2016/17 Premier League fixtures: Guardiola and Mourinho set for September showdown

Bitter rivals Mourinho and Guardiola will meet again just four matches into the season at Old Trafford on September 10th, so who will get early bragging rights over the other?

The reverse fixture at the Etihad is scheduled for February 25th, meanwhile.

Man City are the title favourites this campaign with Coral at 9/4, with Man Utd just behind at 9/2.

Koeman v former club Southampton

As for new Everton boss Ronald Koeman, he has been given a bit more time until he takes on former team Southampton at St Mary’s, with a showdown set for November 26th.

The Saints come back to Goodison Park just over a month later on January 2nd, and the Toffees are 14/1 to break the top four under their new owners.

Southampton v Bournemouth

With Koeman moving on from Southampton, Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has since been heavily linked with the job across the south coast of England.

Howe’s potential first return to the Cherries is down for December 17th, while the reverse fixture at St Mary’s is on April Fool’s Day. Bournemouth fans are still hoping the rumours are a joke…

North London derbies

One of, if not the, most hotly contested clashes in the Premier League is between north London rivals Arsenal (5/1 title shouts) and Tottenham (6/1), and note down in your diaries when these occur.

The duo first meet at the Emirates on November 5th, so no doubt there’ll be fireworks, and they have a rematch on April 29th.

Middlesbrough v Sunderland

Newly-promoted Middlesbrough (5/4 to go back down) have high hopes of staying in the top flight, and have already signed promising attacker Viktor Fischer, while are even being linked with Radamel Falcao.

One Northeast rival Newcastle United went the other way to the Championship, but another in Sunderland (5/2) remains. They first meet at the Riverside on the second matchweek on August 20th, and tussle again on March 11th.

Where do Leicester begin their defence?

The 5000/1 title defiers have been handed a relatively straightforward start to their defence against newly-promoted Hull City, who returned to the top flight via the play-offs after beating fellow Yorkshire outfit Sheffield Wednesday.

Two home clashes follow against Arsenal and then Swansea City for Leicester City, before tough away trips to Liverpool and Man Utd either side of a duel with Championship winners Burnley at the King Power.

Conte’s Chelsea debut and tough opening games

After Italy’s Euro 2016 campaign comes to a close in France, Antonio Conte will embark on his journey as Chelsea boss, and his imminent reign begins with tough opening outings.

The Blues (6/1 title chances) will play all of Liverpool, London rivals Arsenal, champions Leicester and Man Utd in their first nine games, a testing set of matches for the latest manager at Stamford Bridge. To kick things off for the Italian, though, it will be a home clash with fellow Londoners West Ham United.

Guardiola makes his Man City bow on home soil

Guardiola’s first Premier League game in charge will be a clash with last season’s successful relegation survivors Sunderland, with Sam Allardyce and the Black Cats the maiden obstacle in the way of the Spanish tactician.

On paper Man City possess the most promising start though, with a Manchester derby on September 10th being the biggest test among games against Stoke, West Ham, Bournemouth and Swansea City.

Mourinho makes debut against Cherries

New Old Trafford boss Mourinho will begin his new role with an away trip to Dean Court to face Bournemouth, with his maiden Old Trafford outing coming the fixture after against Southampton.

‘The Special One’ will look to hit the ground running after a dismal start last season when in charge of Chelsea, with a derby encounter with long-standing rival Guardiola looming large on September 10th on home soil.

Koeman starts Toffees reign against Spurs

After taking charge of Everton, former Saints boss Koeman starts his new job in the top-flight against last season’s third-place finishers Tottenham, taking on another previous Southampton manager in Mauricio Pochettino.

The Dutchman is also on home turf for that opener against Spurs, with the Goodison Park crowd set to get an instant taste of what life will be like under their new man at the helm.

Hammers face Cherries in Olympic Stadium bow

Having said goodbye to Upton Park last term, West Ham’s first clash at their new home of the Olympic Stadium will be against Bournemouth, with the Cherries arriving there on August 20th for what is sure to be a cracker.

The east Londoners (7/1 to finish in top four) will aim to get their campaign off to a flyer, especially at their new home ground, which is set to be sold-out for an exciting opening encounter and a historic day for the club.

Opening weekend fixtures and match odds

Arsenal (10/11) v Liverpool (5/2)
Bournemouth (11/4) v Man Utd (4/5)
Burnley (11/8) v Swansea (6/4)
Chelsea (4/7) v West Ham (4/1)
C Palace (11/10) v West Brom (2/1)
Everton (6/4)v Tottenham (11/8)
Hull (7/4) v Leicester (6/5)
Man City (2/7) v Sunderland (7/1)
Middlesbrough (13/10) v Stoke (8/5)
Southampton (4/6) v Watford (10/3)

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