Opening Fixtures: Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea

With the start of the new Premier League season less than a week away, the excitement for what’s in store has ratcheted up. The top three last season of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea all have new managers, who will all be keen to get off to a good start with their new jobs. Here, we look at the first five fixtures for each to see who could be setting the early pace.

Manchester United - Last Season: 1st (89 points)

Opening Five Barclays Premier League Fixtures

Aug. 17 - Swansea vs Manchester United

Aug. 26 - Manchester United vs Chelsea

Sept. 1 - Liverpool vs Manchester United

Sept. 14 - Manchester United vs Crystal Palace

Sept. 22 - Manchester City vs Manchester United

United undoubtedly have the hardest first five games. Their opening trip to Swansea, a side already looking sharp after beginning their Europa League campaign, is tough enough, but they also have to play Chelsea at home and Liverpool and City away.

It’s a daunting set of early fixtures for new manager David Moyes, and with some United fans already showing impatience after their failure to sign a big name, he'll know full well the importance of making a solid start.

The flip side, of course, is that United can get their tough fixtures out the way. If United can come out of this run of fixtures with 10 points on the board having already played three of the best sides in the division, suddenly they’ll feel well placed, and Moyes will have won over those supporters who needed winning over.

Manchester City - Last Season: 2nd (78 points)

Opening Five Barclays Premier League Fixtures

Aug. 19 - Manchester City vs Newcastle United

Aug. 25 - Cardiff City vs Manchester City

Aug. 31 - Manchester City vs Hull City

Sept. 14 - Stoke City vs Manchester City

Sept. 22 - Manchester City vs Manchester United

Other than the derby at the Etihad toward the end of September, City’s early fixtures look fairly comfortable. They play two promoted clubs in Cardiff and Hull, and have a home fixture against Newcastle, all which City are strong favourites to win.

Stoke away is a fixture which has given City a few problems in recent years. In fact, the last four Premier League fixtures at the Britannia have finished 1-1. City’s 1-0 win there in the FA Cup in January should give them renewed optimism that they can get a positive result in the league.

City should win their opening four fixtures and go into the derby full of belief. It’s a run of games that gives Manuel Pellegrini a real opportunity to make a positive start to his City career.

Chelsea - Last Season: 3rd (75 points)

Opening Five Barclays Premier League Fixtures

Aug. 18 - Chelsea vs Hull City

Aug. 21 - Chelsea vs Aston Villa

Aug. 26 - Manchester United vs Chelsea

Sept. 14 - Everton vs Chelsea

Sept. 21 - Chelsea vs Fulham

Chelsea’s fixtures are definitely more difficult than City’s. Tough trips to United and Everton will test them, and they have to host local rivals Fulham in their fifth game. Jose Mourinho will find himself straight back in the thick of Premier League action.

They start, though, with two very winnable home games against Hull and Villa, where they should take maximum points.

The Premier League experience of Mourinho could be a crucial factor this season. Moyes may have managed Everton for 11 years, but he's never competed for the title, and Pellegrini, of course, is completely new to the league after spending the last nine years managing in La Liga. Mourinho is the only manager at the top three clubs who has experience at the top of the English game, having won the league twice during his first stint at Chelsea.

With all three of last season's top sides changing managers, it looks set to be a fascinating season.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2013-14 season. Follow him on Twitter here @TypicalCity