[Mark]

Champions to start against Newcastle


Champions Manchester United will begin their Premier League title defence at home to Newcastle on August 16.

Originally Posted by EUROSPORT.YAHOO.COM

Sir Alex Ferguson's side, who pipped Chelsea to the title last season, close the campaign with a trip to newly promoted Hull City on 24th May.

United face top four sides Liverpool and Chelsea away on successive weekends, September 13 and September 20, before also visiting Arsenal on November 8.

The Red Devils are at home to Chelsea on January 10, play host to Liverpool on March 14 and Arsenal visit Old Trafford on May 16, on the penultimate weekend of the season.

New Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari starts with a home game as the Premier League runners-up entertain FA Cup winners Portsmouth.

Chelsea then face Liverpool at home on October 25 and Arsenal at home on November 29.

The Blues visit Liverpool on January 31, Arsenal on May 9 and are away to Sunderland on the final day of the season.

Of the top sides, Arsenal look to have the more straightforward opening and closing day fixtures as they entertain West Brom on August 16 and are at home to fellow promoted side Stoke on May 24.

Arsenal's fixtures against fellow top four side Liverpool are at home on December 20 and away on April 18.

Liverpool begin their campaign away to Sunderland and face a final day home game with Tottenham.

Championship winners West Brom face a tough start at Arsenal and are away to Blackburn on the final day of the season.

Albion fans will be looking forward to trips to Manchester United on October 18, Liverpool on November 8 and Chelsea on Boxing Day.

The Baggies are at home to Chelsea on November 15, Manchester United visit The Hawthorns on January 27, Arsenal visit on March 3 and Liverpool on May 16.

Stoke begin their season with an away fixture against Bolton and finish up with a final day trip to Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal.

Hull fans can look forward to a home match with Fulham on August 16 and a final day meeting with Manchester United.

FULL FIXTURES LIST - 2008 / 2009 SEASON



July 2008

12 Jul Pre-season Aberdeen A 15:00

19 Jul Pre-season Kaizer Chiefs N 15:30

22 Jul Pre-season Orlando Pirates N 20:10

26 Jul Pre-season Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates N 15:30

27 Jul Pre-season Portsmouth kick-off TBC N 00:00





August 2008

02 Aug Pre-season RCD Espanyol H 15:00

04 Aug Pre-season Peterborough A 19:45

06 Aug Pre-season Juventus H 20:00

10 Aug Community Shield Portsmouth N 15:00

16 Aug Barclays Premier League Newcastle H 15:00

23 Aug Barclays Premier League Portsmouth A 15:00

29 Aug UEFA Super Cup Zenit St Petersburg N 19:45

30 Aug Barclays Premier League Fulham H 15:00





September 2008

13 Sep Barclays Premier League Liverpool A 15:00

20 Sep Barclays Premier League Chelsea A 15:00

27 Sep Barclays Premier League Bolton H 15:00





October 2008

04 Oct Barclays Premier League Blackburn A 15:00

18 Oct Barclays Premier League West Brom H 15:00

25 Oct Barclays Premier League Everton A 15:00

28 Oct Barclays Premier League West Ham H 20:00





November 2008

01 Nov Barclays Premier League Hull City H 15:00

08 Nov Barclays Premier League Arsenal A 15:00

15 Nov Barclays Premier League Stoke City H 15:00

22 Nov Barclays Premier League Aston Villa A 15:00

29 Nov Barclays Premier League Man City A 15:00





December 2008

06 Dec Barclays Premier League Sunderland H 15:00

13 Dec Barclays Premier League Tottenham A 15:00

20 Dec Barclays Premier League Wigan H 15:00

26 Dec Barclays Premier League Stoke City A 15:00

28 Dec Barclays Premier League Middlsbro H 15:00





January 2009

10 Jan Barclays Premier League Chelsea H 15:00

17 Jan Barclays Premier League Bolton A 15:00

27 Jan Barclays Premier League West Brom A 19:45

31 Jan Barclays Premier League Everton H 15:00





February 2009

07 Feb Barclays Premier League West Ham A 15:00

21 Feb Barclays Premier League Blackburn H 15:00

28 Feb Barclays Premier League Portsmouth H 15:00





March 2009

04 Mar Barclays Premier League Newcastle A 19:45

14 Mar Barclays Premier League Liverpool H 15:00

21 Mar Barclays Premier League Fulham A 15:00





April 2009

04 Apr Barclays Premier League Aston Villa H 15:00

11 Apr Barclays Premier League Sunderland A 15:00

18 Apr Barclays Premier League Wigan A 15:00

25 Apr Barclays Premier League Tottenham H 15:00





May 2009

02 May Barclays Premier League Middlsbro A 15:00

09 May Barclays Premier League Man City H 15:00

16 May Barclays Premier League Arsenal H 15:00

24 May Barclays Premier League Hull City A 15:00

Source




Though start with Newcastle home and again Pompey away from home.


I must say that once again we'll have a very tought season end.


Good thing that we'll play Lpool, Chelsea and Arsenal home into the 2nd part of the season.


Any other toughts ?

[funkdoctorspock]

I'm actually pretty happy with this fixture list. The lead into the season isn't too bad and the ending fixtures are way better than the last 2 seasons.

My only concern would be when the World Cup Championships take place in December. There will be a few fixture bumps/rearragements which could be an issue thereafter.

Also, the friendly fixture against Pompey in Nigeria hasn't been listed. I would guess the match would be between July 12th - 19th.

EDIT: wait a sec. I think I was giddy over the ending fixtures, and not paying attention to the opening 6 fixtures. WTF. United will definitely have it tough, but looking back to last year, the fixtures to start were definitely easier, yet United pissed away a ton of points. I personally do not feel United will have the start they did like last season.

[RobsonLegend]

Not exactly a "full" fixture list, right?

It'll be a tough start, but I really like that some of those "banana skin" away fixtures against certain teams in the league (non "Big 4") will be done with by Christmas (e.g. Portsmouth, Blackburn, Villa). I actually don't mind the tough start, since that's when the players will be in prime condition, and there's enough time from the start of the season before we take on Liverpool and Chelsea in September that early-season kinks should be worked out.

[Dew]

We have a tough start to the season and I wouldn't exactly call the closing fixtures easy either. Hopefully we can get off to a flying start instead of having to chase our rivals. We have Chelsea and L'pool away back-to-back in September. It's vital we come back with six points from those fixtures. This time we will have even more of those so-called banana skins waiting for us because teams will be trying even harder to prevent us from winning. So our season is going to heavily depend on how many points we can gain from and deprive of our main title contenders.

[dpak3000]

Our matchup in the Carling Cup this year came out today..thought this would be the correct place to post. If not, my badd. please let me know so I can move it.

Date Set For Boro Carling Cup Tie

United will host Middlesbrough at Old Trafford in the Third Round of the Carling Cup.

The tie has been confirmed for Tuesday 23 September, kick-off 20:00 BST.

The clubs have met six times before in the League Cup, with United triumphing three times and two matches ending in draws. Boro's sole win arrived at Old Trafford in October 1973.

The last time the sides met in the competition was at the semi-final stage in 1992. The teams played out a 0-0 draw at Ayresome Park before United won the second leg 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Elsewhere, Portsmouth will host Chelsea, Crewe Alexandra face a trip to Liverpool and Swansea meet Cardiff in an all-Welsh tie.

Manchester United Official Web Site - NEWS AND FEATURES - Football News: Date set for Boro cup tie