BBC SPORT | Football | Eng Prem | West Brom face tough start

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Premiership newcomers West Brom face the toughest of starts to their first top-flight campaign in 16 years.

Gary Megson's side will open the season on Saturday, 17 August with a difficult trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

Scots Prem opening day fixtures

The Baggies will then entertain Leeds at The Hawthorns a week later before travelling to Highbury to play Double winners Arsenal.

West Brom are not the only newcomers handed a tough start in the fixture list published on Thursday.

Division One opening fixtures

Birmingham visit Arsenal on opening day and then entertain Leeds at St Andrew's on 31 August, while runaway Division One champions Manchester City launch their campaign at Leeds.

West Ham manager Glenn Roeder
Hammers boss Glenn Roeder takes his men to Newcastle

Last season's runners-up Liverpool travel to Aston Villa, while fourth-placed Newcastle welcome West Ham to St James' Park hoping for a repeat of their final home game in the last campaign in which they beat Glenn Roeder's side 3-1.

Blackburn and Sunderland meet at Ewood Park, while Bolton head for Fulham and Middlesbrough travel to Southampton.

Division Two opening fixtures

London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham are also away, Claudio Ranieri's men making the short journey to Charlton and Spurs heading to Everton.

But the men from Stamford Bridge do not have to wait too long for their first big home game as Manchester United head south the following weekend.

Boro boss Steve McClaren and his players will get a chance to repeat last season's shock 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Wednesday, 28 August.

The following Saturday throws up appetising clashes between Chelsea and Arsenal, and Liverpool and Newcastle.

Division Three opening fixtures

But the date Manchester City fans will be scribbling in their diaries is Saturday, 7 November when arch-rivals United head into blue territory with local pride at stake.

That will also figure large in the Old Trafford calendar, but perhaps their most eagerly anticipated fixture will come on 7 December when they entertain Arsenal.

17 August opening day fixtures

Arsenal v Birmingham City
Aston Villa v Liverpool
Blackburn v Sunderland
Bolton v Fulham
Charlton v Chelsea
Everton v Tottenham
Leeds v Manchester City
Manchester United v West Brom
Newcastle v West Ham
Southampton v Middlesbrough

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