The long wait is over.
After the friendlies and test games, it’s now down to the real business as the tough clashes for three points commence this week.
The 2015/16 Premier League campaign kicks off a week earlier than last season – on the same weekend as the Football League – as the 2016 European Championship are scheduled to start on June 10.
One of the enticing fixtures in the opening programme is the duel between Manchester United and Tottenham at Old Trafford.
United manager Louis van Gaal is determined to win the Premier League in the next two seasons as he reiterated his intention to retire from coaching in 2017.
Like summer 2014, the Dutchman was not deprived of cash and brought in players he feels can transform United into genuine title challengers.
Van Gaal has strengthened his goalkeeping options with the signing of Argentina international Sergio Romero on a free transfer.
The 28-year-old former Samp-doria keeper worked with Van Gaal at AZ Alkmaar and will provide competition for David de Gea who is still being strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Dutch forward Memphis Depay, Italian flank defender Matteo Darmian, Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and Frenchman Morgan Schneiderlin have joined United this summer while Argentine winger Angel Di Maria has moved to Paris SG.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has urged his players to show 100 per cent commitments, warning them he is prepared to chop and change even if that means promoting the youth players.
Kevin Wimmer, Keran Trippier and Toby Alderweireld are among Tottenham’s major signings.
In the last 10 seasons, United have held the upperhand against Spurs at home, having won seven Premier League matches to their opponents’ two.
2014-15: United-Tottenham - 3-0
2013-14: United-Spurs - 1-2
2012-13: United-Spurs - 2-3
2011-12: United-Spurs - 3-0
2010-11: United-Spurs - 2-0
2009-10: United-Spurs - 3-1
2008-09: United-Spurs - 5-2
2007-08: United-Spurs - 1-0
2006-07: United-Spurs - 1-0
2005-06: United-Spurs - 1-1
Champions Chelsea kick off their title defence against Swansea at Stamford Bridge after their defeat to Arsenal in the FA Community Shield last Sunday.
Manager Jose Mourinho has hit back at Rafael Benitez’s wife, saying the Spanish boss “destroyed the best team in Europe” during his spell as Inter coach.
The relationship between the managers has been strained ever since they went head to head during Mourinho’s first spell at Chelsea, when Benitez was in charge at Liverpool.
Arsenal are regarded as one of the teams that could seriously challenge for the championship crown.
Their first test will be a London derby as they host West Ham at the Emirates tomorrow.
West Ham United will be hoping to improve under new Croatian manager Slaven Bilic.
Manchester City head to the Midlands to play guests to West Brom at the Hawthorns on Monday.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini, who has been awarded a new contract by City, thinks that new signing Raheem Sterling will add that extra spark that has been lacking in the City squad.
Anfield is brimming with optimism after Brendan Rodgers went on another spending spree, roping in seven new players, including England midfielder James Milner and Brazilian playmaker Roberto Firmino.
Tomorrow, Liverpool are away to Stoke, seeking revenge for the 6-1 hiding they suffered on the final day of the 2014-15 season.
Rodgers has revealed that he chose Jordan Henderson as Liverpool’s new captain because he wanted someone who was a “great ambassador on and off the field”.
Henderson succeeds Steve Gerrard who has joined LA Galaxy.
At St James Park, Newcastle take on Southampton.
Georginio Wijnaldum, signed from PSV Eindhoven, said that new Newcastle boss Steve McClaren and goalkeeper Tim Krul were the ones who persuaded him to join the Magpies.
Promoted trio Bournemouth, Watford and Norwich face Aston Villa, Everton and Crystal Palace, respectively. Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has hinted that he is not yet done in the transfer market ahead of the club’s first top-flight campaign.
The Cherries have so far brought in six new faces to Dean Court this summer, including Joshua King from Blackburn Rovers after compensation was agreed between the two clubs.
Weekend fixtures...
Premier League
Bournemouth-Aston Villa
Chelsea-Swansea (18:30)
Everton-Watford
Leicester-Sunderland
Man. Utd-Tottenham (13:45)
Norwich-Crystal Palace
Tomorrow
Arsenal-West Ham (14:30)
Newcastle-Southampton (14:30)
Stoke-Liverpool (17:00)
Monday
West Brom vs Man. City (21:00)
Premier hot four: Chelsea, Everton, Man. United, C. Palace.
The Championship
Birmingham-Reading
Blackburn-Wolves
Bolton-Derby
Brentford-Ipswich
Cardiff-Fulham (13:00)
Charlton-QPR
Hull-Huddersfield
Leeds-Burnley (13:30)
Rotherham-MK Dons
Sheffield Wed.-Bristol City
Tomorrow
Preston-Middlesbrough (13:00)
League One
Burton-Scunthorpe
Chesterfield-Barnsley
Colchester-Blackpool
Coventry-Wigan
Crewe-Port Vale
Doncaster-Bury
Fleetwood-Southend
Gillingham-Sheff. Utd
Rochdale-Peterborough
Shrewsbury-Millwall
Swindon-Bradford
Walsall-Oldham
League Two
Accrington-Luton Town
AFC Wimbledon-Plymouth
Bristol Rovers-Northampton
Cambridge-Newport
Exeter-Yeovil
Hartlepool-Morecambe
Leyton Orient-Barnet
Mansfield-Carlisle Utd
Oxford-Crawley
Portsmouth-Dagenham.
Stevenage-Notts County
Wycombe-York