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Ahead of Aston Villa v Manchester United, we look back at six previous Friday night meetings

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Friday night Premier League football returns to Sky Sports this weekend when Aston Villa face Manchester United at Villa Park.

The encounter will give Premier League fans a taste of what is to come, with Friday night games to feature regularly on Sky from next season.

It is only the seventh time in Premier League history that a fixture has been played on a Friday night outside of the holiday season, and here we look back on the previous encounters - featuring a Chelsea v Manchester United classic and Arsenal’s legendary Invincibles.

Chelsea 0-0 Middlesbrough (December 11, 1992)

Middlesbrough’s former ground Ayresome Park was the unlikely setting for the first ever Premier League fixture on a Friday night. Glenn Hoddle’s Chelsea came into the game full of confidence after four consecutive wins, but the hosts held firm to claim a point.

Glenn Hoddle was Chelsea manager between 1993 and 1997
Image: Glenn Hoddle was Chelsea manager between 1993 and 1997

Chelsea eventually finished in 11th place that season, while Boro were relegated. The Teessiders spent the following two years in the second tier, before returning to the Premier League the year they moved to the Riverside Stadium in 1995.

Man City 1-1 Coventry City (August 27, 1993)
Manchester City had failed to win any of their opening four games when Coventry visited Maine Road on a Friday night in August 1993, while Coventry were unbeaten after a strong start.

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City took the lead through former striker Mike Sheron, but they were denied their first win of the campaign when United States international Roy Wegerle struck an equaliser five minutes from time.

Ipswich Town 2-2 Wimbledon (December 16, 1994)

Lowly Ipswich had lost 13 of their opening 18 games when Wimbledon came to town in December 1994. Dons striker Dean Holdsworth put the visitors ahead after two minutes, but Simon Milton pulled Ipswich back on level terms shortly afterwards.

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Jon Goodman re-established Wimbledon’s lead after the break, but Ipswich battled back again as Steve Sedgley’s 83rd-minute goal clinched a point for the hosts.

Chelsea 2-2 Man Utd (August 23, 2002)

Ryan Giggs scored his 100th goal for Manchester United to earn a point for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in this pulsating encounter at Stamford Bridge in the second week of the 2002/03 season.

Ryan Giggs celebrates scoring Man Utd's equalizing goal, with team mates Mikael Silvestre Chelsea 2 Manchester United 2, 23 August 2002
Image: Ryan Giggs celebrates his equaliser for Manchester United against Chelsea in August 2002

Earlier, William Gallas had given Chelsea the perfect start with an early goal, but David Beckham levelled when he controlled Mickael Silverstre’s raking pass and curled home a stunning finish. Chelsea went back in front thanks to Boudewijn Zenden’s excellent strike, but Giggs’s clipped finish over Carlo Cudicini ensured it was honours even.

Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle (September 26, 2003)

Just five days after the infamous ‘Battle of Old Trafford’ in which tempers boiled over between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford, the Gunners got back to winning ways against Newcastle at Highbury.

Thierry Henry’s opener was cancelled out by Laurent Robert in a first half in which Arsenal lost Patrick Vieira to injury. Gilberto Silva restored Arsenal’s lead before Olivier Bernard struck for Newcastle, and the match appeared to be heading for a draw until Henry hit his second from the penalty spot.

Arsenal 5-0 Leeds (April 16, 2004)

This was the ‘Invincibles’ at their thrilling best. Arsene Wenger’s men were unbeaten in 34 Premier League games when Leeds visited Highbury in April 2004, and they blew the visitors away in stunning style. Robert Pires opened the scoring to give the Gunners an early lead, then Theirry Henry took over.

Thierry Henry, now a Sky Sports pundit, celebrates scoring against Leeds in 2004
Image: Thierry Henry, now a Sky Sports pundit, celebrates scoring against Leeds in 2004

The iconic Frenchman had scored a hat-trick in Arsenal’s previous home game against Liverpool, but he went one better against Leeds, smashing four goals in the space of 40 minutes either side of half-time. “It's difficult to find each time new words for Thierry,” said Wenger afterwards. The Gunners went on to clinch the title undefeated, while Leeds were relegated without winning another game.

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