Aston Villa's summer of discontent with Liverpool will reach a mouth-watering conclusion now that the Barclays Premier League fixtures have been announced with the two sides set to clash at Villa Park in Villa's second home game of the new season.

Villa start their 2008-9 campaign by hosting Manchester City in what will be manager Mark Hughes' first game in charge on May 16 and then travel to play newly-promoted Stoke City. But all eyes will be on the match on August 30 when Villa entertain Rafa Benitez's side - a team which could by then have taken skipper Gareth Barry to Anfield. The on-off saga of the transfer and the way Villa fans feel Liverpool have tried to ride rough-shod over Villa's summer plans is sure to make for an incredible atmosphere.

Newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion are rewarded for their heroics last season in winning the Championship title with an exciting trip to the multi-million pound Emirates to take on Arsenal on May 16 and then they entertain David Moyes' Everton a week later at The Hawthorns in a match which will invoke memories of the club's biggest ever Premier League win. They beat the Toffees 4-1 at The Hawthorns in November 2004.

But there will be heartache for Birmingham City fans as the realisation that they are starting the new season in the Championship after their last-gasp relegation from the top flight. Their first match is the less than glamorous visit of Sheffield United while Wolverhampton Wanderers start their new campaign and their latest bid for promotion with their second trip to Plymouth Argyle on the opening day of the season in three years.

The only top flight derby of the season will see Villa lock horns with Tony Mowbray's Baggies on September 20 at The Hawthorns with the return leg at Villa Park on January 10.

The busy festive period always attracts the attention of supporters and Villa's Christmas fixtures sees them entertain Arsene wenger's Arsenal at Villa Park on Boxing Day before travelling to newly-promoted hull City two days later. West Brom are away at Chelsea on Boxing Day, while there is no New Year's Day fixture.

Alex McLeish's Blues face eight extra fixtures - the majority of them in midweek next season due to the number of additional teams in the Championship - and travel to Ipswich at Portman Road on Boxing Day with a home fixture against newly-promoted Swansea City two days later. The Championship derby between Blues and Wolves takes place on Saturday November 29 at Molineux before Mick McCarthy's men return to St Andrew's on Saturday April 4.

Coventry City visit Birmingham on Saturday November 1 before the return match at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday February 21.

The end of the season promises to be a real crowd puller with the Baggies' final home clash against Liverpool on Saturday, May 16 before they wrap up heir campaign at Ewood Park and Blackburn Rovers on Sunday, May 24. Birmingham visit fellow relegation side Reading at the Madejski Stadium in their last game of the season on May 3 with the visit of Preston North End - their final home fixture on April 25.

Villa's only derby this season sees them travel to West Brom on September 20 with the return fixture at Villa Park on January 10 while Wolves - whose Christmas stocking contains the visit of Sheffield United on Boxing Day and a trip to Blackpool on Christmas Sunday - will play their derby games against Birmingham City on November 29 at Molineux and April 4 at St Andrew's. The campaign winds up with a home game against Doncaster Rovers.

League One side Walsall kick off their season with a trip to Yeovil Town on Saturday August 9, are away to darlignton on August 13 and then entertain Scunthorpe United in their first home game at the Banks's Stadium of the 2008-9 campaign.

Christmas sees Jimmy Mullen's side take on Stockport County at home on Boxing Day before a trip to Prenton Park and Tranmere Rovers on Sunday December 28. The season concludes on May 2 with the visit of Oldham Athletic.