Manchester United will begin their Premier League title defence with a trip to West Bromwich Albion before potentially tougher matches against Tottenham and Arsenal at home over the following two weekends.

After surpassing Liverpool’s record of 18 titles last month, United are chasing a 20th championship when the season begins on 13 August. It concludes on 13 May, when United travel to Sunderland.

Chelsea, who were runners-up last season, will hope to have a manager by the time the team visits Stoke for its first match. The London club goes to Old Trafford to play United on 17 September.

In other opening-weekend matches, Arsenal are at Newcastle, Manchester City host Swansea — who beat Reading in the League Championship play-off final to become the first Welsh team to make it into the Premier League — and Liverpool host Sunderland.

In the league’s first major match, Arsenal are at home to Liverpool on the second weekend.

“It’s important to hit the ground running if you want to compete for the title,” Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said. “You can’t afford any slip-ups early on. It’s a tough first two games but I’m really looking forward to them and I think we can get two positive results.”

Sunderland’s trip to Anfield means Jordan Henderson could make his competitive debut for Liverpool against the team that sold him for a reported £20 million ($33 million).

Arsenal have been given a tough early season schedule, combined with Champions League qualification matches in mid-August after the club finished fourth in the league last season.

For the other Premier League newcomers, Queens Park Rangers open at home against Bolton and Norwich head to Wigan.

“The only target is to stay in the league. Seventeenth will be absolutely fine,” Norwich chief executive David McNally said. “Whatever points total is needed to finish 17th, that’s the aim.”