Manchester City and Chelsea feature among first televised games of new Premier League season

Sergio Aguero

The matches involving Champions League winners Chelsea and Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City will open the new campaign live on television.

The Blues' visit to Wigan on Sunday, August 19 (kick-off 1.30pm) will be the first of 42 top-flight games to be screened by Sky Sports between the start of the season and November, the broadcaster confirmed today.

They will be closely followed by City, who host promoted Southampton later the same day (kick-off 4pm), with Manchester United in action against Everton at Goodison Park the following evening.

Every Premier League club will be featured at least twice, while the list of games includes five major derbies from the midlands, north London, Tyne and Wear, Merseyside and the north west.

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said: "We're all looking forward to the start of the Premier League and we begin with a bang; Champions League winners Chelsea, Premier League Champions Manchester City and Manchester United all in our opening weekend.

"These selections provide our viewers with huge head-to-heads, major derbies and every team at least twice, all in the first three months of the season.

"We have the biggest names providing the most insightful analysis and commentary plus a wealth of unrivalled support programming.

"I'm sure it'll be another fascinating football season on Sky Sports."

Play-off winners West Ham will feature for the first time when they travel to Swansea on August 25, while Reading entertain Tottenham three weekends later.

Sunday, September 23 sees Liverpool host Manchester United and Arsenal visit City, while the Gunners will welcome Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium on the following Saturday.

Sunderland will attempt to gain revenge for their derby defeat last season when Newcastle return to the Stadium of Light on Sunday, October 21, a day after Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas attempts to gain revenge on former employers Chelsea at White Hart Lane, while the first Merseyside derby takes place at Goodison the following Saturday.

A day later, United renew hostilities with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and then face Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday, November 3.

The Emirates will stage the north London derby on Saturday, November 17, while new Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers will return to former club Swansea the following weekend.

Meanwhile, ESPN will launch their programme of Saturday evening kick-offs on Tyneside on August 18 when Spurs head to Newcastle, who also feature the following weekend in a tough trip to Chelsea.

United host Spurs on September 29, while derby rivals City's visit to West Ham will be screened on November 3.

AUGUST                                                                  KICK OFF

Wigan Athletic   v       Chelsea                 Sun 19          1:30pm

Manchester City v       Southampton                     Sun 19          4pm

Everton          v       Manchester United               Mon 20  8pm

Swansea City            v       West Ham United         Sat 25          12:45pm

Stoke City              v       Arsenal                 Sun 26          1:30pm

Liverpool               v       Manchester City         Sun 26          4pm

SEPTEMBER

West Ham United v       Fulham                          Sat 1           12:45pm

Liverpool               v       Arsenal                 Sun 2           1:30pm

Southampton             v       Manchester United               Sun 2           4pm

Norwich City            v       West Ham United         Sat 15          12:45pm

Reading         v       Tottenham Hotspur               Sun 16          4pm

Everton         v        Newcastle United                Mon 17          8pm

Swansea City            v       Everton                 Sat 22          12:45pm

Liverpool               v       Manchester United               Sun 23          1:30pm

Manchester City v       Arsenal                 Sun 23          4pm

Arsenal         v       Chelsea                 Sat 29          12:45pm

Aston Villa             v       West Bromwich Albion            Sun 30          4pm

OCTOBER

Queens Park Rangers     v       West Ham United         Mon 1           8pm

Manchester City v       Sunderland                      Sat 6           12:45pm

Southampton              v       Fulham                          Sun 7           1:30pm

Newcastle United        v       Manchester United               Sun 7           4pm

Tottenham Hotspur       v       Chelsea                 Sat 20          12:45pm

Sunderland              v       Newcastle United                Sun 21          1:30pm

Queens Park Rangers     v       Everton                 Sun 21          4pm

Everton          v       Liverpool                       Sat 27          12:45pm

Aston Villa             v       Norwich City                    Sun 28          1:30pm

Chelsea         v       Manchester United               Sun 28          4pm

NOVEMBER

Manchester United       v       Arsenal                 Sat 3           12:45pm

Queens Park Rangers     v       Reading                 Sun 4           1:30pm

Liverpool               v       Newcastle United                Sun 4           4pm

West Bromwich Albion    v       Southampton                     Mon 5           8pm

Aston Villa             v       Manchester United               Sat 10          5:30pm

Manchester City v       Tottenham Hotspur               Sun 11          1:30pm

Chelsea         v       Liverpool                       Sun 11          4pm

Arsenal         v       Tottenham Hotspur               Sat 17          12:45pm

Fulham                  v       Sunderland                      Sun 18          4pm

West Ham United v       Stoke City                      Mon 19          8pm

Swansea City            v       Liverpool                       Sat 24          12:45pm

Sunderland              v       West Bromwich Albion            Sun 25          1:30pm

Chelsea          v       Manchester City         Sun 25          4pm

Aston Villa             v       Reading                 Tue 27          8pm

Wigan Athletic          v       Manchester City         Wed 28  8pm

PA