June 19 – Manchester City will begin their Premier League title defence away at Chelsea in the most eye-catching heavyweight clash of the opening weekend of the new season.
The match on August 18 will pit Pep Guardiola against his former assistant Enzo Maresca, who was appointed Chelsea boss earlier this month after guiding Leicester to promotion last term.
FA Cup winners Manchester United will host the opening game of the campaign when Fulham visit Old Trafford on Friday August 16.
The following day, newly promoted Ipswich, back in the Premier League for the first time in 22 years, welcome Liverpool’s new manager Arne Slot, who has replaced the long-serving Jurgen Klopp.
Leicester, back in the top flight after one season in the Championship and yet to name Maresca’s successor, will host Tottenham on August 19. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who finished as runners-up behind City for a second straight season, host Wolves.
To accommodate a mid-August start, there will be no winter break this campaign, something that is bound to generate debate among fans both in favour and against given the ongoing narrative over player welfare
The reason is primarily so that players taking part in the latter stages of Euro 2024 and the Copa America have a chance to take time out before returning to club action. In simple terms, clubs have chosen a longer summer break at the expense of a mid-season one.
Last season, teams took staggered two-week breaks from league action. This meant there was no complete shutdown of the league, with a single match week split across two January weekends.
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