EPL 2016-17 fixtures – Premier League schedule change for August and September
The EPL broadcast selections for the months August and September have been released with the defending champions Leicester City travelling to the KC Stadium to take on promoted team Hull City on Saturday lunchtime on 13 August to kick off the new Premier League season. Pep Guardiola will be managing Manchester City for the first time in the Premier League when his new team host Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium on the same day evening. The Catalan Coach will be aiming to create his own aura in England after his successful spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
The first Sunday of the new season will see Jose Mourinho embarking his Manchester United journey in the Premier League era when the Red Devils summon newly promoted AFC Bournemouth away at Dean Court in an afternoon kick-off. Later in the evening, the fans can witness the first blockbuster clash of the season when Arsenal host Liverpool. Both Arsene Wenger and Jurgen Klopp will be out to draw first blood in the race for at least a top-four position.
Monday night football is back this season with the introduction of Antonio Conte in the Chelsea dugout. The Italian master tactician will be aiming to put the demons of last season of his new club away with a victory over Slaven Bilic’s West Ham United on 15 August.
The second match week will introduce the first Friday night match of the season when Manchester United host Southampton at Old Trafford on 19 August. Liverpool were originally scheduled to host Burnley on 20 August, but due to the redevelopment of the Anfield Main Stand, the match is scheduled to take place at Turf Moor on the same day, with the Anfield fixture moved to the second half of the season. August 20 will also see the top two of last season, Leicester City and Arsenal, locking horns at the King Power Stadium with Claudio Ranieri’s men set to make an early reminder that last season was no fluke.
The eagerly awaited Manchester derby will take place at lunch time on 10 September at Old Trafford. Guardiola and Mourinho will renew their rivalry in the Premier League and lots of off-field gestures are anticipated in this match, with both teams hoping to lift the Premier League trophy in May.
Liverpool host Leicester City later that day with the match tipped to be a hotly contested affair with both teams having faced contrasting fortunes the last season. The Foxes will round off their September schedule when they travel to Manchester United on 24 September. Arsene Wenger will face Antonio Conte when their teams meet at the Emirates Stadium on 24 September evening in a mouth-watering clash.
Premier League matches are usually changed for live broadcast selections and to accommodate European fixtures. The changes for August and September are to coordinate the broadcast between the league’s UK partners BT Sports and Sky Sports.
EPL 2016-17 fixture amendments (all times stated in IST)
Saturday 13 August
5.00 pm Hull City v Leicester City
10.00 pm Manchester City v Sunderland
Sunday 14 August
6.00 pm AFC Bournemouth v Manchester United
8.30 pm Arsenal v Liverpool
Tuesday 16 August
12.30 am Chelsea v West Ham United
Saturday 20 August
12.30 am Manchester United v Southampton
5.00 pm Stoke City v Manchester City
7.30 pm Burnley v Liverpool
10.00 pm Leicester City v Arsenal
Sunday 21 August
6.00 pm Sunderland v Middlesbrough
8.30 pm West Ham United v AFC Bournemouth
Saturday 27 August
5.00 pm Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool
10.00 pm Hull City v Manchester United
Sunday 28 August
6.00 pm West Bromwich Albion v Middlesbrough
8.30 pm Manchester City v West Ham United
Saturday 10 September
5.00 pm Manchester United v Manchester City
10.00 pm Liverpool v Leicester City
Sunday 11 September
8.30 pm Swansea City v Chelsea
Tuesday 13 September
12.30 am Sunderland v Everton
Saturday 17 September
12.30 am Chelsea v Liverpool
10.00 pm Everton v Middlesbrough
Sunday 18 September
4.30 pm Watford v Manchester United
6.45 pm Crystal Palace v Stoke City
6.45 pm Southampton v Swansea City
9.00 pm Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland
Saturday 24 September
5.00 pm Manchester United v Leicester City
10.00 pm Arsenal v Chelsea
Sunday 25 September
8.30 pm West Ham United v Southampton
Tuesday 27 September
12.30 am Burnley v Watford