The moment Premier League fans have been waiting for is here: the 2024-25 season gets underway this weekend! We get going on Friday night with Manchester United v Fulham, while the pick of Matchday 1 fixtures sees defending champions Manchester City play away to Chelsea.
Friday 16 August at Old Trafford will see Man United host Fulham for the opening match of the new season. All eyes will be on the Red Devils, as they look to set the tone for a season in which they will need to make a major improvement, but Marco Silva’s Cottagers actually claimed a shock 2-1 away win when the teams last met in the Premier League back in February.
“All of the talk will be about Manchester [United], because they are at home and the big club on the first day,” said Silva. “We don’t mind this at all… it allows us to have a great preparation and we will hope to achieve the same result as when we last played at Old Trafford.”
Early on Saturday afternoon, Liverpool will enter a new era when they welcome Ipswich Town (who themselves are back in the Premier League for the first time in more than 20 years!), as manager Arne Slot has his first competitive match in charge of the Reds.
Saturday’s mid-afternoon matches are headlined by Arsenal hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers – with the Gunners admitting that they will need to have a “perfect” season to dethrone Manchester City as champions.
“You said almost perfect, this season we need to make it perfect,” said defender Jurrien Timber, who missed almost all of last season due to injury. “Hopefully we are going to end up with some prizes at the end of the season.”
Saturday’s action closes with the meeting of West Ham United and Aston Villa at London Stadium, while Sunday features a London derby between Brentford and Crystal Palace, before the heavyweight bout between Chelsea and Man City at Stamford Bridge.
New Blues boss Enzo Maresca worked under manager Pep Guardiola at the Citizens and will hope that his intimate knowledge of the opponent’s techniques and regimes will give his side an edge, but the Manchester club will certainly start as favourites.
The round is closed out on Monday night when Leicester City mark their return to the Premier League by hosting Tottenham Hotspur at the King Power Stadium.
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Broadcast details.
Friday 16 August
- 21:00: Manchester United v Fulham – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2
Saturday 17 August
- 13:30: Ipswich Town v Liverpool – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2
- 16:00: Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2
- 16:00: Everton v Brighton & Hove Albion – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 1
- 16:00: Newcastle United v Southampton – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 2
- 16:00: Nottingham Forest v AFC Bournemouth – LIVE on SuperSport Action
- 18:30: West Ham United v Aston Villa – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2
Sunday 18 August
- 15:00: Brentford v Crystal Palace – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2
- 17:30: Chelsea v Manchester City – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2
Monday 19 August
- 21:00: Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2