Hull of a first game for new Chelsea boss
CARLO ANCELOTTI opens his account as Chelsea manager with a home clash with last season’s strugglers Hull City when the 2009/10 Premier League season gets underway on 15 August.
In a relatively low-profile opening five games, Ancelotti’s Blues also host newcomers Burnley and make trips to Sunderland, Fulham and Stoke City before hosting a London derby with Tottenham on 19 September.
The Blues are also the last of the top four sides to face Manchester United when they play the champions at Stamford Bridge on 7 November, with the return fixture on 3 April.
For Spurs, the trip to Chelsea is one of three clashes against top four sides in the opening six games with Harry Redknapp’s men also hosting both Liverpool, on the opening day, and champions Manchester United.
Contrary to rumours leaked on Sky Sports News on Monday night, Arsenal begin their account with a tough trip to FA Cup finalists Everton with boss Arsene Wenger also eyeing two trips to Manchester in the opening month, to face United and then City.
West Ham begin their campaign with a trip to new boys Wolves before they then host rivals Spurs in a crunch London derby on 22 August.
Fulham, who also have one eye on their Europa Cup campaign, start with a trip to the south coast to face Portsmouth before Craven Cottage hosts its first match three days later against Blackburn.
Champions United begin the defence of their title at home to newly-promoted Birmingham City, while play-off winners Burnley begin their first top-flight account in 33 years with a trip to Stoke. New Wigan boss Roberto Martinez starts his reign at Aston Villa, while Steve Bruce’s Sunderland make the trip to Bolton. Manchester City travel to Blackburn.
The final week of the season sees Manchester United host Stoke and Liverpool visit Hull, while Chelsea and Arsenal both have home games with Wigan and Fulham respectively.
ARSENAL
15 Aug Everton (a)
22 Aug Portsmouth (h)
29 Aug Man Utd (a)
12 Sep Man City (a)
19 Sep Wigan Ath (h)
26 Sep Fulham (a)
CHELSEA
15 Aug Hull City (h)
18 Aug Sunderland (a)
22 Aug Fulham (a)
29 Aug Burnley (h)
12 Sep Stoke City (a)
19 Sep Tottenham (h)
TOTTENHAM
15 Aug Liverpool (h)
18 Aug Hull City (a)
22 Aug West Ham (a)
29 Aug Birmingham (h)
12 Sep Man Utd (h)
19 Sep Chelsea (a)
FULHAM
15 Aug Portsmouth (a)
18 Aug Blackburn (h)
22 Aug Chelsea (h)
29 Aug Aston Villa (a)
12 Sep Everton (h)
19 Sep Wolves (a)
WEST HAM
15 Aug Wolves (a)
22 Aug Tottenham (h)
29 Aug Blackburn (a)
12 Sep Wigan Ath (a)
19 Sep Liverpool (h)
26 Sep Man City (a)