Aston Villa FC's 2015-16 fixtures announced

Aston Villa will begin the 2015-16 Premier League season with an away trip to newly-promoted Bournemouth, after the official fixture list was released earlier today.

Tim Sherwood's men will follow up their trip to Dean Court with their first home game of the season, with Manchester United set to be the visitors.

Villa then face a tricky away trip to Alan Pardew's Crystal Palace, before ending the month with a home game against Sunderland.

The first derby of the season presents itself on September the 19th as West Brom visit Villa Park, with the reverse fixture set to be played on January 23.

A traditionally busy Christmas period has give Villa a fairly kind run of fixtures, as they host West Ham United on Boxing Day, sandwiched between away trips to Newcastle United and Norwich City.

In the absence of more Midlands teams in the league, Stoke City offer a role as secondary rivals, with Villa to play them at home on October 3 and away on February 27.

Away games against the biggest club's in the league are always days that the fans look forward to, with Liverpool hosting Villa on September 26, Chelsea doing so on October 17 and Manchester City on March 5.

Facing a relegation battle last season, Villa eventually came 17th in the league after a good run of form late on in the campaign. This could prove to be a tougher achievement this time around, with Arsenal, Southampton, Manchester United and Chelsea all opponents in their last seven games.

The final home game of the season is against Newcastle on May 7, before the season ends with a trip to Arsenal on May 15.