The opening day of a Premier League season marks the end of a restless summer for football fans up and down the country, especially in years without a major international tournament.
This year will be no different, and as ever there are a number of interesting clashes to begin the campaign.
The teams that finished fourth and fifth in the top flight last year will meet on match-day one, with Everton hosting Arsenal. The Gunners have the best record in The Premier League on the opening day of the season, having claimed 36 points from 17 matches.
| Premier League opening day of the season, |
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| Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
For |
Against |
Goal Diff |
Points |
| 1 |
Arsenal |
17 |
11 |
3 |
3 |
31 |
16 |
15 |
36 |
| 2 |
Liverpool |
17 |
10 |
5 |
2 |
27 |
14 |
13 |
35 |
| 3 |
Manchester United |
17 |
10 |
4 |
3 |
32 |
13 |
19 |
34 |
| 4 |
Chelsea |
17 |
10 |
4 |
3 |
33 |
16 |
17 |
34 |
| 5 |
Newcastle United |
16 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
23 |
18 |
5 |
23 |
| 6 |
Blackburn Rovers |
15 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
21 |
20 |
1 |
23 |
| 7 |
Leeds United |
12 |
5 |
7 |
0 |
18 |
9 |
9 |
22 |
| 8 |
Aston Villa |
17 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
23 |
18 |
5 |
22 |
| 9 |
Everton |
17 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
21 |
24 |
-3 |
21 |
| 10 |
Tottenham Hotspur |
17 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
18 |
20 |
-2 |
20 |
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But of these 17 matches, 13 were at home including the last four, though Arsene Wenger will still be confident come August 15 as the last opening day away trip, back in 2004, ended as a 4-1 win away to Everton.
Nevertheless, Everton have won two of their last four games against The Gunners at Goodison Park, and were only denied a third last year when Robin van Persie netted a stunning last minute leveler.