Fixture list hands champions City huge edge over United
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Mancini Mob (and Chelsea) will play five of six PL fixtures immediately after Champions League at HOME... United will play five of their six AWAY!
You what? Who's going to tell Fergie that the fixture list has stitched him up...Premier League champions Manchester City have been handed an inadvertent boost in their bid to retain their title with the publication of next season's fixtures.
Roberto Mancini's side will play five of their six matches immediately after Champions League games at the Etihad Stadium.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is unlikely to be impressed, however, with five away matches following European ties for his team.
These include trips to north-west rivals Liverpool, Newcastle, Champions League winners Chelsea and Aston Villa ahead of, on December 8, the Manchester derby at the Etihad.
Chelsea also have five matches at home post-Champions League games while Arsenal's six games have an equal split.
City start their league defence with a home game against newly-promoted Southampton and finish at the Etihad against Norwich.
United make the short trip to Everton on the opening weekend of the season and close their campaign at West Brom.
Arsenal have a home opener against Sunderland while Chelsea travel to Wigan on August 18. Wigan manager Roberto Martinez told wiganlatics.co.uk: "We have been handed a really exciting opening again, with the Champions League winners at the DW. It is going to be a fascinating start.
"It's a cliche but every team is competitive at this level, and we need to be ready for another huge challenge over the coming months."
Brendan Rodgers first match in charge as Liverpool boss will be against West Brom side led by Steve Clarke
New Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers begins with a trip to the Hawthorns to face a West Brom side led by Steve Clarke , who left Anfield when Rodgers arrived earlier this month, in his managerial appointment after years as a number two.
"I was delighted. I have nothing but good memories from my time at Liverpool so to face them in the first game here at the Hawthorns will be fantastic," said Clarke. "It takes a lot to get me really excited but this morning I was excited."
Possibly of more concern to Rodgers though will be their first three home fixtures against Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United.
Last season's surprise package Newcastle take on Europa League rivals Tottenham, who finished a place above them in fourth last season. Magpies boss Alan Pardew is looking forward to a repeat of last year's contest on Tyneside, which finished in an entertaining 2-2 draw.
On the edge of his seat: Toon boss Pardew is excited about the season to come
Pardew told The Chronicle: "When you look back to last year the game with Spurs was one of the best games for us at home last season. They will have a new manager and it will be tough. But we are already looking forward to it."
If Southampton's first fixture on their return to the Premier League was testing, Reading and West Ham were given seemingly kinder starts. The Royals - back in the top flight after a four-year absence - are at home to Stoke, while Aston Villa visit Upton Park.
West Ham chairman David Gold is eyeing revenge after seeing his team make an immediate return to the Premier League. He said: "I'm pleased it's Aston Villa first. The last time we played them in our first game, two years ago, they beat us 3-0. So I'm looking forward to reversing that score.
"It's important to get off to a good start. The season before last we lost our first four games but Aston Villa at home and Swansea away are games you can expect to get something from.
"Our last game is at home to Reading. Let's hope it's a nice afternoon with nothing riding on it - or we're in a Champions League position - that would be nice. But we're getting stronger financially, morale is high and the future is bright."
On the Hammers' transfer situation, Gold added on Sky Sports News: "We're connected with about 20 players and we're hoping to bring in maybe four by the close of window.
"We did our very best to keep (goalkeeper) Robert Green and it's very sad we've lost him. But we wish him well and I'm sure he'll be a great servant to whichever club he goes to."
Norwich manager Chris Hughton's first competitive game is at Fulham, while the other Premier League opener takes place less than three miles away at Loftus Road, where QPR host Swansea.
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isnt it good to play everton first? they are slow starters and always lose games at the beginning of the season.
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Clarke 'excited' to face Liverpool
By ESPN staff
PA PhotosSteve Clarke moved to Liverpool in 2011 as first-team coachFormer Liverpool first-team coach Steve Clarke has confessed he was "disappointed" to lose his job at Anfield, revealing it was "not nice" to see manager Kenny Dalglish forced out of the club.
Clarke held his first press conference as West Brom boss on Monday, just hours after the new Premier League fixtures were released. The Baggies drew Liverpool on the opening weekend, meaning Clarke gets an instant reunion with the players he coached last season.
"I was delighted, I've got nothing but good memories from my time at Liverpool, so to have them for my first game at the Hawthorns will be fantastic," Clarke said. "It takes a lot to get me really excited, but this morning I woke up excited."
