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LONDON, UK | Xinhua | The first weekend of Premier League fixtures for the 2024-2025 season were published on Tuesday and have presented fans with an early season clash of giants as league champions Manchester City visit Chelsea.
The match is an early test for new Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca, who led Leicester City to promotion last season and who previously had a spell as assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Manchester United, still with Erik ten Hag in charge, open the new season with a visit to Fulham on August 16th, while the following day begins with Ipswich Town returning to the Premier League for the first time in over 20 years at home to Liverpool.
The game also marks the start of a new era at Liverpool following Jurgen Klopp’s departure and the arrival of Arne Slot as first team coach.
Arsenal are at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest entertain Bournemouth, while 31-year-old Brighton coach Fabian Hurzeler takes charge of his first game away to Everton.
Julen Lopetegui kicks off as West Ham coach at home to Aston Villa, whose coach Unai Emery is also from the Basque region in the north of Spain, and Championship play-off winners Southampton return to the elite with their longest trip of the season as they visit Newcastle United.
As well as the game between Chelsea and Manchester City, Sunday, August 18th sees a south London derby between Brentford and Crystal Palace, while Leicester City (who have still to confirm Maresca’s replacement) begin their season at home to Tottenham Hotspurs. ■
