PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES 2010-11: Chelsea start at home to West Bromwich

17 June 2010 11:00
Champions to open against old boy Di MatteoMan United start at home to NewcastleLiverpool v Arsenal pick of first clashesBlackpool begin with Lancashire derbyFinal weekend comes after FA Cup showdownChelsea begin their defence of the Barclays Premier League title with a home match against newly-promoted West Bromwich.[LNB]The match on August 14 means a return to Stamford Bridge for former Blues midfielder Roberto Di Matteo, now manager of Albion.[LNB]Next up for the champions will be a trip to Wigan, where they were beaten last season, before Stoke visit Stamford Bridge on August 28.[LNB] Scroll down for our club-by-club guide to all the Premier League fixtures[LNB]  Singing the Blues: Chelsea players celebrate being crowned champions in May[LNB]Fixtures lowdown Click here for all the Championship matches for the 2010-11 season   [LNB]Click here for all the League One matches for the 2010-11 season   [LNB]The title holders have to wait until October 2 for their first match against one of the big four clubs, when they face Arsenal at home, with the return fixture on Boxing Day.[LNB]Carlo Ancelotti's side first play Manchester United on December 18, with the two shaping up at Old Trafford on May 7 - the Blues' penultimate away fixture.[LNB]United, runners-up in 2009-10, also start with a home match against anewly-promoted team. Sir Alex Ferguson's side take on Newcastle on the first day.[LNB]And Blackpool, the third of the sides promoted from the Championship,provide the Old Trafford opposition on the last day of the season, May 22.[LNB]There are two intriguing matches between top-four hopefuls on the opening day.  [LNB]Shot at glory: Wayne Rooney[LNB]Liverpool start the post-Rafael Benitez era with a home match against Arsenal, while Tottenham and Manchester City meet at WhiteHart Lane.[LNB]Aston Villa face West Ham and Everton travel to Blackburn, while Blackpool's first match in the Premier League is at home, to local rivals Wigan.[LNB]Elsewhere on the opening day, Steve Bruce's Sunderland are at home toBirmingham, one of the clubs he previously managed.[LNB]Wolves and Stoke clash at Molineux, while Bolton and Europa League runners-up Fulham meet in the north-west.[LNB]The Premier League climax will come after the FA Cup final next season for the first time for almost a decade.[LNB]The FA Cup final will be played on May 14, with the final matches of the Premier League season eight days later on May 22.[LNB]The FA Cup final is traditionally the climax to the season but Wembley is hosting the Champions League final on May 28 which means there is no option but to stage it before the end of the league campaign.[LNB]It is not the first time the Premier League season has ended after the FA Cup final - it did so both in 2001 and 2002.[LNB]Blackpool boss Ian Holloway welcomed the news the Tangerines will open their campaign at Bloomfield Road against Wigan.[LNB]He told Sky Sports News: 'It is nice to kick off with a home game andwith Wigan up the road it will be nice for us.'[LNB]Blackpool also face a tricky finish when they meet Manchester United at Old Trafford on the final day.[LNB]'That will be nice if we could celebrate staying up,' said Holloway. 'I am sure Sir Alex (Ferguson) has already sent me a letter telling me to bring some good red wine.'[LNB] Ready for the big time: Blackpool boss Ian Holloway celebrates their play-off win[LNB]Newcastle boss Chris Hughton admitted he had been hoping for an easier start after seeing his side paired with Manchester United at Old Trafford.[LNB]He told the club's website: 'It's a tough start for us, we would have preferred a home game to kick the season off but you take what you get.[LNB]'We can take heart and confidence from the 1-1 draw we earned at Old Trafford two years ago on the opening day of the 2008-09 season.[LNB]'Villa at home the following week is another tough one but a great game to begin our home campaign. You tend to look at the number of back-to-back games you have against the top six/eight teams and our fixture list looks to be fairly balanced in that respect.'[LNB] Arsenal's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Aston Villa's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Birmingham's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Blackburn's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Blackpool's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Bolton's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Chelsea's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Everton's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Fulham's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Liverpool's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Manchester City's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Manchester United's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Newcastle United's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Stoke City's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Sunderland's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League fixtures 2010-11West Brom's Premier League fixtures 2010-11West Ham's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Wigan's Premier League fixtures 2010-11Wolves' Premier League fixtures 2010-11All the Championship fixtures for 2010-11[LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail