence with a trip to newly-promoted Hull City and Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United reign kicks off at Bournemouth.
The release of the fixtures yesterday threw up some meaty first-day tussles with last season’s runners-up Arsenal hosting Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool.
The 2016-17 season kicks off earlier than usual on August 13.
Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester, who stunned the football world by claiming the Premier League title last season at pre-season odds of 5000-1, have a testing opening six weeks with Arsenal visiting them before away trips to Liverpool and Manchester United.
Leicester are listed as 25-1 seventh favourites to retain the title. Pep Guardiola will make his league debut as Manchester City manager when his team, already marked out as favourites for the title, host Sunderland.
Mourinho, who replaced Louis van Gaal as United manager last month, will be aiming to maintain his record of never having lost any of his seven opening-day fixtures in England.
He will not have to wait long to renew his old rivalry with Guardiola either, with the first Manchester derby being held at Old Trafford on September 10.
The drastic managerial shake-up in the Premier League means Chelsea also venture into a new era with Antonio Conte, currently in charge of Italy at Euro 2016, at the helm.
derick.khumalo