Sky to focus on top three in first weekend of action

LAST season’s top three will figure on the opening weekend of Sky Sports’ first batch of live Premier League fixtures.

Chelsea will face Hull City at Stamford Bridge at 12.45pm on Saturday, August 15, while Manchester United’s game with Birmingham at Old Trafford will be shown at 1.30pm the next day a game that will be followed by coverage of Tottenham’s clash with Liverpool at 4pm.

Sky yesterday confirmed the first 31 of the 92 games they will be broadcasting in the 09/10 season.

Sky confirmed yesterday that every one of the 20 clubs will be seen at least once in the initial set of live matches with all three promoted clubs shown live within the first two months.

Manchester United’s home clash with Arsenal on August 29, Liverpool’s visit to Chelsea on October 4, the Merseysiders’ home game against Manchester United at Anfield on October 25 and Arsenal’s clash with London rivals Chelsea at the Emirates on November 29 are among the stand-out fixtures the station will be broadcasting.

Announcing the initial live matches, Barney Francis, Managing Director of Sky Sports, said: “The initial set of fixtures are as strong as we’ve had since we began coverage of the Premier League. We have 11 major derbies, five head-to-heads between last season’s top four teams and every Barclays Premier League club shown live before the end of November.

“Once again Sky Sports will bring you the biggest live matches throughout the season, all in high definition.’’

Sky Sports’ first 31 Live Premier League fixtures for the 09/10 season.

Saturday, August 15: Chelsea v Hull City, 12.45pm; Sunday, August 16: Manchester United v Birmingham City, 1.30pm; Sunday, August 16: Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool, 4.00pm; Sunday, August 23: Fulham v Chelsea, 4.00pm; Saturday, August 29: Manchester United v Arsenal, 5.15pm; Sunday, August 30: Portsmouth v Manchester City, 1.30pm; Sunday, August 30: Aston Villa v Fulham, 4.00pm; Sunday, September 13: Birmingham City v Aston Villa, 12.00pm; Sunday, September 13: Fulham v Everton, 4.15pm; Saturday, September 19: Burnley v Sunderland, 12.45pm; Sunday, September 20: Manchester United v Manchester City, 1.30pm; Sunday, September 20: Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur, 4.00pm; Saturday, September 26: Portsmouth v Everton, 12.45pm; Sunday, September 27: Sunderland v Wolves, 4.00pm; Sunday, October 4: Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers, 1.30pm; Sunday, October 4: Chelsea v Liverpool, 4.00pm; Saturday, October 17: Aston Villa v Chelsea, 12.45pm; Sunday, October 18: Blackburn Rovers v Burnley, 1.00pm; Sunday, October 18: Wigan Athletic v Manchester City, 4.00pm; Saturday, October 24: Wolves v Aston Villa, 12.45pm; Sunday, October 25: Liverpool v Manchester United, 2.00pm; Sunday, October 25: West Ham United v Arsenal, 4.15pm; Saturday, October 31: Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur, 12.45pm; Sunday, November 1: Birmingham City v Manchester City, 4.00pm; Sunday, November 8: Hull City v Stoke City, 1.30pm; Sunday, November 8: Chelsea v Manchester United, 4.00pm; Saturday, November 21: Liverpool v Manchester City, 12.45pm; Sunday, November 22: Bolton Wanderers v Blackburn, Rovers 1.30pm; Sunday, November 22: Stoke City v Portsmouth, 4.00pm; Sunday, November 29: Everton v Liverpool, 1.30pm; Sunday, November 29: Arsenal v Chelsea, 4.00pm.