Watford will travel to Everton on the opening day as Premier League fixtures are announced

Newly promoted Watford Football Club will travel to Goodison Park upon their return to the Premier League.

The Hertfordshire outfit open their season against Roberto Martinez’s Everton in a tough opening month, as they later face West Brom, Southampton and title challengers Manchester City.

The Hornets also encounter a harsh run during the Christmas period when they play Liverpool, champions Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Southampton in 25 days.

This will be Watford’s first Premier League season since relegation in 2007, under Aidy Boothroyd. The Yellows were promoted via the play-offs the season prior but subsequently finished bottom of the league and immediately returned to the Championship alongside Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday.

The Hornets achieved automatic promotion last season

The 1989 FA Cup finalists were promoted automatically in 2015, finishing second despite numerous changes in managers. The club are now under the management of former Spanish international Quique Flores following the 50-year-old’s arrival from Getafe, and will face an equally tough task to keep them in England’s first division.

They looked likely to finish as champions but a draw with Sheffield Wednesday on the final day, dropping behind surprise package Bournemouth. Watford failed to record a win over their title rivals last season, mustering up a draw at home, courtesy of an outstanding Craig Cathcart volley, before defeat at the Goldsands Stadium.

Norwich City will also join them in the Premiership, beating a resilient Middlesbrough at Wembley Stadium. The Pozzo owned side face the Canaries at Vicarage Road in October before a visit to Norfolk in late April. Slavisa Jokanovic, who guided Watford to promotion, succumbed to defeat in both fixtures last season as his team conceded six and scored none.

Other standout fixtures include the visit of Manchester United in November, the return of Leicester City to Vicarage Road following a dramatic play-off semi-final in 2013, an away game at Arsenal and a trip to Anfield in the penultimate game of the campaign. Watford’s season ends in a potential crunch tie at home to Sunderland.