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.

United’s home game against Tottenham on August 22 will also be shown live on Sky and Alex Ferguson’s men face Andre Villas-Boas’ Chelsea in the standout televised game of September.

October looks a particularly appetising month and starts with a bang with Everton hosting Liverpool on the opening day of the month, the day before Arsenal travel to White Hart Lane for a north London derby clash with Spurs. On October 15, Liverpool host bitter rivals Manchester United on Sky Sports while Chelsea welcome Everton on ESPN.

A week later Manchester United play Man City at Old Trafford on Sky Sports before the month ends with Chelsea hosting Arsenal.

The Blues are on the box again in November, as they welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge.

Premier League games on Sky Sports: Sun Aug 14: Stoke City v Chelsea, 1.30pm; West Brom v Man Utd, 4pm. Mon Aug 15: Man City v Swansea City, 8pm. Sat Aug 20: Arsenal v Liverpool, 12.45pm; Sun Aug 21st: Bolton v Man City, 4pm; Mon Aug 22nd: Man Utd v Tottenham, 8pm. Sat Aug 27: Aston Villa v Wolves, 12:05pm; Liverpool v Bolton Wanderers, 5.30pm. Sun Aug 28: Man Utd v Arsenal, 4pm.

Sun Sept 11: Norwich City vs West Brom, 1.30pm; Fulham vs Blackburn Rovers, 4pm. Mon Sept 12: QPR v Newcastle Utd, 8pm. Sat Sept 17: Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal, 12.45pm. Sun Sept 18: Tottenham v Liverpool, 1.30pm; Man Utd vs Chelsea, 4pm. Sat Sept 24: Man City v Everton, 12.45pm. Sun Sept 25: QPR v Aston Villa, 4pm. Mon Sept 26: Norwich City v Sunderland, 8pm.

Sat Oct 1: Everton v Liverpool, 12.45pm. Sun Oct 2: Bolton v Chelsea 1.30pm; Tottenham v Arsenal, 4pm. Sat Oct 15: Liverpool v Man Utd, 12.45pm. Sun Oct 16: Man City v Aston Villa, 1.30pm; Newcastle Utd vs Tottenham, 4pm. Sat Oct 22: Wolves v Swansea City, 12.45pm. Sun Oct 23: Man Utd v Man City, 1.30pm; QPR v Chelsea, 4pm. Sat Oct 29: Chelsea v Arsenal, 12.45pm. Sun Oct 30: Tottenham v QPR, 4pm. Mon Oct 31: Stoke City v Newcastle Utd, 8pm.

Sat Nov 5: Newcastle Utd v Everton, 12.45pm. Sun Nov 6: Wolves v Wigan, 1.30pm; Fulham v Tottenham, 4pm. Sat Nov 19: Norwich City v Arsenal, 12.45pm. Sun Nov 20: Chelsea v Liverpool, 4pm. Mon Nov 21: Tottenham v Aston Villa, 8pm. Sun Nov 27: Swansea City v Aston Villa, 1.30pm; Liverpool v Man City, 4pm. Mon Nov 28: Stoke City v Blackburn, 8pm.

Premier League games on ESPN: Sat Aug 13: Newcastle Utd v Arsenal, 5.30pm. Sat Aug 20: Chelsea v West Brom, 5.30pm. Sun Aug 28: Tottenham v Man City, 1.30pm.

Sat Sept 10: Bolton v Man Utd, 4.45pm. Sat Sept 24: Stoke City v Man Utd, 5.30pm.

Sat Oct 15: Chelsea v Everton, 5.30pm. Sat Oct 22: Liverpool v Norwich City, 5.30pm. Sat Oct 29: West Brom v Liverpool, 5.30pm.

Sat Nov 19: Swansea City v Man Utd, 5.30pm. Sat Nov 26: Arsenal v Fulham, 5.30pm.