Premier League English

New Premier League season: Liverpool play Leeds in the first game

The fixture list announced that Liverpool will begin the new season as Premier League defending champion on Sept. 12 at Anfield against the newly promoted Leeds United, who return to England’s top-flight for the first time in 16 years.

Man United will kick off the season at home to Crystal Palace on Sept. 19, while Man City will travel to Wolves on the same day.

Mikel Arteta will begin his first full season in charge of Arsenal with a trip to newly promoted Fulham on Sept. 12, while north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur host Everton.

Elsewhere on the opening weekend, Crystal Palace host Southampton, while West Ham United face Newcastle United at the London Stadium.

Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ opening matches are both scheduled for Sept. 14, with the Blues travelling to Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolves visiting Sheffield United.

Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool then travel to Chelsea for their second game of the season before hosting FA Cup champions Arsenal.

The first showdown between title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City will take place on Nov. 7 at the Etihad Stadium with the other game scheduled for Feb. 6.

The first major derby of the season is set for Oct. 17 when Everton host Liverpool, while the two Manchester derbies are scheduled for the weekends of Dec. 12 and March 6.

The season, which will not have a winter break, will conclude on May 23, less than three weeks before the start of the rescheduled European Championships.