Liverpool opens EPL title defense against promoted Leeds

The fixtures for the new season were released on Thursday, with Manchester City and Manchester United not playing on the opening weekend to give them more rest after their involvement in European competition this month.

Leeds’ first game in the Premier League in 16 years couldn’t be tougher: a trip to champion Liverpool.

Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson, center, celebrates with teammates following the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool. (AP)

The fixtures for the new season were released on Thursday, with Manchester City and Manchester United not playing on the opening weekend to give them more rest after their involvement in European competition this month.

Liverpool can, therefore, get a head-start on two of its biggest rivals and will open its first title defense since 1990 with a match against promoted Leeds on Sept. 12 followed by games against Chelsea away and Arsenal at home.

The trip to Anfield for Leeds will be Argentine coaching great Marcelo Bielsa’s first game in the Premier League after guiding what is regarded as a sleeping giant of English soccer back to the top division.

Man City’s home match against Aston Villa and Man United’s trip to Burnley on the opening weekend have been postponed as a result of the agreement among all Premier League clubs for every squad to get a minimum of 30 days between their final game of the 2019-20 season and their first of the new campaign.

The first meeting between last season’s top two teams, Liverpool and City, has been scheduled for Nov. 7 at City’s Etihad Stadium, with the return game at Anfield coming on the first weekend of February.

The Manchester derbies will take place on the weekends of Dec 12-13 and March 6-7.