Defending Premier League champions Manchester City will begin their title defence at home to Southampton on August 18.
The Saints will be back in the top flight for the first time since 2005 and have the most difficult test possible on the opening weekend of the 2012/13 season.
Manchester United’s attempt at a 20th league championship will begin with a testing trip to Goodison Park to face Everton.
Two of last season’s top five will collide at St. James Park where Newcastle United will entertain Tottenham.
Fellow Premier League returnees Reading and West Ham United both start with home matches. The Royals will face Stoke City and Paul Lambert’s first assignment as Aston Villa manager is a trip to Upton Park to play the Hammers.
Champions League winners Chelsea travel to Wigan, Arsenal welcome Sunderland to the Emirates and Steve Clarke’s first match as head coach at West Brom will be a home encounter against the club he just left as assistant manager, Liverpool.
Completing the opening set of games sees Fulham go up against Norwich City and QPR host Swansea City.
Crunch clashes
The first Manchester derby of the season isn’t until December 8, where the Etihad Stadium will play host to City v United. The return fixture at Old Trafford is scheduled for April 6.
Liverpool’s home form will be put to the test early on, as Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United will be the first three visitors to Anfield.
City travel to Merseyside on August 25, the Gunners on September 1 and United turn up on September 22.
Regular challengers Chelsea’s first match against a top six side will be the on the second weekend, when Newcastle visit Stamford Bridge.
They visit Arsenal on September 29 and host Arsene Wenger’s side on January 19. The Blues also welcome both Manchester clubs and Liverpool to West London before Christmas.
Manchester United’s first meeting with Arsenal takes place on November 3, with the North Londoners hoping that their 8-2 annihilation last season won’t be reminded too much in the build-up. The return between these two heavyweights at the Emirates isn’t until April 27.
The 20 teams will have to be ready for a testing schedule over the festive period, which sees each side play four games in 11 gruelling days. The season ends on Sunday, May 19, 2013.
Derby deciders
The first North London derby grudge match between Arsenal and Tottenham takes place at the Emirates on November 17, with the reverse fixture pencilled in for March 2.
Sunderland will be desperate to settle some old scores with Newcastle but will have to wait until October 20 for their chance at the Stadium of Light. The Magpies host their North East rivals on April 13.
Having finished behind Everton in the Premier League for only the second time in 20 years, Liverpool will want to continue their excellent recent head-to-head at least against the Toffees. First match is at Goodison Park on October 27, the same day when Chelsea play Manchester United. The Anfield showpiece isn’t until May 4.
Under their new manager Paul Lambert, Aston Villa fans will be looking to regain supremacy against bitterest Midlands’s rivals this season in the shape of West Brom. They clash at Villa Park on September 29 and at the Hawthorns on January 19.
Although the closest West London battle is between Chelsea and Fulham, the Chelsea v QPR encounters entered the headlines for the wrong reasons last season. They meet at Loftus Road on September 15 and New Years Day at Stamford Bridge.
On the final day, Manchester City host Norwich City, Manchester United travel to West Brom, Arsenal visit Newcastle United and Chelsea welcome Everton.
All fixtures are subject to potential movement through involvement in European competition and transport preferences. The UK televised holders, Sky Sports and ESPN will announce their first set of live televised fixtures in approximately three weeks time.
OPENING DAY FIXTURES – AUGUST 18, 2012
Arsenal v Sunderland
Everton v Manchester United
Fulham v Norwich City
Manchester City v Southampton
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
QPR v Swansea City
Reading v Stoke City
West Brom v Liverpool
West Ham United v Aston Villa
Wigan Athletic v Chelsea
BOXING DAY FIXTURES – DECEMBER 26, 2012
Arsenal v West Ham United
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur
Everton v Wigan Athletic
Fulham v Southampton
Manchester United v Newcastle United
Norwich City v Chelsea
QPR v West Brom
Reading v Swansea City
Stoke City v Liverpool
Sunderland v Manchester City
FINAL DAY FIXTURES – MAY 19, 2013
Chelsea v Everton
Liverpool v QPR
Manchester City v Norwich City
Newcastle United v Arsenal
Southampton v Stoke City
Swansea City v Fulham
Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland
West Brom v Manchester United
West Ham United v Reading
Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa
The full list of fixtures for the 2012/13 Barclays Premier League are available HERE
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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