New season gets under way on Saturday
13th August 2010
The waiting will finally be over on Saturday as the new Premier League season kicks off.
While the rest of the English leagues are already a week old, the top-flight raises the curtain on the new campaign this weekend.
Champions Chelsea are the favourites to retain their title, but they do not open their campaign until later on Saturday.
Likewise, Manchester United will have a bit of a wait before joining the fray as they kick-off the return of Monday Night Football.
The first match of the Premier League season, which you can see live on Sky Sports HD2 from midday, involves two of last season's most talked about sides as Tottenham - who upset the established top four last season - host the league's biggest spenders Manchester City, who they beat to the final UEFA Champions League spot.
The main talking point at White Hart Lane will surely be how Roberto Mancini's side line up with the likes of David Silva, Jerome Boateng, Yaya Toure and Alexander Kolarov all looking to make their Premier League debuts.
In stark contrast Spurs boss Harry Redknappis yet to plunder his transfer war chest as he goes into the match with the players who he guided to fourth last term.
From 3pm, the bulk of the weekend's fixtures take place with six games.
One of the most intriguing clashes comes in Lancashire where Wigan host Premier League new boys Blackpool at the DW Stadium. The game was originally scheduled to be played at Bloomfield Road, but work there on the stadium is not yet complete so a switch was needed.
Wigan have invested heavily over the summer and could have up to five new faces in their starting XI, while Blackpool could have a similar number of debutants after rushing through a host of deals only this week. The match will be Blackpool's first game in the top-flight since 1971.
Shock departure
Villa Park has suddenly become the scene of much talk this week following Martin O'Neill's shock departure from the helm of Aston Villa.
Villa will be under caretaker Kevin McDonald but his tenure is only likely to be for one game as owner Randy Lerner is keen to find O'Neill's successor before their second match against Newcastle.
The Midlands giants play host to Avram Grant as he takes charge of West Ham for the first time since arriving from Portsmouth.
Sam Allardyce enters the opening day in confident mood as they host Everton, the last side Blackburn beat on the first day of a Premier League season back in 2002.
After being in charge since late 2008, Allardyce already has the squad in his own mould and it is little surprise there have been few incomings at Ewood Park, but the debut of Manchester United loanee Mame Biram Diouf should be a highlight on Saturday.
David Moyes has been limited on the transfer front with his main objective and accomplishment being the retention of Mikel Arteta, who will be looking forward to starting the season this term after injuries meant he missed most of the last campaign.
Bolton will be looking for a brighter start this time around as they play host to Fulham at the Reebok.
Last year they lost first time out to Sunderland, but Owen Coyle is undertaking his first opening day with the Whites and will be hoping the likes of new signing Martin Petrov will help get them off to the ideal start.
Fulham come into the match on the back of arguably their most successful season ever, but things have changed at the Cottage with Mark Hughes taking charge following Roy Hodgson's departure to Liverpool.
Fulham finished 12th and former City chief Hughes will no doubt fancy his chances of a repeat or even better and an opening day win will be high on his agenda.
New faces
Expectation levels remain high on Wearside for Steve Bruce's Sunderland, who begin by hosting Birmingham at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland began last season in fine style before collapsing mid-season to finish 13th after previously hoping for a minimum of a top 10 placing.
Sunderland fans could very well see a glimpse of a number of new faces on Saturday with Titus Bramble, Nedum Onuoha, Christian Riveros and Ahmed Al-Muhammadi all hoping to feature.
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish had a wonderful campaign last season with a brilliant ninth place finish.
McLeish has added to his side and Ben Foster and Nikola Zigic will likely don the City shirt for the first time on Saturday.
The last of the 3pm kick-offs comes from Molineux as Wolves take on Stoke City.
It was mission impossible for Mick McCarthy last term as the Black Country side successfully avoided relegation - but he will be looking to progress this term, no doubt in a similar fashion to how Stoke have emerged as a Premier League force.
Tony Pulis' side are now entering their third successive season and the £9million club record signing of Kenwyne Jones is a signal of their new found stability at Premier League level.
The final game on Saturday sees attention shift firmly to West London and onto champions Chelsea as they host newly promoted West Bromwich Abion.
The Baggies are managed by Blues legend Roberto Di Matteo, who will no doubt be granted a great reception, but Chelsea will be hoping that is the only Albion induced cheer that will be present at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have tinkered with their squad in the off-season and Yossi Benayoun could very well debut against West Brom.
Exciting
Super Sunday returns this weekend, and you could not have wished for a more exciting fixture as Arsenal travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool.
The Reds have seen Rafa Benitez depart and will begin a campaign without the Spaniard at the helm for the first time since 2004.
Hodgson will be relishing his opening battle and the chance to pit his wits against Arsene Wenger.
Hodgson will no doubt unleash his top summer signings Joe Cole and Christian Poulsen live on Sky Sports, whilst Wenger too will be handing out debuts with Laurent Koscielny and Marouane Chamakh both poised to play.
And as if Super Sunday was not enough, the legendary Monday Night Football returns to Sky Sports screens as Newcastle begin life back in the Premier League with the most daunting of trips as they take on Manchester United.
Fresh from lifting the Community Shield with a convincing display, Sir Alex Ferguson's men appear in fine fettle with Javier Hernandez - who looks one of the most exicting foreign captures of recent times - eager to feature.
Hernandez, though, will likely start from the bench on Monday evening as old rivals Newcastle return to town.
Sol Campbell's debut live on our screens could be one of the main talking points for the Magpies.