The Reds will face Marco Silva’s Cottagers under the Old Trafford lights, and in front of the Sky Sports camera, on Friday 16 August. The encounter will kick off at 20:00 BST.

As the TV selections for the inaugural round of games were made public upon the schedule’s release this morning, the rest of the top flight’s Matchweek One calendar has also been confirmed. 

After United’s Friday-night opener at the Theatre of Dreams, attentions will turn to Saturday’s slate of six matches, which begins with an intriguing encounter involving newly promoted Ipswich Town.

The Tractor Boys – managed by former United coach Kieran McKenna – will start their first Premier League campaign since 2001/02 by hosting Liverpool at Portman Road in the early kick-off, at 12:30 BST.

That game in East Anglia will also be Arne Slot’s competitive debut as the Merseysiders’ head coach, having taken over the Anfield reins from Jurgen Klopp during this summer break.

Four fixtures follow in the traditional Saturday 15:00 BST afternoon slot, with last season’s runners-up Arsenal beginning their campaign at home to Wolves, while the Premier League's youngest-ever permanent manager, 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler, will take his new Brighton team to Goodison Park to face Everton.

At the same time, Championship play-off winners Southampton return to the top flight with a visit to Newcastle United, while Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth will go head-to-head at the City Ground.

At 17:30 BST, the Julen Lopetegui era at West Ham will begin at home to Aston Villa, who have UEFA Champions League football to look forward to from September, following a fourth-place finish in 2023/24.

There are two further matches on Sunday, both to be played in the capital. The first is a derby at the Gtech Community Stadium between Brentford and Crystal Palace, which is due to get under way at 14:00 BST.

Following that is a blockbuster billing at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea and Manchester City clashing at 16:30 BST. The contest in SW6 will see Enzo Maresca face his former employers, and the reigning champions, for his first game in charge of the London-based Blues.

Having departed from Pep Guardiola's staff last summer, Maresca guided Leicester City to the second-tier title over the course of the most recent campaign. The Foxes, who are still to appoint his successor, begin life back in the top flight on the following day by hosting Tottenham Hotspur.

That match at the King Power Stadium, which completes the opening weekend as the league's first Monday-night offering in 2024/25, kicks off at 20:00 BST.

PREMIER LEAGUE OPENING WEEKEND 2024/25

FRIDAY 16 AUGUST

UNITED v Fulham (20:00 BST)*

SATURDAY 17 AUGUST

Ipswich v Liverpool (12:30 BST)**
Arsenal v Wolves
Everton v Brighton
Newcastle v Southampton 
Nott'm Forest v Bournemouth 
West Ham v Aston Villa (17:30 BST)*

SUNDAY 18 AUGUST 

Brentford v Crystal Palace (14:00 BST)*
Chelsea v Man City (16:30 BST)*

MONDAY 19 AUGUST

Leicester v Spurs (20:00 BST)*

*Live on Sky Sports in the UK.
**Live on TNT Sports in the UK.

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