LONDON, England, June 19- Manchester United will start the defence of their Premier League crown at Swansea City before hosting Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea on the second weekend of the 2013-14 season.
Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates his final Premier League title win with Manchester United
PA PhotosSir Alex Ferguson celebrates his final Premier League title win with Manchester United
David Moyes, who has taken over from the retired Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, will make the trip to Wales, while Mourinho, who returned to Chelsea this summer having left the club in 2007, will mark his Stamford Bridge comeback on the opening weekend against newly-promoted Hull City.
As for the other promoted clubs, Crystal Palace begin at home to Tottenham Hotspur while Cardiff City travel to West Ham United. Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City debut will come at home against Newcastle United.
Arsenal will welcome Aston Villa to Emirates Stadium, before facing north London rivals Tottenham in the third round of fixtures, while Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool kick off the new campaign versus Stoke City at Anfield.
The first Manchester derby is scheduled for the fifth round of matches in the middle of September. The Premier League’s first south Wales derby, meanwhile, is set for the beginning of November when Cardiff host Swansea.
Everton will welcome rivals Liverpool to Goodison Park for the first Merseyside derby of the season at the end of November, while the Reds’ meeting with foes United is pencilled in for August 31.
Premier League opening day fixtures 2013-14:
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Chelsea v Hull
Crystal Palace v Tottenham
Liverpool v Stoke
Man City v Newcastle
Norwich v Everton
Sunderland v Fulham
Swansea v Man Utd
West Brom v Southampton
West Ham v Cardiff
