CHERRIES will mark their return to the Premier League by welcoming Aston Villa to Vitality Stadium.

Following two seasons in the Championship, the Dorset club secured their return to the top flight under Scott Parker last month.

And they have now discovered it is Villa who will be their first opposition of the 2022-23 campaign, on the weekend of August 6.

It marks the exact corresponding fixture of Cherries’ first-ever Premier League match, when Villa won 1-0 at Vitality Stadium on August 8, 2015.

Bournemouth Echo:

But since then, Cherries have won all three of their games against Villa, most recently 2-1 at home in February 2020.

Steven Gerrard, a former England teammate of Parker, guided the Villans to a 14th-placed finish last season, his first in charge of the club.

After facing Villa, the opening month looks tough for Parker’s men, with three of last season’s top five to follow.

Cherries’ first away trip of the season is to champions Manchester City on August 13, before Arsenal then visit Vitality Stadium the following weekend.

It is then time for a trip to Anfield to face FA Cup holders and last season’s Champions League finalists Liverpool, before rounding off the month at home to Wolves.

As was the case for Cherries’ last season in the top flight, the season will end away at Everton, scheduled for Sunday, May 28.

Other fixtures of note include the Christmas schedule, with Cherries heading to Chelsea on Boxing Day, which is the first league fixture after the six-week break to accommodate the World Cup.

Cherries then host Crystal Palace on December 31 to round off the year, before starting 2023 at Old Trafford, facing Manchester United on January 2.

Both fixtures against south coast neighbours Southampton are scheduled for midweek, at home on October 18 and away on April 26.

Bournemouth Echo:

Eddie Howe’s return to Vitality Stadium as boss of Newcastle United is pencilled in for Saturday, February 11.

Cherries’ 2022-23 Premier League fixture schedule:

August –

Sat 6: Aston Villa (h)

Sat 13: Manchester City (a)

Sat 20: Arsenal (h)

Sat 27: Liverpool (a)

Tue 30: Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)

September –

Sat 3: Nottingham Forest (a)

Sat 10: Brighton & Hove Albion (h)

Sat 17: Newcastle United (a)

October –

Sat 1: Brentford (h)

Sat 8: Leicester City (h)

Sat 15: Fulham (a)

Tue 18: Southampton (h)

Sat 22: West Ham United (a)

Sat 29: Tottenham Hotspur (h)

Bournemouth Echo:

November –

Sat 5: Leeds United (a)

Sat 12: Everton (h)

December –

Mon 26: Chelsea (a)

Sat 31: Crystal Palace (h)

January –

Mon 2: Manchester United (a)

Sat 14: Brentford (a)

Sat 21: Nottingham Forest (h)

February –

Sat 4: Brighton & Hove Albion (a)

Sat 11: Newcastle United (h)

Sat 18: Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)

Sat 25: Manchester City (h)

March –

Sat 4: Arsenal (a)

Sat 11: Liverpool (h)

Sat 18: Aston Villa (a)

April –

Sat 1: Fulham (h)

Sat 8: Leicester City (a)

Sat 15: Tottenham Hotspur (a)

Sat 22: West Ham United (h)

Wed 26: Southampton (a)

Sat 29: Leeds United (h)

Bournemouth Echo:

May –

Sat 6: Chelsea (h)

Sat 13: Crystal Palace (a)

Sat 20: Manchester United (h)

Sun 28: Everton (a)

All fixtures are subject to change