Manchester United Schedule 2015-16: Premier League Fixtures Released

Manchester United will begin the 2015-16 Premier League season with a home fixture against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on August 8., as Louis van Gaal bids to steer the Red Devils back to the summit of English football.

Here’s how United’s campaign will shape up after the fixtures for the upcoming campaign were announced, per the Premier League's official website:

Date	Opponents	Location
Aug. 8.	Tottenham Hotspur	Home
Aug. 15.	Aston Villa	Away
Aug. 22.	Newcastle United	Home
Aug. 29.	Swansea City	Away
Sept. 12.	Liverpool	Home
Sept. 19.	Southampton	Away
Sept. 26.	Sunderland	Home
Oct. 3.	Arsenal	Away
Oct. 17.	Everton	Away
Oct. 24.	Manchester City	Home
Oct. 31.	Crystal Palace	Away
Nov. 7.	West Bromwich Albion	Home
Nov. 21.	Watford	Away
Nov. 28.	Leicester City	Away
Dec. 5.	West Ham United	Home
Dec. 12.	Bournemouth	Away
Dec. 19.	Norwich City	Home
Dec. 26.	Stoke City	Away
Dec. 28.	Chelsea	Home
Jan. 2.	Swansea City	Home
Jan. 13.	Newcastle United*	Away
Jan. 16.	Liverpool	Away
Jan. 23.	Southampton	Home
Feb. 2.	Stoke City*	Home
Feb. 6.	Chelsea	Away
Feb. 13.	Sunderland	Away
Feb. 27.	Arsenal	Home
Mar. 1.	Watford*	Home
Mar. 5.	West Bromwich Albion	Away
Mar. 12.	Crystal Palace	Home
Mar. 19.	Manchester City	Away
Apr. 2.	Everton	Home
Apr. 9.	Tottenham Hotspur	Away
Apr. 16.	Aston Villa	Home
Apr. 23.	West Ham United	Away
Apr. 30	Leicester City	Home
May 7.	Norwich City	Away
May 15.	Bournemouth	Home

All fixture dates are subject to change. Matches marked with an asterisk (*) are currently scheduled for an evening kick-off. 

On paper, the start to season could go either way for the club. Van Gaal will be hoping his players can facilitate a better beginning than last year, as they lost 2-1 at home to Swansea City on the opening day of the 2014-15 campaign.

The first Manchester derby of the season will be at Old Trafford on Oct. 24, while United’s first meeting with Liverpool will be at the Theatre of Dreams on Sept. 12.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

After a strong finish to Van Gaal’s maiden year in charge, the next campaign is one that’s being hotly anticipated by United supporters. It’s excitement that has been stirred further by the capture of Dutch international winger Memphis Depay, a player who Bleacher Report’s Stan Collymore thinks is going to make a major impression:

The arrival of the PSV Eindhoven star needs to be supplemented by more astute additions in the transfer window if United are to challenge. There are still voids aplenty in the Red Devils squad, and Van Gaal will surely invest in more quality additions before the season gets underway.

Speaking earlier this month, striker Robin van Persie confirmed the club will spend big money to thrust themselves back into the title picture, per Jack Gaughan of the MailOnline: “United spent £200m on players last year and they are going to spend another £200m this summer so we will have a team that can compete for the title.”

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

But as was evident by the capture of players like Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao last summer, a rapacious splurge in the transfer window doesn’t necessarily guarantee success; it’s something you suspect Van Gaal will be acutely aware of as he begins his second year at this illustrious football club.

Perhaps he’ll tap into the club’s pool of young talent, something that Full Time DEVILS are very excited about:

Indeed, the XI that takes to the field for that clash with Spurs is likely to be a whole lot different to the side that finished the previous season, with rumours abound regarding a flurry of incoming and outgoing players. As such, it’s tough to accurately reflect what United’s title chances are at this juncture.

Nonetheless, the Red Devils hierarchy will want an improvement on the previous campaign, and if Van Gaal does steer this United team to a stuttering start comparable to 2014-15, he’ll quickly come under pressure. Subsequently, those opening matches are absolutely critical to the Dutchman enjoying a strong season in his second year.