Rio Ferdinand has warned Manchester United's title challengers that they will be as strong as ever next season.
Open race
The
fixtures were announced on Wednesday for the 2013/14 season, with Manchester City also facing Newcastle United on the opening day of the Premier League campaign and Jose Mourino's Chelsea taking on Hull City.
Moyes' first home game in charge of United will then be against Chelsea on August 24, and Graeme Souness says there will be a lot of pressure on the new Old Trafford boss to score a vital victory.
"As a manager, when you get the fixtures, you want to win your first game and get off to a good start. But the second game they play, Chelsea at home, that's the one he knows he must win," former Liverpool boss Souness told
Sky Sports News.
"If Moyes can put a marker down early against what will be one of his biggest rivals for the Premier League then he will have made a statement. But that will be a very hard game because Chelsea will be particularly strong next year."
The title race is expected to be one of the most open in years but there will also be a lot of focus on the Premier League's new clubs, with Cardiff City travelling to West Ham United on the opening day.
Cardiff City captain Mark Hudson said: "It's a great trip for us to start the season. We've been watching West Ham and how well they did last year. In addition, the first home game against Man City is going to be great for the fans.
"We know that it's tough for new sides. We have no illusions about that but we've made it to the Premier League."
Cardiff face Welsh rivals Swansea in early November, one of several fixtures that immediately
caught the eye.
