The Premier League have announced the live televised games in the first two months of the season, with Arsenal getting the campaign underway, but champions Chelsea being snubbed on the opening weekend.
On August 11, Arsenal will host Leicester for a Friday evening curtain raiser on Sky Sports. Sunday 13 sees two London clubs in a double-header, albeit both on their travels, with Tottenham heading to newly promoted Newcastle and West Ham visiting Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Despite winning the Premier League last season surprisingly Chelsea do not feature until the second weekend for London derby against Tottenham at Wembley on August 20.
It will be the first season since 2003/04 when the reigning champions' first fixture has not been televised.
Arsenal’s visit to Anfield sets-up a mouth-watering tie against Liverpool on Sunday August 27thh that will be shown live, but Crystal Palace fans will have to wait until September 10 for their first game on the box for their visit to Burnley’s Turf Moor.
West Ham host Huddersfield for a Monday Night Football on September 11, and then the next two weekend sees back-to back London derbies. Chelsea host Arsenal on September 17, then Spurs make the trip to the London Stadium on September 23.
Chelsea will then face-off with Manchester City, who are current bookies’ favourites for the Premier League crown, in the 5.30 kick-off on September 30.
There are some hugely interesting ties that will be televised in the early part of the season, but it does seem surprising that Chelsea will not be getting the new season started.
FULL TELEVISED FIXTURES UNTIL OCTOBER 1
Friday August 11
7.45pm Arsenal v Leicester City (Sky Sports)
Saturday August 12
12.30pm Watford v Liverpool (Sky Sports)
5.30pm Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City (BT Sport)
Sunday August 13
1.30pm Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur (Sky Sports)
4pm Manchester United v West Ham United (Sky Sports)
Saturday August 19
12.30pm Swansea City v Manchester United (Sky Sports)
5.30pm Stoke City v Arsenal (BT Sport)
Sunday August 20
1.30pm Huddersfield Town v Newcastle United (Sky Sports)
4pm Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea (Sky Sports)
Monday August 21
8pm Manchester City v Everton (Sky Sports)
Saturday August 26
12.30pm AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City (Sky Sports)
5.30pm Manchester United v Leicester City (BT Sport)
Sunday August 27
1.30pm West Bromwich Albion v Stoke City (Sky Sports)
4pm Liverpool v Arsenal (Sky Sports)
Saturday September 9
12.30pm Manchester City v Liverpool (Sky Sports)
5.30pm Stoke City v Manchester United (BT Sport)
Sunday September 10
1.30pm Burnley v Crystal Palace (Sky Sports)
4pm Swansea City v Newcastle United (Sky Sports)
Monday September 11
8pm West Ham United v Huddersfield Town (Sky Sports)
Friday September 15
8pm AFC Bournemouth v Brighton & Hove Albion (Sky Sports)
Saturday September 16
12.30pm Crystal Palace v Southampton (Sky Sports)
5.30pm Tottenham Hotspur v Swansea City (BT Sport)
Sunday September 17
1.30pm Chelsea v Arsenal (Sky Sports)
4pm Manchester United v Everton (Sky Sports)
Saturday September 23
12.30pm West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (Sky Sports)
5.30pm Leicester City v Liverpool (BT Sport)
Sunday September 24
4pm Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United (Sky Sports)
Monday September 25
8pm Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (Sky Sports)
Saturday September 30
12.30pm Huddersfield Town v Tottenham Hotspur (Sky Sports)
5.30pm Chelsea v Manchester City (BT Sport)
Sunday October 1
12pm Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion (BT Sport)
2.15pm Everton v Burnley (Sky Sports)
4.30pm Newcastle United v Liverpool (Sky Sports)
