Top Four to begin campaigns live on TV

THE opening games of last year’s Premier League top four will be televised after the first batch of fixtures to be broadcast in the 2011/12 campaign was revealed yesterday.

The season begins on August 13 when ESPN will broadcast Arsenal’s trip to Newcastle. Twenty-four hours later Sky Sports hosts a double-header, with last season’s runners-up Chelsea travelling to Stoke City, before Manchester United launch the defence of their title at West Brom. The following night Manchester City take on newly promoted Swansea at Eastlands.

A week later, Sky Sports will televise Liverpool’s visit to the Emirates to face Arsenal, while Arsene Wenger’s side also feature in the first big four game of the season when they travel to Old Trafford to face Man United.