Roberto Di Matteo will make an emotional return to Stamford Bridge on his Premier League debut as a manager after the Baggies were drawn to face Chelsea on the first game of the season. For the fifth consecutive season Albion will kick off a top-flight campaign away from home.
The Baggies will host Sunderland at The Hawthorns a week later for their first game at home before travelling to Anfield to face Liverpool on Saturday 28th August. The Throstles’ difficult start away from home extends to visits of Arsenal and Manchester United in the first four fixtures away from the Black Country.
Over Christmas the Baggies will travel to the Reebok Stadium to tackle Bolton on Boxing Day before hosting Manchester United on Saturday 1st January 2011.
Albion’s first Midlands’ derby is set for mid-September against Blues before facing Aston Villa away and Wolves at home on consecutive weekends in December and April. Roberto Di Matteo will then take his team to Newcastle United for the final game of the season on Sunday 22nd May.