NEWCASTLE UNITED will start the new Premier League season with a televised home game against Arsenal.

The Magpies will host Arsenal on the opening weekend of the 2019-20 campaign, with the match already having been allocated a 2pm kick-off time on Sunday, August 11.

It remains to be seen who is in charge for the game, with Rafael Benitez’s contract still due to expire on June 30, or indeed who is the owner of the club by the time the new season starts, with Mike Ashley still involved in talks over a possible sale, but at least Newcastle supporters can now begin to plan for the new campaign.

Newcastle’s first away game takes them to newly-promoted Norwich City on the weekend of August 17, with the following weekend taking them to Tottenham Hotspur’s rebuilt White Hart Lane for the first time.

As was the case last season, the Magpies have been handed a difficult start to the campaign. Their fifth game will see them travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool, meaning they face three members of the established ‘big six’ in their opening five matches.

Things should get a little easier after that, although October features back-to-back games against Manchester United and Chelsea.

Newcastle host reigning champions Manchester City on November 30, before their first midweek league game takes them to Bramall Lane to take on Sheffield United on December 3.

Boxing Day will take the Magpies to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, with the final game of 2019 seeing Everton travel to St James’ Park on December 28.

2020 starts with a New Year’s Day home game against Leicester City, while February will feature the Premier League’s first mid-season player break.

As things stand, Newcastle are due to travel to Arsenal on the weekend of February 8, however half of the games allocated in that round of fixtures will move to the following weekend, starting February 15. Teams will only play on one of the two weekends.

Newcastle’s run-in looks tough, with three of their final five fixtures pitting them against Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool.

The final away game of the season sees Newcastle make the long trip to Brighton on May 9, before the campaign ends with a home game against Liverpool, who could potentially be fighting for the title, on Sunday, May 17.


NEWCASTLE 2019-20 FIXTURES


Aug 11 ARSENAL (H)

Aug 17 Norwich City (a)

Aug 24 Tottenham (a)

Aug 31 WATFORD (H)

Sep 14 Liverpool (a)

Sep 21 BRIGHTON (H)

Sep 28 Leicester (a)

Oct 5 MAN UNITED (H)

Oct 19 Chelsea (a)

Oct 26 WOLVES (H)

Nov 2 West Ham (a)

Nov 9 BOURNEMOUTH (H)

Nov 23 Aston Villa (a)

Nov 30 MAN CITY (H)

Dec 3 Sheff United (a)

Dec 7 SOUTHAMPTON (H)

Dec 14 Burnley (a)

Dec 21 CRYSTAL PALACE (H)

Dec 26 Man United (a)

Dec 28 EVERTON (H)

Jan 1 LEICESTER (H)

Jan 11 Wolves (a)

Jan 18 CHELSEA (H)

Jan 21 Everton (a)

Feb 1 NORWICH (H)

Feb 8 Arsenal (a)

Feb 22 Crystal Palace (a)

Feb 29 BURNLEY (H)

Mar 7 Southampton (a)

Mar 14 SHEFF UNITED (H)

Mar 21 ASTON VILLA (H)

Apr 4 Bournemouth (a)

Apr 11 WEST HAM (H)

Apr 18 Man City (a)

Apr 25 Watford (a)

May 2 TOTTENHAM (H)

May 9 Brighton (a)

May 17 LIVERPOOL (H)