10 of the top matches in Aug-Sept

There’s less than a month to go until the football season’s back — and the fixtures have been kind to pubs, with some massive games through August and September.

For those licensees who want to drive extra business by showing football all season long, domestic matches are key to attracting people through the door and spending more money in your venue.

Sky Sports will broadcast 116 Premier League games, and 127 Football League matches throughout the season, and has already announced 49 domestic matches that it will show exclusively live in just the first two months. We pick out the highlights.

Chelsea v Swansea City

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  • Sat 8 Aug - 5.30pm

The opening day of the season is always an exciting day, and fans will be keen to see how the new champions fare at home to Swansea, who impressed last season under Garry Monk. Jose Mourinho’s side will be eager to get off to a winning start, and having put nine goals past the Swans last season, will be confident of getting off to a flyer. Can The Special One help new loan signing Radamel Falcao finding his shooting boots?

Man City v Chelsea

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  • Sun 16 Aug - 4pm

An absolute must-not-miss match for all football fans in just the second week of the season! Last season’s top two sides go head-to-head in the search for an early blow to the other side’s title hopes. There’s still a long, long way to go, but this will be a crucial match as the early season table starts to take shape. Let the mind games begin!

Liverpool v Bournemouth

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  • Mon 17 Aug - 8pm

Without meaning to patronise the south coast side, this is the type of match Bournemouth fans will have been dreaming of since securing promotion to the Premier League for the first time — under the lights at Anfield against Liverpool. And they could cause an upset too — Eddie Howe’s side were hugely impressive last term in what was one of the most exciting Championship seasons in memory.

Arsenal v Liverpool

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  • Mon 24 Aug - 8pm

Another absolute belter of a match so early on in the season. Two big teams who will fancy themselves as title contenders meet in what is likely to be a pulsating match at The Emirates. And who knows, with the final day of the Ashes the same day, your pub could be packed with England fans celebrating a famous victory!

Spurs v Everton

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  • Sat 29 Aug - 5.30pm

Two of the most well-supported sides outside of those teams who could likely challenge for the league, this fixture is usually guaranteed goals. Everything he touched turned to goals last season, and England fans could be relying on Harry Kane’s Midas touch at Euro 2016, so all eyes will be on him to see is he is back among the goals.

Man Utd v Liverpool

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  • Sat 12 Sep - 5.30pm

The massive head-to-heads just keep on coming and following the international break, these two bitter rivals will be looking for bragging rights in what will be a huge match at Old Trafford. Recognised as the biggest club game in English football, this match is sure to attract a crowd to your pub.

Leicester City v Aston Villa

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  • Sun 13 Sep - 4pm

It’s a big weekend of derbies, and there’s nothing like the intense rivalry of the domestic game to draw people into pubs to watch the top matches. There’ll be no love lost between these Midlands rivals, as both sides look to secure as many points as they can early on to avoid the stress of the relegation battle they both faced last season.

Nottingham Forest v Middlesbrough

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  • Sat 19 Sep - 12.30pm

Having just missed out on promotion last season after losing out to Norwich in the Playoff Final, Middlesbrough are one of the favourites for the Championship title. Aitor Karanka’s men will face a tough test against ‘sleeping giant’ Nottingham Forest, who started so strongly last season before losing their form.

Southampton v Man Utd

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  • Sun 20 Sep - 4pm

Many tipped Southampton for relegation last season, but Ronald Koeman brought a refreshing confidence to St Mary’s. United have spent big already on new faces to make a push for the title, but Southampton at home will be a daunting prospect. There should be plenty of good football on display on this Super Sunday.

Middlesbrough v Leeds Utd

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  • Sun 27 Sep - 1.15pm

Two former Premier League sides desperate for a return to the top flight will battle it out in this Sunday lunchtime clash. Leeds chairman Massimo Cellino doesn’t think twice about sacking managers who aren’t producing the goods, so Uwe Rösler, the new man in charge at Elland Road, will be looking for something from this visit to The Riverside.

Full list of Sky Sports Premier League fixtures