Chelsea open at home to Man City

[geek_rohit]

Premiership champions Chelsea will kick off their title defence with the visit of Manchester City on 19 August.

Last season's runners-up Manchester United will host Fulham, while FA Cup winners Liverpool travel to newly-promoted Sheffield United.

Arsenal will open proceedings at the Emirates Stadium by taking on Aston Villa, while rivals Tottenham face a trip to Bolton.

New boys Watford take a trip to Everton while Reading will host Middlesbrough.

Intertoto Cup hopefuls Newcastle, minus the injured Michael Owen, begin their campaign at home to Wigan.

Portsmouth, who escaped relegation to the Championship last season, host Blackburn while Iain Dowie's first challenge as Charlton boss sees his side travel to FA Cup runners-up West Ham.

Manchester United have a tough opener to September which will go a long way to establishing whether they can capture their first Premiership title since 2003.

The Red Devils host Tottenham and Arsenal on 9 and 16 September.

Sir Alex Ferguson's boys will have to wait until 9 December for their contest against rivals Manchester City, while the first of the Merseyside derby fixtures will take place at Goodison Park on 9 September.

Chelsea face a tough run-in to their programme as they will travel to Arsenal in their penultimate fixture before hosting Everton in their final match.

Manchester United close with the visit of West Ham, while Liverpool will welcome Charlton to Anfield on 13 May.

And Reading chief Steve Coppell will ring in the new year with a trip to former club Manchester United when the two sides go head-to-head at Old Trafford on New Year's Eve.

Premiership opening weekend fixtures 19 August:

Arsenal v Aston Villa

Bolton v Tottenham

Chelsea v Man City

Everton v Watford

Man Utd v Fulham

Newcastle v Wigan

Portsmouth v Blackburn

Reading v Middlesbrough

Sheff Utd v Liverpool

West Ham v Charlton

Tuesday, 22 August:

Charlton v Man Utd

Middlesbrough v Chelsea

Tottenham v Sheff Utd

Watford v West Ham

Wigan v Arsenal

Wednesday, 23 August:

Aston Villa v Reading

Blackburn v Everton

Fulham v Bolton

Liverpool v Newcastle

Man City v Portsmouth

Story from BBC SPORT:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi...rem/5105000.stm

Published: 2006/06/22 09:00:01 GMT

? BBC MMVI

Click on the link below for the complete list of fixtures...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/e...res/default.stm

[Martyn]

Good opening fixture for Liverpool, shame it is away from home though, but we have a chance to make a great start. But that does not mean that Sheff Utd will not provide a challenge.

The first derby is on September 6th :D

We get to see Arsenal's stadium on the first day of the season as well (Y)

[Brodel]

excellent, looks like fulham should get their first away win right at the start of the season this time. :whistle:

[Kerm]

Hope Sheff Utd can stay up for this season, would be fantastic.

Opening match against Liverpool should be fun though.

[Shibby]

oo pompey vs blackburn, saw that fixture last season.

But for pre season i'm thinking of going to see pompey play porto at fratton park!!!!!!!!!

[faraway.]

Liverpool should definitely take care of business against Sheffield Utd. Hurray for the Reds! For all you Liverpool Reds fans here on Neowin, do you think the Reds have a chance of winning the Premiership?

[Martyn]

Liverpool should definitely take care of business against Sheffield Utd. Hurray for the Reds! For all you Liverpool Reds fans here on Neowin, do you think the Reds have a chance of winning the Premiership?

Bellamy + Kuyt + Alves + Gonzalez + Paletta + Aureilo = Prem title.

We just need to get Kuyt and Alves now and we will have one of the best squads in the league, not to mention one of the best manager's. We actually shop around for the best signings, Alonso, Sissoko and Reina have been top class, for less than Chelsea spent on Scheva.

At least we dont buy success like Chelsea (Schevchenko, Ballack etc).

[i50000]

Bellamy + Kuyt + Alves + Gonzalez + Paletta + Aureilo = Prem title.

We just need to get Kuyt and Alves now and we will have one of the best squads in the league, not to mention one of the best manager's. We actually shop around for the best signings, Alonso, Sissoko and Reina have been top class, for less than Chelsea spent on Scheva.

At least we dont buy success like Chelsea (Schevchenko, Ballack etc).

