Chelsea low-down: Blues are handed a horror start as Enzo Maresca faces an immediate reunion with Man City and former boss Pep Guardiola - and there's a nightmare November to come as west London side return to Europe

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Incoming Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will face an immediate run-in with his former paymasters Manchester City on a testing start to the Blues' 2024-25 campaign.

The former Leicester boss was a member of Pep Guardiola's backroom staff at the English champions before striking out on his own first at Parma, then at the King Power last season.

Billed as 'Diet Pep' - one of the formidable manager's tactical acolytes - the west London club's hierarchy are hoping that his appointment will bring similar levels of success to Stamford Bridge.

Maresca will be forced to prove his credentials quickly, as Tuesday morning's fixture released ahead of next season proved.

Chelsea will go head-to-head with Man City at home in their opening match of the season, in the showpiece afternoon clash on Sunday August 18 at 4.30pm.

Chelsea will face off with Man City at home in a tough test to start off their 2024-25 campaign

Last season saw the Blues keep the English champions at bay at Stamford Bridge in November

Incoming Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca (right) previously worked at the club under Pep Guardiola (left)

What might cheer Maresca's men somewhat is recent history - along with Man City's crosstown rivals Manchester United, Chelsea hold the strongest opening day record in the Premier League era.

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But the Blues were unable to see out the first win of Mauricio Pochettino's tenure in charge at the club, as the side were held to a 1-1 draw at home with Liverpool to kick off their 2023-24 campaign.

Their subsequent run ahead of the international break is a little more gentle, with their next three opponents Wolves at Molineux, Crystal Palace in west London, and trips to Bournemouth and West Ham - fixtures which could help build back squad confidence if they are rocked severely by Guardiola's side.

Elsewhere, the Blues will endure a breakneck end of October and start to November, with a host of top-table clashes intermingling with the group stages of the Europa Conference League.

Chelsea are set to face Liverpool at Anfield on October 19 kicking off their nightmare run, before diving headfirst into preparations for matchday two of the Conference League - should they move cleanly through qualifiers - on October 24.

The former Leicester manager will return to the King Power in late November after taking the club back to the Premier League last season

The Blues will then host Newcastle United the following weekend on October 26, and travel to Manchester United on November 2.

November 7 will see the second of the two difficultly placed European matches, followed immediately by hosting duties against Arsenal on November 9th.

Chelsea will play their second big derby a month later, on December 7, when they travel to north London for another gritty meeting with Tottenham.

The team will later on in the season face back-to-back derbies broken up by the international break, with a trip to the Emirates on April 15 coming just ahead of welcoming Tottenham to west London on April 4.

The Blues face another sticky patch towards the end of their season, with the final few weeks of the fixture list looking potential tricky to navigate should the club be challenging for spots at the top of the table.

After facing off with Man United at Old Trafford during their horror autumn, the Blues welcome them to Stamford Bridge late in the season

Chelsea will host Liverpool at the start of May, before travelling a week later to St James' Park for battle with Eddie Howe's Newcastle side.

The west London side will then welcome Man United to Stamford Bridge on May 18 in their penultimate match -  and hope that the result goes a similar way to last season, when Chelsea saw off Erik ten Hag's men 4-3 through a spot of late brilliance by Cole Palmer.

Although away from home, Chelsea will finish their season with a trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest.

Read the full list of Chelsea's fixtures below:  

All fixtures are subject to change once the live TV schedule has been finalised.