Clarke was widely credited as the man responsible for organising Liverpool's defence last season, a defence that was only bettered by the Manchester clubs over 38 games. However, when the Liverpool owners opted to part company with Dalglish, Clarke also made way for the new Brendan Rodgers regime.
Asked if he felt wronged in any way by the club, Clarke stopped short of answering in the affirmative, but he did hint that loyalty simply does not exist in modern-day football.
"Losing my job at Liverpool over the summer was disappointing," Clarke said. "Football has changed, success has to be instant and it has to be on a level expected at whatever club you're at.
"If you look at Harry Redknapp at Tottenham, success can only be measured in the context of the club you're working for. Obviously it was disappointing. I was disappointed for Kenny, that's his club and for him to leave in that way was not nice for Kenny, so I felt for him.
"But the game's changed and you have to accept that if you don't meet the expectations of the people who run the club, you have to pay the price."
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Barclays Premier League 2012/13 fixtures released
The full fixture list for the 2012/13 Barclays Premier League campaign has been released
The fixtures for the 2012/13 Barclays Premier League season have been released.
All fixtures are subject to change. It is envisaged that the first batch of broadcast selections for the 2012/13 season will be completed by 13th July 2012 and will affect fixtures played between Saturday 18th August and Friday 30th November 2012.
Saturday, August 18th, 2012
Arsenal v Sunderland
Everton v Manchester United
Fulham v Norwich City
Manchester City v Southampton
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Queens Park Rangers v Swansea City
Reading v Stoke City
West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool
West Ham United v Aston Villa
Wigan Athletic v Chelsea
Saturday, August 25th, 2012
Aston Villa v Everton
Chelsea v Newcastle United
Liverpool v Manchester City
Manchester United v Fulham
Norwich City v Queens Park Rangers
Southampton v Wigan Athletic
Stoke City v Arsenal
Sunderland v Reading
Swansea City v West Ham United
Tottenham Hotspur v West Bromwich AlbionSaturday, September 1st, 2012
Chelsea v Reading
Liverpool v Arsenal
Manchester City v Queens Park Rangers
Newcastle United v Aston Villa
Southampton v Manchester United
Swansea City v Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City
West Bromwich Albion v Everton
West Ham United v Fulham
Wigan Athletic v Stoke City
Saturday, September 15th, 2012
Arsenal v Southampton
Aston Villa v Swansea City
Everton v Newcastle United
Fulham v West Bromwich Albion
Manchester United v Wigan Athletic
Norwich City v West Ham United
Queens Park Rangers v Chelsea
Reading v Tottenham Hotspur
Stoke City v Manchester City
Sunderland v Liverpool
Saturday, September 22nd, 2012
Chelsea v Stoke City
Liverpool v Manchester United
Manchester City v Arsenal
Newcastle United v Norwich City
Southampton v Aston Villa
Swansea City v Everton
Tottenham Hotspur v Queens Park Rangers
West Bromwich Albion v Reading
West Ham United v Sunderland
Wigan Athletic v Fulham
Saturday, September 29th, 2012
Arsenal v Chelsea
Aston Villa v West Bromwich Albion
Everton v Southampton
Fulham v Manchester City
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
Norwich City v Liverpool
Queens Park Rangers v West Ham United
Reading v Newcastle United
Stoke City v Swansea City
Sunderland v Wigan Athletic
Saturday, October 6th, 2012
Chelsea v Norwich City
Liverpool v Stoke City
Manchester City v Sunderland
Newcastle United v Manchester United
Southampton v Fulham
Swansea City v Reading
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
West Bromwich Albion v Queens Park Rangers
West Ham United v Arsenal
Wigan Athletic v Everton
Saturday, October 20th, 2012
Fulham v Aston Villa
Liverpool v Reading
Manchester United v Stoke City
Norwich City v Arsenal
Queens Park Rangers v Everton
Sunderland v Newcastle United
Swansea City v Wigan Athletic
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea
West Bromwich Albion v Manchester City
West Ham United v Southampton
Saturday, October 27th, 2012
Arsenal v Queens Park Rangers
Aston Villa v Norwich City
Chelsea v Manchester United
Everton v Liverpool
Manchester City v Swansea City
Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion
Reading v Fulham
Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur
Stoke City v Sunderland
Wigan Athletic v West Ham UnitedSaturday, November 3rd, 2012
Fulham v Everton
Liverpool v Newcastle United
Manchester United v Arsenal
Norwich City v Stoke City
Queens Park Rangers v Reading
Sunderland v Aston Villa