Liverpool don't buy success?

are you sure? :no:

[Shibby]

I think he ment that liverpool want hard work to buy success instead of spending millions of pounds on players that are old.

[Bobster]

The Hammers at home to Charlton will be good. Two London derbies for the first two games though - Charlton and Watford. Easy 6 points for us :D

[i50000]

The Hammers at home to Charlton will be good. Two London derbies for the first two games though - Charlton and Watford. Easy 6 points for us :D

Come On U Irons!!!! :p

[Martyn]

Liverpool don't buy success?

are you sure? :no:

Liverpool buy wisely in the transfer market. We dont just splash out around ?30 million each on a good player (Schevchenko, Essien, Drogba).

Chelsea's master plan will fall apart eventually, they will turn into Real Madrid. It is always better to build a team based on passion and desire.

[T.Barl0w]

Liverpool buy wisely in the transfer market. We dont just splash out around ?30 million each on a good player (Schevchenko, Essien, Drogba).

Chelsea's master plan will fall apart eventually, they will turn into Real Madrid. It is always better to build a team based on passion and desire.

thats what stuart pearce is trying to do with city and it dosent seem to be working

[deuz]

I think he ment that liverpool want hard work to buy success instead of spending millions of pounds on players that are old.

thats what he meant me thinks (Y).....

hmm never heard of sheffield..that means liverpool should win easily :p

[Crazysah]

I hope Watford and reading stay up this season along with Wigan.

Arsenal look to open the new stadium with a win as we play VIlla who we always seem to beat!

Table after day 1:

1. Arsenal

2. Chelsea

3. Man Utd/Liverpool

[Martyn]

thats what stuart pearce is trying to do with city and it dosent seem to be working

You got Didi Hamann, so it is obviously working :p!

[faraway.]

You got Didi Hamann, so it is obviously working :p!

Best of luck to Didi. He had a great career with Liverpool (Y)

[Crazysah]

Yeah. He had a good time at Liverpool. Why did he move?

[Martyn]

Best of luck to Didi. He had a great career with Liverpool (Y)

He was indeed a legend for Liverpool. He won countless trophies with us and was a great servant to the club. In Istanbul he came on at half time when we were 3-0 down and turned the match around, he also scored a penalty with a broken foot as well in Istanbul!

I think he deserved a testomonial :p. Good luck to him (Y).

Yeah. He had a good time at Liverpool. Why did he move?

Didi is getting on a bit now, and with Gerrard, Sissoko and Alonso playing regularly in the middle of the park, and with Zenden for backup if needed, Didi would not be playing as many games as he used to. So Rafa decided that it would be in Didi's best interest's if he left for a club who could guarantee him first team football.

[faraway.]

Oh good news Martyn. We got PENNANT! (Y)

[ZiGGA]

thats what he meant me thinks (Y).....

hmm never heard of sheffield..that means liverpool should win easily :p

Tricky side Sheffield UTD, beat us once before in the past so don't count your chicken before they're hatched.

But saying that, I hope we demolish them

Our sqaud is gonna be very pacey next season. it's going to be exciting let me tell ya.

(Pennant and Gonzalez)

Edited July 26, 2006 by ZiGGA

[Martyn]

Oh good news Martyn. We got PENNANT! (Y)

Decent player though, we paid 6.7 million for him but that could rise to 8 million depending on appearences and other incentives.

We paid to much for him :/, I would of preferred Alves.

Let's hope we can get Kuyt now :D!

[faraway.]

Decent player though, we paid 6.7 million for him but that could rise to 8 million depending on appearences and other incentives.

We paid to much for him :/, I would of preferred Alves.

Let's hope we can get Kuyt now :D!

Yes, Dirk Kuyt would bring a lot of pace and energy to our strike force. However, his World Cup performance was very poor. Hopefully he can bounce back from that.

[Martyn]

Yes, Dirk Kuyt would bring a lot of pace and energy to our strike force. However, his World Cup performance was very poor. Hopefully he can bounce back from that.

During the World Cup Kuyt was effectively playing on the right, to fit in with Holland's 4-3-3 formation. I am glad he never performed that well at the World Cup, or his price would of shot right up.

[Crazysah]

I don't think Liverpool will be getting Kuyt. Pennant is enough for you guys!