Premier League champions Leicester City will open the 2016-17 season while Manchester United will contest the campaign’s first Friday night fixture, it was announced on Thursday as the first wave of televised fixtures was released.
Claudio Ranieri’s Foxes, who surprised all by winning the 2015-16 title, face newly promoted Hull at 12.30 p.m. local time on Aug. 13 in the first match, which has been rescheduled for domestic broadcast.
Meanwhile Mourinho’s Manchester United host Southampton on Aug. 19 at 8 p.m., in the first regular Friday night fixture.
The Portuguese has long argued for the Premier League to make allowances for clubs in European competition, with Friday night football a possible answer.
However, United will be in European action on Thursday nights this season in the Europa League, so Mourinho’s Friday appearances may be rare.
The second Friday fixture sees Antonio Conte’s Chelsea host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sept. 16 at 8 p.m.
United are also in televised action on the first weekend of the season, at Bournemouth on Sunday, Aug. 14, at 1:30 p.m.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will already have played by then, at home to Sunderland on Aug. 13 at 5.30 p.m.
Arsenal vs. Liverpool at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14 and Chelsea vs. West Ham at 8 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 15 complete the first round of televised matches, which will be shared in the UK between Sky Sports and BT Sport.
The first clash between Mourinho’s United and Guardiola’s City will be televised by Sky Sports at 12.30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10.
The 12:30 p.m. time slot is the new regular time for Saturday lunchtime fixtures and United play Leicester in that slot on Sept. 24.
An alteration for the second weekend of the season sees Burnley host Liverpool after the two clubs reversed the fixtures. This will take place at 3 p.m., but is not to be televised.
Liverpool are now scheduled to host Burnley on March 12, 2017.
-espnfc