The fixture list for the 2011-12 Premier League season has been announced, with Manchester United’s title defence starting with a trip to the Hawthorns on Saturday, August 13th.
The reigning champions and 7/2 favourites for this season’s title will play West Brom on the opening day before taking on Tottenham and Arsenal in successive home games.
Brief respite comes in the form of Bolton away before Chelsea visit Old Trafford on September 17th.
Looking further ahead, October is likely to be a key month for the Red Devils – after playing Norwich at home, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side will face Liverpool away and Manchester City at home before travelling back to Merseyside to take on David Moyes’ Everton.
Should they successfully negotiate this tricky period, United will be well on the way to claiming their 20th top flight title.
A successful £25 free bet on Man Utd to win the league, available to new customers who sign up for a bwin account, would return £68.75.
Two of United’s three main challengers are also away from home on the opening weekend of the season.
Chelsea, second-favourites for the title with bwin at 5/2, travel to the Britannia to take on Stoke and Arsenal, fourth-favourites at 6/1, are off to the north-east for an encounter with Newcastle.
Meanwhile, 7/2 third favourites Manchester City will entertain last year’s Championship play-off winners Swansea at the City of Manchester Stadium.
The Swans certainly have the toughest assignments of the three promoted teams, with Norwich playing Wigan at the DW Stadium and QPR at home to Bolton.
The remaining fixtures on the opening weekend will see Blackburn take on Wolves in the reverse of the two clubs’ final match last season; Fulham host Aston Villa; Liverpool entertain Sunderland; and Tottenham play Everton.
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