The seven best Premier League opening fixtures in history, from David Beckham’s famous halfway-line goal against Wimbledon to an Arsenal seven-goal thriller
Check out a handful of the most exhilarating matches from the first round of games in the league's riveting 25-year existence
IT'S Friday, which can only mean one thing... the Premier League is back.
After a long summer with nothing but transfer rumours to keep us entertained, we can all look forward to a full weekend of English top flight action.
There are some intriguing fixtures to keep an eye on too.
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Arsenal's curtain-raiser against Leicester on Friday, Manchester City's trip to the seaside to play Brighton on Saturday and Tottenham's journey to Newcastle on Sunday all look like potential thrillers.
But in the 25-year history of the Premier League, can any of these match some beauties from yesterday.
From goal-filled draws to era-defining losses, some opening day fixtures from down the years have truly set the world alight.
Check out just seven of those games, below...
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Aston Villa 3-1 Man United: 1995-96
"YOU can't win anything with kids," roared Alan Hansen in confident manner on that fateful day in August 1995.
Manchester United had just been thumped 3-1 by Aston Villa - having trailed 3-0 - in their season-opener.
Hansen was referring to Sir Alex Ferguson's youthful XI, which included the likes of Gary Neville (20-years-old), Phil Neville (18), Paul Scholes (20), Nicky Butt (20) and Ryan Giggs (21).
A young David Beckham came off the bench to grab a late consolation goal, but following this loss, the rest - as they say - was history.
United went on to win the Premier League and FA Cup trophies - with kids - before continuing their era of utter dominance.
Wimbledon 0-3 Man United: 1996-97
A YEAR later and Becks was at it again... as the youngster set the league alight with one of the most iconic goals in football history.
Travelling to South London on a scorching afternoon, Fergie's men went 2-0 up thanks to goals from Eric Cantona and Denis Irwin.
However, what Beckham did in the 90th-minute changed the face of football.
Picking up the ball in his own half, he spotted veteran stopper Neil Sullivan off his line, before lobbing him with inch-perfect precision from the half-way line.
Middlesbrough 3-3 Liverpool: 1996-97
ON the same day, arguably the greatest opening day in Premier League history, there was not one but TWO 3-3 draws.
As well as newly-promoted Derby's home thriller with mid-90s giants Leeds, Liverpool stumbled to a disappointing draw of their own.
Three times Roy Evans' men took the lead. Three times Fabrizio Ravanelli of Middlesbrough pulled the hosts back on level terms.
On his English debut, no less...
Everton 1-6 Arsenal: 2009-10
IT was a case of six of the best for Arsenal back in the 2009-10 season.
On their opening day, they were scheduled to take on a notoriously tricky Everton XI at Goodison Park.
A sturdy defensive unit, no-one expected Arsenal to walk to such a comfortable win.
Goals from Denilson, Thomas Vermaelen, William Gallas, two from Cesc Fabregas and a clincher from Eduardo put the Gunners 6-0 up.
Louis Saha scored in the final minute of added time, but it was barely even a consolation for the defected Toffees.
Wigan 0-4 Blackpool: 2010-11
BLACKPOOL came into the Premier League as overwhelming favourites to head straight back down to the second tier in 2010-11.
But they became only the fifth team to come straight from promotion to winning their opening game - and what a memorable way to do it.
The Latics - at this point an established top flight team - were expected to comfortably dispatch the newbies.
But two goals from Marlon Harewood and further strikes from Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Alex Baptiste ensured Wigan could only watch on in stunned bemusement.
Leicester 4-2 Sunderland: 2015-16
AFTER already producing the greatest of great escapes at the end of the previous season, Leicester went into their 2015-16 opener with Sunderland expecting a relegation battle six-pointer.
Instead, the Foxes went 3-0 up just 25 minutes in thanks to goals from star duo Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, in a resounding 4-2 win.
What happened from then stunned the nation, nay, the world.
The "Fearless Foxes" put together victory-after-victory as they stormed to the most unlikely of Premier League titles.
Arsenal 3-4 Liverpool: 2016-17
NOT delving too far into the archives for this one, as Arsenal and Liverpool played out a stunner just 12 months ago.
The Gunners must have though they'd got off to a flyer after Theo Walcott's early strike, only to be pegged back by a stunning Philippe Coutinho free-kick on the stroke of half-time.
Liverpool then went beserk, going 4-1 up by the hour mark, before goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calum Chambers set up a tight finish.
But the elusive equaliser was never found and Arsenal started their season as they meant to go on... in an infuriating manner.
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