Premier League 2024/25 fixtures confirmed as Ipswich Town face daunting return and Man City head to Chelsea

An eye-catching return to the top flight for Ipswich Town and a blockbuster clash between two title rivals will top the bill on the opening week of the new Premier League season.

The Tractor Boys secured back-to-back promotions last season when Kieran McKenna led them to runners-up spot in the Championship and they will begin life back in English football’s elite with a home game against the same opponent they faced in their last Premier League fixture on the final day of the 2001/02. It was a daunting visit to Anfield that brought down the curtain on a demoralising season for Ipswich as the likes of Michael Owen and Nicolas Anelka scored in a 5-0 home win for Liverpool - and the Reds will welcome Ipswich back to the Premier League when they visit Portman Road in a televised lunchtime kick-off on Saturday, August 17. Fellow Premier League newcomers Southampton will visit Newcastle United in their first game back in the division just under three hours later.

The Premier League campaign will officially get underway on the previous night when Erik ten Hag begins his third season in charge of Manchester United with a home clash against Fulham. However, perhaps the biggest game of an action-packed weekend will see current champions and title favourites Manchester City visit a Chelsea side managed by former City coach Enzo Maresca for the first time.

There are three other fixtures that have been selected for live broadcast across the opening weekend of the season as Aston Villa travel to West Ham United for a 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday, August 17 and London rivals Brentford and Crystal Palace meet on 2pm on Sunday, August 18. There will be a Monday night game to round off the first round of fixtures as Leicester City return to the top flight with a home game against Tottenham Hotspur.

Premier League opening weekend fixtures

Friday 16th August: Manchester United v Fulham (8pm) Saturday 17th August: Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton v Brighton, Ipswich Town v Liverpool (12.30pm), Newcastle United v Southampton, Nottingham Forest v A.F.C. Bournemouth, West Ham United v Aston Villa (5.30pm) Sunday 18th August: Brentford v Crystal Palace (2pm), Chelsea v Manchester City (5.30pm) Monday 19th August: Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur (8pm)

Second weekend fixtures (subject to change)

A.F.C. Bournemouth v Newcastle United, Aston Villa v Arsenal, Brighton v Manchester United, Crystal Palace v West Ham United, Fulham v Leicester City, Liverpool v Brentford, Manchester City v Ipswich Town, Southampton v Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur v Everton, Wolverhampton v Chelsea

Boxing Day fixtures (subject to change)

A.F.C. Bournemouth v Crystal Palace, Arsenal v Ipswich Town, Brighton v Brentford, Chelsea v Fulham, Liverpool v Leicester City, Manchester City v Everton, Newcastle United v Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest v Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton v West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United

Final Day fixtures (subject to change)

A.F.C. Bournemouth v Leicester City, Fulham v Manchester City, Ipswich Town v West Ham United, Liverpool v Crystal Palace, Manchester United v Aston Villa, Newcastle United v Everton, Nottingham Forest v Chelsea, Southampton v Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton, Wolverhampton v Brentford