Early Premier League showdown for Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho after fixtures released
United have tough run-in with games at Arsenal and Spurs in May
The Premier League fixtures for the 2016/17 season were released today and all eyes will be on Old Trafford on the weekend of September 10.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will come to Old Trafford to take on Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United for the first competitive showdown between two of the best managers in world football.
The second derby of the season will take place at the Etihad on February 25, but the first meeting between the two sides this season will be a pre-season game in Beijing on July 25 – the first derby to take place outside of Manchester.
Chelsea games in the spotlight for Jose Mourinho
New Reds manager Mourinho will take an interest in the two games against Chelsea, who sacked him last season following a poor start to their title defence.
He will take United back to Stamford Bridge to face the Blues on the weekend of October 22 and will welcome them to Old Trafford on the weekend of April 15.
Chelsea, under their new manager Antonio Conte, will have no European football to distract them from their target to reclaim a place in the Champions League and challenge for the Premier League title.
Easy start, difficult run-in for United
United face a relatively gentle introduction to the new season with fixtures against Bournemouth away, Southampton at home, and Hull City away before the derby at home while City have a tougher start against Sunderland at home, Stoke away, and West Ham at home before they travel to Old Trafford.
The two clubs will end their campaigns with quite different run-ins. City’s final four fixtures sees them travel to Middlesbrough prior to two home games against Crystal Palace and champions Leicester City before ending their season with a game at Vicarage Road against Watford.
United, on the other hand, have a home game against Swansea before two tough trips to Arsenal and Spurs and they will end their season at Old Trafford against Crystal Palace.