Manchester City will begin its Premier League title defence with a testing trip to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend.

Pep Guardiola's side has already won a historic four straight titles and will begin its pursuit of a fifth consecutive crown with a tough away match on 18 August against a team now managed by Enzo Maresca.

Man City has won its opening Premier League match in 12 of the last 13 seasons, though the exception was an away game in London when it lost 1-0 to Tottenham in 2021-2022.

This will be the first time in 53 years that Chelsea has begun a top-flight campaign with a match against the reigning champion. It last did that in 1971, losing to Arsenal at Highbury.

The Premier League fixtures for 2024-25 were unveiled on Tuesday.

Arsenal narrowly missed out to Man City in each of the last two seasons and Mikel Arteta's men discovered they will start at home to Wolves on 17 August.

It is Manchester United and Fulham who will open the season on 16 August, with the FA Cup holder playing at home in an evening fixture.

Arne Slot's tenure as Liverpool manager starts with a trip away to play promoted Ipswich Town, which returns to the top flight after a 22-year absence, while play-off winner Southampton will face Newcastle United at St James' Park.

The opening weekend concludes on 19 August as Leicester City hosts Tottenham in a difficult start to the Foxes' Premier League return.

There are some other notable matches taking place in the early weeks of the season, with Arsenal away to Aston Villa in the two teams' second match of the campaign.

The Gunners also have back-to-back away matches against Tottenham and Man City in September, meaning they will have had road games against three of the top five sides from last season inside the first five matchweeks.

Man Utd, meanwhile, is due to face Liverpool at Old Trafford on 31 August in the standout fixture of Matchday 3.