Champion Chelsea will kick off its title defense at home to promoted West Bromwich Albion on Aug. 14, the Premier League announced Thursday. The opening match of the season promises to be a tough return to Stamford Bridge for former Chelsea and Italy midfielder Roberto Di Matteo, now the West Brom manager. In another headline clash on the opening weekend, Newcastle United will mark its return to the top flight with a mouth-watering trip to Old Trafford against runner-up Manchester United. Blackpool's opening Premier League fixture will be at home to Wigan Athletic before trips south to Arsenal and Fulham. It will also play at Manchester United on the final day of its first season in the top flight since 1971. “I was just hoping for a home game really because the whole of the Fylde coast will be coming out with their tangerine shirts on,” Blackpool manager Ian Holloway told Sky Sports television. “I think the club shop's got nothing left in it. It will be nice to kick off with a home game, obviously with Wigan just up the road it will be great for us.” Arsenal, third last season, kicks off its campaign with a tough starter against Liverpool at Anfield while Tottenham Hotspur hosts Manchester City, the side it pipped for the final Champions League qualifying position last term. Pundits William Hill established Chelsea as immediate favorite to retain the title, with Manchester United second and Abu Dhabi owned-Manchester City and Arsenal third. Newcastle's match at Old Trafford is a re-run of the start of the 2008-09 season, at the end of which the Magpies were relegated and United went on to win the title. The two clubs drew 1-1 on that occasion. “It's a very, very difficult first game,” said Newcastle manager Chris Hughton, who has yet to make any major new signings. “We realize that the league that we are in, there are probably going to be three sections of the league and we know what (one) possibly we are going to be in. They are the games we need to get points from.” Avram Grant's first league game as West Ham United manager, after leaving relegated Portsmouth, will be at Aston Villa.
