Carlo Ancelotti begins his tenure at home against Hull City on August 15th, before a midweek match against Sunderland just days later, with the much simpler journey to Craven Cottage the following weekend (August 22nd).
Our first match against one of the Big Four is Liverpool on October 3rd, the last time we played them on this date at Stamford Bridge was five years ago, we won 1-0 with a Joey Cole goal, the return fixture is May 1st.
We play Man United at home on November 7th, and away on April 3rd, with Arsenal away being November 28th and the home match on February 6th.
The seasons run in sees us play Stoke at home on April 24th, Liverpool away May 1st and we finish the season with Wigan at home on Sunday 9th May.
The African Cup of Nations will likely see Mikel, Drogba, Kalou and Essien miss the matches away to Hull (9th Jan), at home to Sunderland and Birmingham (16th and 27th respectively) and should any of their teams get to the semi final, then away to Burnley on the 30th January, all should be back for the Arsenal match on February 6th.
The full fixtures are as below
Hull City (H) Saturday, 15 August
Sunderland (A) Tuesday, 18 August
Fulham (A) Saturday, 22 August
Burnley (H) Saturday, 29 August
Stoke City (A) Saturday, 12 September
CL Sponsored by Platini Matchday One – Tues/Weds, 15/16 September
Tottenham Hotspur (H) Saturday, 19 September
Wigan Athletic (A) Saturday, 26 September
CL Matchday Two – Tues/Weds, 29/30 September
Liverpool (H) Saturday, 03 October
Aston Villa (A) Saturday, 17 October
CL Matchday Three – Tues/Weds, 20/21 October
Blackburn Rovers (H) Saturday, 24 October
League Cup 4th Round – Tues/Weds, 27/28 October
Bolton Wanderers (A) Saturday, 31 October
CL Matchday Four – Tues/Weds 03/04 November
Manchester United (H) Saturday, 07 November
Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) Saturday, 21 November
CL Matchday Five – Tues/Weds, 24/25 November
Arsenal (A) Saturday, 28 November
League Cup 5th Round – Tues/Weds, 01/02 December
Manchester City (A) Saturday, 05 December
CL Matchday Six – Tues/Weds, 08/09 December
Everton (H) Saturday, 12 December
Portsmouth (H) Wednesday, 16 December
West Ham United (A) Saturday, 19 December
Birmingham City (A) Saturday, 26 December
Fulham (H) Monday, 28 December
F.A Cup Third Round – Sat/Sun, 02/03 January
League Cup Semi Final 1st Leg – Tues/Weds, 05/06 January
Hull City (A) Saturday, 09 January
Sunderland (H) Saturday, 16 January
League Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg – Tues/Weds, 19/20 January
F.A Cup Fourth Round – Sat/Sun, 23/24 January
Birmingham City (H) Wednesday, 27 January
Burnley (A) Saturday, 30 January
Arsenal (H) Saturday, 06 February
Everton (A) Wednesday, 10 February
F.A Cup Fifth Round – Sat/Sun, 13/14 February
CL 2nd Round 1st leg – Tues/Weds, 16/17 February
Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) Saturday, 20 February
Manchester City (H) Saturday, 27 February
League Cup Final – Wembley Stadium – Sunday, 28 February
Portsmouth (A) Saturday, 06 March / F.A Cup Sixth Round
CL 2nd Round 2nd leg – Tues/Weds, 09/10 March
West Ham United (H) Saturday, 13 March
Blackburn Rovers (A) Saturday, 20 March
Aston Villa (H) Saturday, 27 March
CL Quarter Final 1st leg – Tues/Weds, 30/31 March
Manchester United (A) Saturday, 03 April
CL Quarter Final 2nd leg – Tues/Weds, 06/07 April
Bolton Wanderers (H) Saturday, 10 April / F.A Cup Semi Final
Tottenham Hotspur (A) Saturday, 17 April
CL Semi Final 1st leg – Tues/Weds, 20/21 April
Stoke City (H) Saturday, 24 April
CL Semi Final 2nd leg – Tues/Weds, 27/28 April
Liverpool (A) Saturday, 01 May
Wigan Athletic (H) Sunday, 09 May
F.A Cup Final – Wembley Stadium – Saturday, 15 May
CL Final Sponsored by Platini – Santiago Bernabeu – Saturday, 22 May
Note: In the best interests of all true football fans, Sky Sports reserve the right to change the dates of any of the above matches, even at very short notice, sometimes from a weekend to midweek. This is done with the utmost consideration given for those attending the matches.