Premier League champions Leicester City will start their title defence with a trip to promoted Hull City. The Foxes will have history on their side as they look to continue a positive trend for winners of the competition.
Over the past 24 seasons of the Premier League the champions have never opened the defence of their title with a defeat, with 20 of those fixtures ending in victories.
| P | W | L | D | Win % | |
| Defending champions | 24 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 83.3 |
Leicester will aim to channel the spirit of 2015/16, when they opened their title-winning campaign with a 4-2 triumph against Sunderland, and avoid the start that last season's title-holders Chelsea made when drawing 2-2 with Swansea City.
Chelsea's draw was the first on Matchweek 1 by reigning champions who were not Manchester United, and the first in seven seasons.
Sir Alex Ferguson's title winners were held by Everton in August 1999, Reading in August 2007 and Newcastle United 12 months later.
The biggest win by champions is also the largest in Matchweek 1 history, Chelsea beating West Bromwich Albion 6-0 at the start of the 2010/11 campaign.
How defending champions fared on opening weekends
| Season | Champions | Opponent | Result | Score |
| 1992/93 | Leeds | Wimbledon (H) | W | 2-1 |
| 1993/94 | Man Utd | Norwich (A) | W | 0-2 |
| 1994/95 | Man Utd | QPR (H) | W | 2-0 |
| 1995/96 | Blackburn | QPR (H) | W | 1-0 |
| 1996/97 | Man Utd | Wimbledon (A) | W | 0-3 |
| 1997/98 | Man Utd | Spurs (A) | W | 0-2 |
| 1998/99 | Arsenal | Nott'm Forest (H) | W | 2-1 |
| 1999/00 | Man Utd | Everton (A) | D | 1-1 |
| 2000/01 | Man Utd | Newcastle (H) | W | 2-0 |
| 2001/02 | Man Utd | Fulham (H) | W | 3-2 |
| 2002/03 | Arsenal | Birmingham (H) | W | 2-0 |
| 2003/04 | Man Utd | Bolton (H) | W | 4-0 |
| 2004/05 | Arsenal | Everton (A) | W | 1-4 |
| 2005/06 | Chelsea | Wigan (A) | W | 0-1 |
| 2006/07 | Chelsea | Man City (H) | W | 3-0 |
| 2007/08 | Man Utd | Reading (H) | D | 0-0 |
| 2008/09 | Man Utd | Newcastle (H) | D | 1-1 |
| 2009/10 | Man Utd | Birmingham (H) | W | 1-0 |
| 2010/11 | Chelsea | West Brom (H) | W | 6-0 |
| 2011/12 | Man Utd | West Brom (A) | W | 1-2 |
| 2012/13 | Man City | Southampton (H) | W | 3-2 |
| 2013/14 | Man Utd | Swansea (A) | W | 1-4 |
| 2014/15 | Man City | Newcastle (A) | W | 0-2 |
| 2015/16 | Chelsea | Swansea (H) | D | 2-2 |
To find out the full fixture list for the 2016/17 Premier League season, visit www.premierleague.com/fixtures.
