England's top flight returns this weekend and it promises to be another season of drama.
Can Manchester City defend their title? Who will be relegated? Will Robin van Persie make the difference for Manchester United? The Premier League returns this weekend
After being absolutely spoilt for sport over the summer, the Premier League is back this weekend and fans will return to cheering on a new multi-million-pound signing rather than those who could go faster, higher, stronger in Stratford.
Thanks to Euro 2012, the cricket Test series between England and South Africa, and, of course, the Olympics, the swing of Sergio Aguero's boot which so dramatically won the title for Manchester City just more than three months ago still seems like only yesterday.
However, almost under the radar, much has changed in the world of the Premier League and many questions are surrounding the 2012/13 kick-off. Can City defend their title? Will Robin van Persie make the difference for Manchester United? Has Chelsea's spending turned them into contenders? Is Brendan Rodgers the right man for Liverpool? Who will be relegated? In short, welcome back.
Roberto Mancini's
Manchester City begin the defence of their title by hosting
Southampton at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The reigning kings of England's top flight have been comparatively quiet in the summer transfer market, with only Jack Rodwell arriving so far from Everton, and Mancini has been sounding his frustration at a lack of activity and possibly showing signs of nerves after watching City's rivals recruit in style. Nigel Adkins' Southampton, last season's Championship runners-up, will be looking to take advantage of any potential slow start. It would be a huge shock, given City only dropped a record-equalling two points at home in 2011/12, and you can see if it materialises live on
Sky Sports 1HD &
3D from 3.30pm.
Ominous
Sunday's lunchtime kick-off is also available to watch on
Sky Sports and it sees European champions
Chelsea start against Roberto Martinez's
Wigan Athletic. Manager Roberto Di Matteo was eventually given a two-year contract at Stamford Bridge over the summer having last season guided the club to a stunning UEFA Champions League and FA Cup double. Whether it is the work of Di Matteo or the London club's billionaire owner, Roman Abramovich, there has also been more than £60million in close-season investment at Chelsea to give them an ominously creative appearance. Wigan, who in the last campaign again avoided relegation, will be aiming to prevent their DW Stadium visitors from making a perfect start to an attempt to close a previous 25-point deficit on the two Manchester clubs.
With 2011/12 runners-up Manchester United not in action until Monday night's trip to Everton, the main focus of Saturday's 3pm kick-offs will likely be upon a Van Persie-less
Arsenal against
Sunderland at Emirates Stadium. The Dutchman, formerly the Gunners captain, has moved to United in a £24m deal to leave those in North London with mixed emotions. After recruiting Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla over the summer, there was a wave of optimism that Arsene Wenger's men could at least end a seven-year trophy drought. Some had even ambitiously been tipping Arsenal as potential title winners. Whether those predictions still exist now Van Persie has gone remains to be seen. Martin O'Neill's Sunderland, meanwhile, travel to the capital knowing they have only beaten
