Champions Manchester United will begin their title defence with a trip to League Cup winners Swansea, the English Premier League said on Wednesday as it announced the 2013/14 fixtures.
New manager David Moyes, who was appointed after Alex Ferguson retired in May, takes his team to south Wales on August 17 and will take charge for his first home game the following week. United’s opponents for Moyes’ debut at Old Trafford will be Europa League-winners Chelsea, with Jose Mourinho reinstalled as manager and hungry for fresh success.
Both fixtures last year ended in away wins.
Moyes, meanwhile, returns to Everton, where he was manager for 11 years, on April 19.
Chelsea begin their campaign at home against newly promoted Hull City, while Manuel Pellegrini will get his first taste of English top-flight football when Manchester City welcome Newcastle United to Eastlands. Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal take on Aston Villa at the Emirates in their opener, while Tottenham Hotspur travel to promoted Crystal Palace.
Last year’s third promoted team from the Championship, Cardiff City, travel to West Ham.
Moyes and Pellegrini will taste the highly charged atmosphere of the Manchester derby for the first time on September 21, when City host United, with the return fixture at Old Trafford on March 1, 2014. The corresponding fixtures last season were won by the away side.
Northwest England rivals Liverpool play Manchester United at Anfield on August 31, with the return fixture on March 15.