Manchester United have discovered that they will kick-off their 2023/24 Premier League campaign at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday, August 14.
The Old Trafford showdown will be the tenth and final fixture of the opening weekend of the season, and it will be the seventh season in a row that the Reds will have started their Premier League campaign on home soil.
United will be looking to build on a successful 2022/23 campaign next season by making further progress. The club achieved a respectable third-placed finish in Erik ten Hag's first campaign at the club and will be looking to build on the foundations that have been laid.
Now that United's schedule for the forthcoming campaign has been confirmed, MEN Sport has taken a look at five dates United supporters might want to circle on their calendars.
READ MORE: United's 2023/24 Premier League fixtures in full
1 - The season opener
United will kick off their campaign at home to Wolves in the final game in the opening round of fixtures. The two sides only met each other as recently as last month and the Reds won 2-0 at Old Trafford, thanks to goals from Anthony Martial and Alejandro Garnacho.
On paper, it looks like being a favourable opportunity to get three points on the board and start the season with a victory. However, United will be mindful of the fact that they did lose their season opener on home soil last season, losing 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion in Ten Hag's first competitive game in charge.
2 - A tough start on the road
As we all know only too well, United struggled against the Premier League's biggest clubs away from home in 2022/23, picking up just four points from a possible 27 against fellow top half teams. It was a diabolical record and it is one that must be improved on in the forthcoming campaign.
With that record in mind, United probably would have preferred to have avoided back-to-back trips to north London for their first two away games of the season, first taking on Tottenham Hotspur on August 19 and then Arsenal on September 2. United took just one point from a possible six in those two matches in 2022/23, surrendering leads in both games.
United's only away win against a top-half team in 2022/23 was against Fulham.
After facing Spurs and Arsenal in their first two away games, United then face trips to newly-promoted duo Burnley and Sheffield United in their third and fourth away games of the season.
3 - The first clash with City
After losing the FA Cup final 2-1 to Manchester City almost a fortnight ago, United will be desperate to get revenge on their neighbours at the first possible attempt. They are slated to meet at Old Trafford for the first Manchester derby of the season on Saturday, October 28.
United beat City 2-1 the last time they met in M16, coming from behind to secure all three points back in January. United's home record against their traditional 'Big Six' rivals was impressive in 2022/23, beating City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham.
The second Manchester derby of the season will take place in late March at the Etihad Stadium.
4 - The dreaded trip to Anfield
For United supporters, there cannot possibly be a more daunting away trip than the relatively short hop to Anfield. The Reds have been humiliated on their last two visits to Liverpool, losing 4-0 in 2021/22 and 7-0 in 2022/23.
They last won a league game at Anfield in January 2016, emerging victorious thanks to a second-half winner from Wayne Rooney. Since then, however, it has been continuous disappointment against their rivals, regularly finding themselves being beaten up and spat back out again.
United have to try and make up for what happened in March when they visit Anfield for their next showdown with the Merseysiders on Saturday, December 16. A win would be an ideal early Christmas present for their supporters.
5 - The season finale
On paper, United's toughest run of the season comes towards the end of the campaign, featuring clashes with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal towards the finish line. But they will conclude the campaign once and for all against Brighton.
The Reds will travel to the Amex Stadium for the season finale on Sunday, May 19. The Reds have struggled against the Seagulls recently, certainly in the Premier League, losing each of the last three meetings.
United lost 1-0 to Roberto De Zerbi's side in dramatic fashion at the Amex Stadium last month and were beaten 2-1 at Old Trafford on the opening day of this season. They also lost 4-0 at the Amex Stadium in May 2022.
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