Sky to screen four live games on opening weekend

BSkyB will launch their new £1bn (€1.49bn) three-year Premier League television deal with an unprecedented four live matches on the opening weekend of the season.

Champions Arsenal form part of a Sunday double-header with their trip to Everton on August 15 being followed by the mouth-watering clash between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

The previous day, the north-east derby between Middlesbrough and Newcastle will also be screened, with the entire 2004-05 campaign being launched at lunchtime when new-boys Jacques Santini and Raphael Benitez begin their Premiership careers as Tottenham entertain Liverpool at White Hart Lane.

With the European Commission still unhappy at Sky’s dominance of the Premier League TV contracts, the new deal is likely to represent the last time the satellite channel retains exclusivity over England’s top division.

This season, Sky will screen 88 live matches, plus a further 50 on it’s ‘Premiership Plus’ pay-per-view channel.

Of the 71 matches earmarked for live coverage today, Manchester United’s home encounters with Liverpool and Arsenal stand out, as do Chelsea’s home game with Liverpool, Arsenal’s trip to Anfield, plus the visits of Arsene Wenger’s side to Newcastle and Chelsea.

The first Merseyside, Manchester and North London derbies of the season will also be shown, while the three top flight newcomers – Norwich, West Brom and Crystal Palace – will all feature before the end of August, against Newcastle, Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively.

Live matches to be shown before the end of August, plus selected others:

Sat, Aug 14 – Tottenham v Liverpool (12.45)

Sat, Aug 14 – Middlesbrough v Newcastle (17.15)

Sun, Aug 15 – Everton v Arsenal (14.00)

Sun, Aug 15 – Chelsea v Manchester United (16.05)

Sat, Aug 21 – Southampton v Blackburn (12.45)

Sun, Aug 22 – West Brom v Aston Villa (13.00)

Sun, Aug 22 – Arsenal v Middlesbrough (16.05)

Tue, Aug 24 – Crystal Palace v Chelsea (20.00)

Wed, Aug 25 – Newcastle v Norwich (20.00)

Sat, Aug 28 – Blackburn v Manchester United (12.45)

Sat, Aug 28 – Norwich v Arsenal (17.15)

Sun, Aug 29 – Bolton v Liverpool (16.05)

Mon, Aug 30 – Portsmouth v Fulham (20.00)

Mon, Sep 20 – Manchester United v Liverpool (20.00)

Sun, Oct 03 – Chelsea v Liverpool (16.05)

Sun, Oct 24 – Manchester United v Arsenal (16.05)

Sat, Nov 06 – Crystal Palace v Arsenal (17.15)

Sun, Nov 07 – Manchester United v Manchester City (16.05)

Sat, Nov 13 – Tottenham v Arsenal (12.00)

Sun, Nov 14 – Newcastle v Manchester United (16.05)

Sun, Nov 28 – Liverpool v Arsenal (16.05)

Sat, Dec 04 – Chelsea v Newcastle (12.45)

Sat, Dec 11 – Everton v Liverpool (12.45)

Sun, Dec 12 – Aston Villa v Birmingham (13.00)

Sun, Dec 12 – Arsenal v Chelsea (16.05)

Sat, Dec 18 – Liverpool v Newcastle (12.45)

Wed, Dec 29 – Newcastle v Arsenal (20.00)