A new season dawns in the Premier League this weekend and after a summer of transfers it is time for action.
United play Baggies; Chelsea go to Stoke; Magpies host Arsenal
A new season dawns in the Premier League this weekend and after a summer of transfers and continued speculation, it is now time for action.
Unrest has spread across England this week with riots flaring up in London and other major cities, and as a result Tottenham's home clash with Everton has been postponed.
But elsewhere, the show must go on, and there are some mouth-watering encounters as top-flight sides look to get their campaigns off on the front foot.
Champions Manchester United will be gunning for a record 20th league title and they kick-off at West Brom on Sunday, while Chelsea, under the tutelage of new manager Andre Villas-Boas, face Stoke at the Britannia Stadium. Both matches will be live on
Sky Sports HD1.
Two newly-promoted sides are in action on Saturday with QPR and Norwich looking forward to life in the top-flight once again after success in the Championship last term.
Rangers host Bolton and the Canaries travel to Roberto Martinez's Wigan, who narrowly escaped relegation in May.
Elsewhere, Liverpool host Sunderland, Wolves go to Blackburn, Aston Villa play Fulham and the evening game sees Newcastle take on Arsenal.
Strengthened
Manchester United have strengthened their squad with the signings of Ashley Young, Phil Jones and David de Gea, which some argue is a reaction from Sir Alex Ferguson following their humbling by Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League final. Europe may be the biggest challenge Ferguson faces, but another league title would give United fans further bragging rights over Liverpool, and 'noisy neighbours' Manchester City.
West Brom are the hosts on Sunday, with Roy Hodgson preparing for his first full season at the Hawthorns. Watch the action live on
Sky Sports HD1 from 4pm.
Chelsea will be among the challengers to United's defence and with Andre Villas-Boas at the helm Roman Abramovich has put his faith in a manager who won the league with FC Porto last term. The Portuguese coach is only 33, though, and it remains to be seen if he can exert authority on the big egos at Stamford Bridge. They face a difficult opener, with
Stoke City lying in wait. Tony Pulis has moulded a tough, physical side since their promotion to the top-flight in 2008. You can also watch this one on
Sky Sports HD1 at 1.30pm.
Kenny Dalglish worked wonders at
Liverpool last season after taking the reins from Roy Hodgson, leading the Reds to a sixth-placed finish. A number of new arrivals have left supporters wondering how the team will line-up for their first match of the campaign against
Sunderland. One name added to the Anfield squad is Jordan Henderson, a £16million addition from the Black Cats, although Steve Bruce has also moved in the market with the likes of John O'Shea, Wes Brown, Connor Wickham and Craig Gardner arriving at the Stadium of Light.
Arsenal make the journey to Tyneside to play
Newcastle on Saturday evening, but it is the future of two of their midfielders that has dominated the summer. Cesc Fabregas will finally return to Barcelona after a protracted transfer saga that has run for what seems like eternal memory. Samir Nasri's future, though, remains uncertain. Newcastle supporters have seen key players leave while Joey Barton's Orwellian noises on Twitter have added fuel to the anti-Mike Ashley fire. Expect more developments off the field from both these clubs before the end of the window.
Frustrated
Neil Warnock has been frustrated in the transfer market since
Queens Park Rangers won the Championship, although key playmaker Adel Taarabt remains with the Hoops and he could be integral to their season if he stays beyond August 31. QPR were dominant in the second tier but the step up to the top-flight is not to be underestimated.
Bolton travel to the capital for a tricky opener at Loftus Road, with Owen Coyle having crafted a side that likes to play attractive football.
Norwich City achieved back-to-back promotions and after competing in League One just two seasons ago, they now find themselves eating at the top table. Paul Lambert takes his team to
Wigan and the Latics will want to avoid a repeat of the first day last year, when they were well beaten by Blackpool at the DW Stadium. The Latics have been tipped for another relegation battle but with Martinez in the dugout they have a manager who knows what it is required to stay up.
Alex McLeish needs a positive start to his
Aston Villa tenure after making the bold move from Birmingham City following the Blues' relegation. If things do not begin smoothly then the knives will be out for the Scot, with certain sections of the Villa supporters outraged that he finds himself in the manager's post. Like McLeish, Martin Jol takes charge of his new club for the first time in a Premier League match as
Fulham begin their campaign at Craven Cottage.
Blackburn Rovers and
Wolves meet at Ewood Park. For Rovers it has been a relatively quiet few months, despite promises from Venky's earlier in the year that they would spend to improve the squad -instead, the Indian owners have focused on fried chicken adverts. Wolves have bolstered their defence with the signing of former Birmingham defender Roger Johnson, and expect another solid challenge from Mick McCarthy's side.
