Champions to start new campaign at home
22nd June 2006

Chelsea VS Manchester City on opening day of the new season.



Chelsea begin the defence of their Barclays Premiership title with a home game against Manchester City on August 19.

The big-spending Stamford Bridge club, who did the double over Stuart Pearce's men last season, then face away matches at Middlesbrough and Blackburn.

Last season's runners-up Manchester United open up at home to Fulham before going south to face Charlton and new boys Watford in August.

But the Red Devils have a tough start to September with Old Trafford clashes against north London neighbours Arsenal and Tottenham on September 9 and 16.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side will have to wait until December 9 for their first derby clash of the season, at home to arch-rivals City.

Beaten Champions League finalists Arsenal begin life at the Emirates Stadium with a first-day game against Aston Villa before hitting the road north to Wigan and Manchester City.

Liverpool will also fancy their chances of mounting a serious title challenge and their credentials face an early test at newly-promoted Sheffield United.

Newcastle and West Ham then visit Anfield, with the first Merseyside derby of the season taking place at Goodison Park on September 9.

Spurs - who start at Bolton - travel to Arsenal on December 2 and must wait until November 4 to meet Chelsea at home.

Coca-Cola champions Reading meet Gareth Southgate's Middlesbrough at the Madejski Stadium in their first top flight game, then travel to Aston Villa on August 23 and Wigan just three days later.

Royals boss Steve Coppell will welcome his former club Manchester United on September 23 and Chelsea on October 14.

Sheffield United travel to White Hart Lane after their opener with Liverpool, while Watford's Premiership return begins with a trip to Everton, followed by home matches against West Ham and Manchester United.

Newcastle open the season at home to Wigan, albeit without knee injury victim Michael Owen. The Magpies then have away games at Liverpool and Aston Villa - the first north-east derby of the season takes place at Middlesbrough on October 21.

Portsmouth, who pulled off a great escape to avoid relegation last season, start 2006-07 with a home game against Blackburn at Fratton Park, while the other top flight opener sees West Ham and Charlton meet in a London derby at Upton Park.

Promotion sinks in for newcomers

Reading will begin their first Premiership campaign against Middlesbrough where Royals boss Steve Coppell will face new Boro manager Gareth Southgate, who he used to manage at Crystal Palace.

"It makes me feel old because on one of my first days at Palace I saw Gareth training as a 12-year-old, so to confront him as a manager means it has gone full circle," said Coppell on Sky Sports News.

Coppell is looking forward to see if his players can match champions Chelsea, adding: "To look at the fixture list and see the world stars clubs will bring to the Madejski is a privilege.

"From our points of view we want to play the champions. Chelsea are the champions and you want to see how good these players are, whether you can stop them and then perform against them."

Watford chief executive Mark Ashton was excited by the prospect of his club getting started with a trip to face Everton followed by games against West Ham and Manchester United at Vicarage Road.

"Everyone associated with the club was looking forward to today and we look forward to going to Goodison Park for the first game in the Premiership," Ashton told Sky Sports News.

"What do I think of the start we have? Not very difficult is it?! It's fantastic, there are no easy games, we're fully aware of that. West Ham followed by Manchester United is fantastic and we are eagerly looking forward to it.
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First day Premiership fixtures, which will be played on 19th August

Chelsea VS Manchester City

Manchester United VS Fulham

Arsenal VS Aston Villa (first Premiership game at the new Emirates Stadium)

Sheffield United VS Liverpool

Bolton Wanderers VS Tottenham Hotspur

Reading VS Middlesbrough

Newcastle United VS Wigan Athletic

Portsmouth VS Blackburn Rovers

Everton VS Watford

West Ham United VS Charlton Athletic

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