The most watched television series in the world, the English Premier League, EPL, resumes the 2013/2014 season on Saturday 17 August 2013.
Manchester United FC won the league championship last season in a tremendous fashion, with Robin van Persie, a summer acquisition from Arsenal FC winning the coveted Golden Boot Award after finishing the season with 25 goals.
Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal finished second, third and fourth respectively to join Manchester United in the Champions League, while Wigan Athletic, Queens Park Rangers and Reading FC were all demoted to the second tier championship.
Cardiff City, Hull City and Crystal Palace have since gained promotion to the Premier League.
Tottenham Hotspur who were edged to the final Champions League spot by Arsenal on the last day of the season will represent England in the Europa League this season alongside Wigan Athletic, winners of the FA Cup, and Swansea, winners of the League Cup.
Last season also saw the end of an era as Sir Alex Ferguson retired on his illustrious Manchester United tenure. He was at the helm of the Old Trafford club for 27 years amassing 38 trophies on his way to becoming the most successful coach in the history of British football. He has since been replaced by fellow Scot, David Moyes who joined from Everton.
Interestingly, all teams in the top four, except Arsenal, have changed their managers since the end of last season.
Jose Mourinho returned to Chelsea from Real Madrid and will be hoping to repeat the success he had during his first tenure at the club between 2004 and 2007.
Manchester City also parted ways with Roberto Mancini after a dismal season that saw the Citizens fumble in the league and Champions League before losing unceremoniously in the FA Cup final against minnows, Wigan Athletic. City owner, Sheik Mansour replaced him with engineer-turned coach, Manuel Pellegrini from Spanish club side, Malaga.
The traditional season opener, the Community Shield usually contested between the Premier League champions and the FA Cup winners (if the EPL Champions are also the FA Cup winners, the EPL runner-up will provide the opposition) was played on Sunday at Wembley.
Manchester United defeated Wigan Athletic 2-0 courtesy of a van-Persie brace to give new manager, David Moyes his first piece of silverware. The Glaswegian has been handed the uphill task of following the footsteps of an out of the curve manager like Sir Alex Ferguson.
He will start his EPL campaign away to Swansea City while Mourinho’s Chelsea take on Hull City at home, Arsenal face Aston Villa and Manchester City tackle Newcastle United.
The EPL opening day fixtures in full:
Saturday 17th August 2013:
Liverpool v Stoke 12:45
Arsenal v Aston Villa 15:00
Norwich v Everton 15:00
Sunderland v Fulham 15:00
West Brom v Southampton 15:00
West Ham v Cardiff 15:00
Swansea v Man Utd 17:30
Sunday 18th August 2013:
Crystal Palace v Spurs 13:30
Chelsea v Hull 16:00
Monday 19th August 2013:
Man City v Newcastle 20:00
Predictions:
Writer’s prediction: Manuel Pellegrini and Manchester City are favoured to win the title at the end of the league followed closely by Chelsea and Manchester United. Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool will slug it out for the final UEFA Champions League spot.
Hull City, Cardiff City and Crystal Palace are candidates for relegation. Stoke City, Newcastle and Norwich City will face some struggles.
What are your predictions for the incoming season?
