As world football marvelled at Spain’s golden-age of players doing what they do best, a bit closer to home fans all over the country were at fever-pitch this morning when the latest round of Barclays Premier League fixtures were due to be released.
Last season’s opening round of fixtures had one blockbuster match which was between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park however this season we’ve been treated to an opening weekend with many well balanced fixtures.
17 August 2013
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Chelsea v Hull City
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur
Liverpool v Stoke City
Manchester City v Newcastle United
Norwich City v Everton
Sunderland v Fulham
Swansea City v Manchester United
West Bromwich Albion v Southampton
West Ham United v Cardiff City
It’s further on in the month of August where we really see the Premier League have the potential to catch fire. Manchester United face Chelsea and Liverpool in their second and third games respectively whereas we see our first North London Derby of the season as Tottenham travel to Arsenal on the 31st of August.
After facing Jose Mourinho, David Moyes travels to Manual Pellegrini’s new stomping ground at the Etihad for the first Manchester Derby of the season on the 21st of September; in fact of all the top teams Manchester United and Chelsea do seem to have been dealt the hardest opening fixtures.
As far as derbies are concerned, the Tyne-Wear derby will take place on the 26th of October at the Stadium of Light; if we get half the fixture we got towards the end of last season then we’re in for a treat but I can’t help think that having a full pre-season under Paolo Di Canio will make Sunderland a viciously good team.
The first all-Welsh Derby of the Premier League era takes places on the second of November as newly promoted Cardiff host their nearby rivals Swansea City in one of the fixtures that most neutrals will probably be looking forward to a great deal. Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho present the league with an awesome Christmas gift as they renew their war of words and tactics just days before Christmas day.
Roberto Martinez will get his opportunity to do something his predecessor never did on the 28th of January as he’ll hope to bring his Everton side away from Anfield with a derby day victory over Brendan Rodgers’ side. Also with Liverpool making some promising moves and snooping around the area of a few promising players this summer, the third of May might be a crunch clash for you Reds fans to add to your diary as Liverpool take on Crystal Palace. This is very much in the business end of the season and could be a make or break clash in terms of Liverpool’s bid for a top four finish and/or in Crystal Palace’s bid for Premier League survival.
Unfortunately I don’t think our servers will have the capacity for me to write about all the fixtures I’m excited about in this coming season but if you want to check out a few crucial fixtures for your own team then you can do so here! In two months a new season will be kicking off and I hope you’ll join us for all the news regarding what is sure to be another stellar campaign here at Fortitude Magazine!