Swansea City v Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic
West Bromwich Albion v Southampton
West Ham United v Manchester City
Saturday, November 10th, 2012
Arsenal v Fulham
Aston Villa v Manchester United
Chelsea v Liverpool
Everton v Sunderland
Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
Newcastle United v West Ham United
Reading v Norwich City
Southampton v Swansea City
Stoke City v Queens Park Rangers
Wigan Athletic v West Bromwich Albion
Saturday, November 17th, 2012
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
Fulham v Sunderland
Liverpool v Wigan Athletic
Manchester City v Aston Villa
Newcastle United v Swansea City
Norwich City v Manchester United
Queens Park Rangers v Southampton
Reading v Everton
West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea
West Ham United v Stoke City
Saturday, November 24th, 2012
Aston Villa v Arsenal
Chelsea v Manchester City
Everton v Norwich City
Manchester United v Queens Park Rangers
Southampton v Newcastle United
Stoke City v Fulham
Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion
Swansea City v Liverpool
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United
Wigan Athletic v Reading
Tuesday, November 27th, 2012
Aston Villa v Reading
Manchester United v West Ham United
Southampton v Norwich City
Stoke City v Newcastle United
Sunderland v Queens Park Rangers
Swansea City v West Bromwich Albion
Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool
Wigan Athletic v Manchester City
Wednesday, November 28th, 2012Chelsea v Fulham
Everton v Arsenal
Saturday, December 1st, 2012
Arsenal v Swansea City
Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur
Liverpool v Southampton
Manchester City v Everton
Newcastle United v Wigan Athletic
Norwich City v Sunderland
Queens Park Rangers v Aston Villa
Reading v Manchester United
West Bromwich Albion v Stoke City
West Ham United v Chelsea
Saturday, December 8th, 2012
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion
Aston Villa v Stoke City
Everton v Tottenham Hotspur
Fulham v Newcastle United
Manchester City v Manchester United
Southampton v Reading
Sunderland v Chelsea
Swansea City v Norwich City
West Ham United v Liverpool
Wigan Athletic v Queens Park Rangers
Saturday, December 15th, 2012
Chelsea v Southampton
Liverpool v Aston Villa
Manchester United v Sunderland
Newcastle United v Manchester City
Norwich City v Wigan Athletic
Queens Park Rangers v Fulham
Reading v Arsenal
Stoke City v Everton
Tottenham Hotspur v Swansea City
West Bromwich Albion v West Ham United
Saturday, December 22nd, 2012
Chelsea v Aston Villa
Liverpool v Fulham
Manchester City v Reading
Newcastle United v Queens Park Rangers
Southampton v Sunderland
Swansea City v Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City
West Bromwich Albion v Norwich City
West Ham United v Everton
Wigan Athletic v ArsenalWednesday, December 26th, 2012
Arsenal v West Ham United
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur
Everton v Wigan Athletic
Fulham v Southampton
Manchester United v Newcastle United
Norwich City v Chelsea
Queens Park Rangers v West Bromwich Albion
Reading v Swansea City
Stoke City v Liverpool
Sunderland v Manchester City
Saturday, December 29th, 2012
Arsenal v Newcastle United
Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic
Everton v Chelsea
Fulham v Swansea City
Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion
Norwich City v Manchester City
Queens Park Rangers v Liverpool
Reading v West Ham United
Stoke City v Southampton
Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur
Tuesday, January 1st, 2013
Chelsea v Queens Park Rangers
Liverpool v Sunderland
Manchester City v Stoke City
Newcastle United v Everton
Southampton v Arsenal
Swansea City v Aston Villa
Tottenham Hotspur v Reading
West Bromwich Albion v Fulham
West Ham United v Norwich City
Wigan Athletic v Manchester United
Saturday, January 12th, 2013
Arsenal v Manchester City
Aston Villa v Southampton
Everton v Swansea City
Fulham v Wigan Athletic
Manchester United v Liverpool
Norwich City v Newcastle United
Queens Park Rangers v Tottenham Hotspur
Reading v West Bromwich Albion
Stoke City v Chelsea
Sunderland v West Ham United
Saturday, January 19th, 2013
Chelsea v Arsenal
Liverpool v Norwich City
Manchester City v Fulham
Newcastle United v Reading
Southampton v Everton
Swansea City v Stoke City
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United
West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa
West Ham United v Queens Park Rangers
Wigan Athletic v Sunderland
Tuesday, January 29th, 2013
Arsenal v Liverpool
Aston Villa v Newcastle United
Manchester United v Southampton
Norwich City v Tottenham Hotspur
Queens Park Rangers v Manchester City
Reading v Chelsea
Stoke City v Wigan Athletic
Sunderland v Swansea City
