Man Utd v Southampton Fri 19 Aug 8.00pm
After many years of speculation, Friday night football is finally happening. Our first taste of it comes from Jose Mourinho’s first league match at Old Trafford as Manchester United manager, where his side come up against a consistently strong and always improving Southampton side.
Tottenham v Liverpool Sat 27 Aug 12.30pm
It’s the Saturday of a bank holiday weekend and it’s a cracking match for lunchtime drinking. These are the sort of matches Klopp must win to bring the title to Merseyside, but Tottenham will want to follow up their most impressive season in decades with more thrilling performances.
Newcastle v Brighton Sat 27 Aug 5.30pm
If that bank holiday Saturday wasn’t good enough already. Two of the favourites for promotion to the Premier League lock horns in the early evening clash.
Man City v West Ham United Sun 28 Aug 4.00pm
Once you’ve recovered from the exploits of the Saturday of the bank holiday weekend, the Sunday sees West Ham visit Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and their big-money signings.
Man Utd v Manchester City Sat 10 Sep 12.30pm
It’s the Manchester derby. It’s Mourinho vs Guardiola. Nothing more needs to be said.
Chelsea v Liverpool Fri 16 Sep 8.00pm
Friday nights are going to be a chance to start the weekend celebrations off with a massive match and they don’t come much bigger than this match up in west London.
Man Utd v Leicester City Sat 24 Sep 12.30pm
Last season’s surprise champions will be looking to put down an early marker against big-spending Manchester United to prove that last season’s triumph was no one-off.
Aston Villa v Newcastle United Sat 24 Sep 5.30pm
Champions League winning managers, Roberto di Matteo and Rafa Benitez clash in the Championship. It sounds surreal, but it’s happening.
Signings to keep an eye on
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Manchester United
The iconic ponytailed Swedish footballer has finally landed in the Premier League. At the age of 34, there are question marks over his ability to adapt to league, but there are no question marks over his blockbuster appeal.
N'Golo Kanté – Chelsea
Integral to Leicester’s title-winning charge last season, the French midfielder wowed with his energy as he was chosen in the PFA Premier League team of the year. He’ll be hoping to replicate that form for the Blues.
Sadio Mane – Liverpool
With a transfer fee of £30m, Mane is the most expensive African player in history. But with the former Southampton striker holding the record for the fastest Premier League hat-trick, you can see why Jürgen Klopp paid the money.
Granit Xhaka – Arsenal
The powerful Swiss midfielder was one of the stand-out players in Euro 2016. Arsenal fans will be praying he is the tough-tackling inspiration their side gas been crying out for to push on for the title.
Jordon Ibe – Bournemouth
Considered one of the most exciting emerging talents on Merseyside, eyebrows were raised when Liverpool chose to part with the 20-year-old winger this summer. Will their loss be Bournemouth’s gain? We’ll find out this season.
Steve Mandanda – Crystal Palace
France’s second choice goalkeeper brings years of experience between the sticks to south London and will be aiming to unseat Wayne Hennessey as Crystal Palace’s number one.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Manchester United
Manchester United’s signing from Borussia Dortmund will be the first Armenian in the Premier League. Not only will he be a nightmare for commentators, his attacking ability could prove to make him a nightmare for rival teams.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – Southampton
The Danish midfielder never made the impact expected of him at Bayern Munich because he never had a run in the team. The physicality of the Premier League will give Hojbjerg a chance to prove himself on the south coast.
Vincent Janssen – Tottenham
One year ago, this Dutch striker was plying his trade in the Dutch second division. Now he finds himself looking to make an impact on north London after being the Dutch Premier League’s top goalscorer last season.
