Big guns meet on opening Premiership day

Chelsea’s title credentials under new manager Jose Mourinho will be given an early test when they host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on the opening day of the new Barclays Premiership season.

It is not the gentle loosener Mourinho will have hoped for on August 14 as he looks to adjust to life in England after arriving from European champions Porto.

Alex Ferguson’s men lost 1-0 to the Blues in the corresponding fixture last season thanks to a penalty from Frank Lampard.

Chelsea also finish the season with a tough-looking fixture – away to Bobby Robson’s Newcastle.

Champions Arsenal open the defence of their title with a trip to Everton, in what is likely to be a high-profile match if England hero Wayne Rooney is featuring for the Toffees.

It is a repeat of the fixture where Rooney announced his arrival on the big stage with his first top-flight goal, back in October 2002.