The World Cup may be in full swing, but the Premier League has reclaimed a small piece of the limelight after unveiling the fixture list for the 2014-15 season.
Incoming Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has been "given an early boost" by the fixture list according to the Daily Telegraph, with games against all three promoted teams in the first weeks of the season.
Like his predecessor, David Moyes, he begins his reign with a game against Swansea, but this time at Old Trafford. While three of Moyes's next four games were against Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City, Van Gaal has Sunderland, Burnley, QPR and Leicester.
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Man City begin the defence of their crown with a trip to Newcastle, and Liverpool will entertain Southampton, a draw that will not make the Saints any more willing to sell Adam Lallana to the Anfield club having already lost Rickie Lambert to the Reds this summer.
Arsenal are at home to Crystal Palace, and Chelsea visit newly-promoted Burnley.
Here are 12 more key dates for your diary:
Manchester City v Liverpool, 23 August: Week two of the season and the reigning champions take on the runners up at the Etihad.
Arsenal v Manchester City, 13 September: Arsenal's first big test comes with the season less than a month old as they welcome the champions to the Emirates in week four.
Manchester City v Chelsea, 20 September: City's start doesn't get any easier as they visit Chelsea in week five. Three of their first five games are against fellow Champions League qualifiers.
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur & Liverpool v Everton, 27 September: The first big derbies of the season come in week six.
Manchester United v Chelsea, 25 October: United will have played Everton by this stage, but this is their first game against last season's top four.
Manchester City v Manchester United, 1 November: A week later United face the champions at the Etihad. Chelsea also play QPR this week.
Arsenal v Manchester United, 22 November: By now the big games are coming thick and fast, and Arsene Wenger has his first run-in with Van Gaal in week 12.
Liverpool v Arsenal & Newcastle United v Sunderland. 20 December: There is a tasty double header on the weekend before Christmas.
Manchester City v Arsenal, 17 January: The relatively tame Christmas schedule features derbies in the Midlands and London, but the first match of the new year between title contenders could be this.
Chelsea v Liverpool, 9 May: A pivotal fixture last season, these two teams are pitted against each other in the title run-in once again.
Manchester United v Arsenal, 16 May: A few years ago this match, in the penultimate week of the season, would have been a title decider, but will either side still be in the race this time round?
Everton v Tottenham Hotspur, 24 May: None of the title favourites play each other on the final day, but history suggests this clash could be crucial for the Champions League places.