Wednesday, January 30th, 2013
Everton v West Bromwich Albion
Fulham v West Ham United
Saturday, February 2nd, 2013
Arsenal v Stoke City
Everton v Aston Villa
Fulham v Manchester United
Manchester City v Liverpool
Newcastle United v Chelsea
Queens Park Rangers v Norwich City
Reading v Sunderland
West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United v Swansea City
Wigan Athletic v Southampton
Saturday, February 9th, 2013Aston Villa v West Ham United
Chelsea v Wigan Athletic
Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion
Manchester United v Everton
Norwich City v Fulham
Southampton v Manchester City
Stoke City v Reading
Sunderland v Arsenal
Swansea City v Queens Park Rangers
Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United
Saturday, February 23rd, 2013
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Fulham v Stoke City
Liverpool v Swansea City
Manchester City v Chelsea
Newcastle United v Southampton
Norwich City v Everton
Queens Park Rangers v Manchester United
Reading v Wigan Athletic
West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday, March 2nd, 2013
Aston Villa v Manchester City
Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion
Everton v Reading
Manchester United v Norwich City
Southampton v Queens Park Rangers
Stoke City v West Ham United
Sunderland v Fulham
Swansea City v Newcastle United
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal
Wigan Athletic v Liverpool
Saturday, March 9th, 2013
Arsenal v Everton
Fulham v Chelsea
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester City v Wigan Athletic
Newcastle United v Stoke City
Norwich City v Southampton
Queens Park Rangers v Sunderland
Reading v Aston Villa
West Bromwich Albion v Swansea City
West Ham United v Manchester United
Saturday, March 16th, 2013
Aston Villa v Queens Park Rangers
Chelsea v West Ham United
Everton v Manchester City
Manchester United v Reading
Southampton v Liverpool
Stoke City v West Bromwich Albion
Sunderland v Norwich City
Swansea City v Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham
Wigan Athletic v Newcastle United
Saturday, March 30th, 2013
Arsenal v Reading
Aston Villa v Liverpool
Everton v Stoke City
Fulham v Queens Park Rangers
Manchester City v Newcastle United
Southampton v Chelsea
Sunderland v Manchester United
Swansea City v Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion
Wigan Athletic v Norwich City
Saturday, April 6th, 2013
Chelsea v Sunderland
Liverpool v West Ham United
Manchester United v Manchester City
Newcastle United v Fulham
Norwich City v Swansea City
Queens Park Rangers v Wigan Athletic
Reading v Southampton
Stoke City v Aston Villa
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton
West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal
Saturday, April 13th, 2013
Arsenal v Norwich City
Aston Villa v Fulham
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur
Everton v Queens Park Rangers
Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion
Newcastle United v Sunderland
Reading v Liverpool
Southampton v West Ham United
Stoke City v Manchester United
Wigan Athletic v Swansea City
Saturday, April 20th, 2013
Fulham v Arsenal
Liverpool v Chelsea
Manchester United v Aston Villa
Norwich City v Reading
Queens Park Rangers v Stoke City
Sunderland v Everton
Swansea City v Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United
West Ham United v Wigan Athletic
Saturday, April 27th, 2013
Arsenal v Manchester United
Aston Villa v Sunderland
Chelsea v Swansea City
Everton v Fulham
Manchester City v West Ham United
Newcastle United v Liverpool
Reading v Queens Park Rangers
Southampton v West Bromwich Albion
Stoke City v Norwich City
Wigan Athletic v Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday, May 4th, 2013
Fulham v Reading
Liverpool v Everton
Manchester United v Chelsea
Norwich City v Aston Villa
Queens Park Rangers v Arsenal
Sunderland v Stoke City
Swansea City v Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton
West Bromwich Albion v Wigan Athletic
West Ham United v Newcastle United
Sunday, May 12th, 2013
Arsenal v Wigan Athletic
Aston Villa v Chelsea
Everton v West Ham United
Fulham v Liverpool
Manchester United v Swansea City
Norwich City v West Bromwich Albion
Queens Park Rangers v Newcastle United
Reading v Manchester City
Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur
Sunderland v Southampton
Sunday, May 19th, 2013
Chelsea v Everton
Liverpool v Queens Park Rangers
Manchester City v Norwich City
Newcastle United v Arsenal
Southampton v Stoke City
Swansea City v Fulham
Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland
West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United
West Ham United v Reading
Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa