Fans of Premiership teams all over the world now know who their team will face on the opening game next season, as the Premier League have released the provisional fixture list. The fixtures are subject to change for Television, the sides involved in the UEFA Cup will no doubt play a lot of their games on Sundays.

Championship champions open their Premiership campaign against Tottenham Hotspur and they will hope their new defence will be able to stop Spurs potent strike force and keep Berbatov quiet, provided he starts the season in a white anniversary shirt.

Champions Manchester United will play Reading at Old Trafford while the runners up from the Premiership Chelsea are due to face runners up from the Coca-Cola Championship Birmingham City.

There will also be a battle between American investors sides, when Aston Villa owned by Randy Lerner play Liverpool who are now owned Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Play-off winners Derby County will play Portsmouth, while Boro play Blackburn Rovers. West Ham United should play Manchester City on the first day of the season, although that depends on the outcome of legal action by Sheffield United.

Lancashire rivals Everton will play Wigan, now under the guidance of their new manager following Paul Jewell’s departure. There is also a London Derby between Arsenal and Fulham. Sam Allardyce and his Newcastle United side will take on his old club Bolton on the first day of the season. There are a few possible slippery skins on the first day that could cause an upset and derail somebodies season from the outset.