Premier League fixtures for the 2008-09 season

The England players luxuriating in their unexpected free summer should make the most of it. The Premier League fixture list for next season, published yesterday, reveals the campaign to be the longest in modern times, starting in mid-August and concluding so late in May that the FA will just about squeeze in the Cup final before June.

A combination of factors, including international fixtures and the way Bank Holidays fall - allowing for one less Christmas fixture, for instance, than last season - mean that the season runs until 24 May. Sir Alex Ferguson, already struggling to hold onto Cristiano Ronaldo, was dealt further discomfort when the fixtures revealed one of the toughest starts possible for the defending champions.

After the relative pleasure of Newcastle United at home on the opening Saturday (United put 11 past them in the space of six weeks last winter) Ferguson's side have the difficult trip to Portsmouth, who put them out of last season's FA Cup, and then face journeys to Liverpool and Chelsea in the space of eight days. United will also open the defence of their Champions League trophy between those two matches before a testing first encounter with Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge on 20 September. A visit to Arsenal also beckons on 8 November.

Kevin Keegan will have to deal with trips to Old Trafford and the Emirates before August is out. "If there is a good time to play Manchester United at Old Trafford, it is the start of the season," said Keegan's assistant Terry McDermott. "Let's hope Ronaldo is not with them come August."

Arsenal, more than most, must keep something in the tank for that late May finish. Arsne Wenger's side face the arrival of Scolari's Chelsea and a trip to Old Trafford next May, before rounding matters up at Stoke.

Both Stoke and Hull City have avoided the toughest of league starts: the Potters travel to Bolton while Phil Brown's side entertain Fulham. It is left to West Brom, promoted three times in six years but never able to stay more than two seasons in the top flight, to make the trip to the Emirates.

Scolari's first taste of Premier League football brings him up against Harry Redknapp at Stamford Bridge while Mark Hughes begins his Manchester City career at Villa Park.

Relegated Reading have been handed a tricky trip to newly- promoted Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the Championship season, while Birmingham - also relegated from the top flight last season - begin their campaign against Sheffield United.

If Paul Ince has not left MK Dons for Blackburn, he will encounter the team whose approach for him has been rejected: Leicester, in the third tier for the first time in their history. Beaten play-off finalists Leeds begin at relegated Scunthorpe. Conference champions Aldershot face a trip to Accrington Stanley, while Exeter - who won the play-off final at Wembley - face Darlington.

ARSENAL

AUGUST

16 Sat WBA H

23 Sat Fulham A

30 Sat Newcastle H

SEPTEMBER

13 Sat Blackburn A

20 Sat Bolton A

27 Sat Hull H

OCTOBER

4 Sat Sunderland A

18 Sat Everton H

25 Sat West Ham A

28 Tue Tottenham H

NOVEMBER

1 Sat Stoke A

8 Sat Man Utd H

15 Sat Aston Villa H

22 Sat Man City A

29 Sat Chelsea A

DECEMBER

6 Sat Wigan H

13 Sat Middlesbro' A

20 Sat Liverpool H

26 Fri Aston Villa A

28 Sun Portsmouth H

JANUARY

10 Sat Bolton H

17 Sat Hull A

28 Wed Everton A

31 Sat West Ham H

FEBRUARY

7 Sat Tottenham A

21 Sat Sunderland H

28 Sat Fulham H

MARCH

3 Tue WBA A

14 Sat Blackburn H

21 Sat Newcastle A

APRIL

4 Sat Man City H

11 Sat Wigan A

18 Sat Liverpool A

25 Sat Middlesbro' H

MAY

2 Sat Portsmouth A

9 Sat Chelsea H

16 Sat Man Utd A

24 Sun Stoke H

ASTON VILLA

AUGUST

16 Sat Man City H

23 Sat Stoke A

30 Sat Liverpool H

SEPTEMBER

13 Sat Tottenham A

20 Sat WBA A

27 Sat Sunderland H

OCTOBER

4 Sat Chelsea A

18 Sat Portsmouth H

25 Sat Wigan A

29 Wed Blackburn H

NOVEMBER

1 Sat Newcastle A

8 Sat Middlesbro' H

15 Sat Arsenal A

22 Sat Man Utd H

29 Sat Fulham H

DECEMBER

6 Sat Everton A

13 Sat Bolton H

20 Sat West Ham A

26 Fri Arsenal H

28 Sun Hull A

JANUARY

10 Sat WBA H

17 Sat Sunderland A

27 Tue Portsmouth A

31 Sat Wigan H

FEBRUARY

7 Sat Blackburn A

21 Sat Chelsea H

28 Sat Stoke H

MARCH

4 Wed Man City A

14 Sat Tottenham H

21 Sat Liverpool A

APRIL

4 Sat Man Utd A

11 Sat Everton H

18 Sat West Ham H

25 Sat Bolton A

MAY

2 Sat Hull H

9 Sat Fulham A

16 Sat Middlesbro' A

24 Sun Newcastle H

BLACKBURN

AUGUST

16 Sat Everton A

23 Sat Hull H

30 Sat West Ham A

SEPTEMBER

13 Sat Arsenal H

20 Sat Fulham H

27 Sat Newcastle A

OCTOBER

4 Sat Man Utd H

18 Sat Bolton A

25 Sat Middlesbro' H

29 Wed Aston Villa A

NOVEMBER

1 Sat WBA A

8 Sat Chelsea H

15 Sat Sunderland H

22 Sat Tottenham A

29 Sat Portsmouth A

DECEMBER

6 Sat Liverpool H

13 Sat Wigan A

20 Sat Stoke H

26 Fri Sunderland A