BT Sport is promising to go head-to-head with Sky Sports in a battle of the broadcasters in the new English Premier League season.

The two companies published the first tranche of fixtures to be screened live on Thursday, with Sky trumpeting a strong start to the campaign which will see it screen David Moyes’s first game as Manchester United boss, Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge and Manuel Pellegrini’s bow at Manchester City on the opening weekend.

However, BT, which launches its coverage at Anfield, where Liverpool take on Stoke in the first of the opening day fixtures on Saturday, August 17, is confident it will provide big games through the season having used only five of its 18 top picks to date.

Marc Watson, chief executive of BT TV, said: “We have got more (top picks) than them in the final two-thirds of the season.

“We have looked with interest at the amount they seem to be focused on us – and they are very, very focused on us, or they seem to be – and we appreciate the publicity, you know.

“When we look at this season, we think this could be one of the most competitive in years. It’s a very, very exciting season when you look at the clubs that are going to be competing, the changes in management and players coming in.

“It’s a very exciting season. It isn’t over in the first four weeks, it’s going to be a season that runs all the way through and we wanted to make sure we could offer really strong games throughout the season.”

BT will broadcast 38 Premier League games, while Sky will show 43 by December 1.

However, the newcomer insists it is here to stay.

Watson said: “BT is a British business, this is our home market. We don’t do things lightly.

“This is very much part of a long-term strategy. I know our friends at Sky are very focused on the first couple of weeks, but we are looking a bit beyond that.”

Sky managing director Barney Francis was bullish, too, about his company’s prospects as it welcomes its latest rival to the market.

He said: “There’s been a lot of noise out there and the truth is it’s actually made no difference to our football schedule.

“Now people can look at the fixtures in black and white and see what they are going to see on Sky Sports and feel that nothing is going to change.

“We are providing people with what they expect to see on Sky Sports.”

Opening Week

Saturday, August 17

13.45 Liverpool vs Stoke.
16.00 Arsenal vs Aston Villa; Nor-wich vs Everton; Sunderland vs Fulham; WBA vs Southampton; West Ham vs Cardiff.
18.30 Swansea vs Man. United.

Sunday, August 18

14.30 Crystal Palace vs Tottenham. 17.00 Chelsea vs Hull.

Monday, August 18

21.00 Man. City vs Newcastle.