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Premier League release 2018/19 fixtures as Man City begin defence against Emery's new-look Arsenal

Matt Lewis
The Premier League fixtures have been released for next season.
The Premier League fixtures have been released for next season.

Manchester City begin the defence of their Premier League crown against a new-look Arsenal side in a mouth-watering start to the new season.

The fixtures for the 2018-19 are out and football fans are already getting excited about another long campaign after this summer’s World Cup in Russia.

Arsenal are beginning a new chapter after 22 years with Arsene Wenger at the helm as former PSG manager Unai Emery takes over at the Emirates Stadium.

His first task is to welcome Pep Guardiola’s champions to London for the pick of the opening weekend’s games on August 11.

Things don’t get any easier for Emery as he then faces another tough challenge when he takes the Gunners to Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge on matchday two.

READ MORE: Chelsea’s 2018/19 fixtures

READ MORE: Arsenal’s 2018/19 fixtures

Antonio Conte’s Chelsea open their campaign with a trip to Huddersfield while Liverpool and Manchester United both begin at home, facing West Ham and Leicester respectively.

Tottenham have been handed an away fixture at Newcastle to start the season and give them time to make any last-minute finishing touches to their stadium.

Will Antonio Conte be Chelsea manager for the start of the new season?
Will Antonio Conte be Chelsea manager for the start of the new season?

Newly-promoted Fulham will be the first visitors to the new White Hart Lane stadium after returning to the top flight with the visit of Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace.

It’s a tricky start for Spurs and Mauricio Pochettino as they must then play United at Old Trafford on matchday three.

Wolves have been rewarded for winning the Championship by being handed Everton, under new management in the form of Marco Silva, in game one.

READ MORE: Man United’s 2018/19 fixtures

READ MORE: Man City’s 2018/19 fixtures

Their bitter rivals last term, Neil Warnock’s Cardiff City, will have a trip to the seaside to face Bournemouth in their first match back in the big time.

It looks set to be a particularly exciting opening weekend.
It looks set to be a particularly exciting opening weekend.

Things don’t tend to hot up in the title race and relegation battles until the festive fixtures have been navigated.

The traditional Boxing Day feast of football sees Brighton travel to Arsenal, Chelsea head to Watford, Crystal Palace play at Man United, Liverpool entertain Newcastle, Man City at home to Leicester and Spurs host Bournemouth.

Guardiola’s big-spending champions won the league in style last season and had games to spare before lifting the trophy in front of their own fans at the Etihad.

They will be hoping the title will already be in the bag again when they bring the curtain down on 2018/19 with a clash against Brighton on home soil.


Their neighbours, Jose Mourinho’s United, will host a Cardiff side that could well be fighting for survival when they roll into town on May 12.

Emery ends his first season as the new Arsenal manager with a difficult trip to last season’s surprise package, Burnley, who have made Turf Moor a real fortress.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool sealed Champions League qualification on the final day last term and end with the visit of Wolves this time around.

Serious question marks hang over whether Antonio Conte will even start the season as Chelsea boss, but, whoever their manager is, will close out the term at Leicester.

Tottenham’s first campaign in their new home will end with a tricky tie with Liverpool while Fulham’s new Premier League season ends at home to Newcastle.