.jpg)
Revised - June 23, 2011
Manchester United will face a tricky start to their 2011-2012 Premier League season with an opening day match at the Hawthorns against West Bromwich Albion. Not only that, home clashes against Harry Redknapp's Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal will follow up after that. Sir Alex's men then head towards Bolton before they will face another big test in the form of Chelsea, which will only be their fifth match of the season. Indeed it will be a daunting start to their season.
The first match for United will be on August 13 at West Bromwich Albion.
Even Arsenal will be having some sort of a tough start to their campaign with an opening day fixture at St James' Park, where they disastrously blew a four-goal lead against Newcastle last season, followed by difficult clashes against Liverpool and Manchester United. Although they do go against lesser fancied sides after the international break with Swansea and Blackburn Rovers on the list. However, the demanding round of opening fixtures will not help the fact that the Gunners will also have to monitor their way past the qualifying stages of the Champions League. Their performances will set the benchmark for the rest of the season.
Arsenal's first match will be away at Newcastle on August 13. The following week they face a serious test as they host Liverpool.
As far as Liverpool are concerned, they will open their season with a home match against Steve Bruce's Sunderland, which is co-incidentally an opportunity for Jordan Henderson to face his former club. Following that, they face a tough trip to the Emirates to take on the Gunners before returning back to Anfield with Bolton heading over. After the international break, the Reds will have to work themselves out of a tricky tie against Stoke City and the Brittania before Spurs get ready to host Kenny Dalglish' men at White Hart Lane.
Their first serious test will however be the following week as they travel to London to face Arsenal. They face two tough away fixtures early in September they have to travel to Stoke City and then to Tottenham Hotspur.
Chelsea appear to have the easiest of opening round of fixtures and perhaps only their opening game represents a difficult challenge by their standards before the international break. The face Stoke City away from home first before taking on the likes of West Bromwich and Norwich City at Stamford Bridge. After the international bridge, the Blues will have to visit the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland, before visiting Old Trafford to take on the Champions, Manchester United on September 17th.
