Soccer Weekend: The Premier League Season Begins
By Ty Duffy
The EPL returns, earlier than most would anticipate. The major change, for American viewers, is NBC will be showing a second 10:00am match on Saturday on USA Network. The opening slate is mediocre. But, starved fans will attack it like a shirtless Cristiano Ronaldo digging into a large steak. Five matches to recommend seems too much. Here are three.
Matches To Watch
Manchester United vs. Tottenham: United are trying to become United again. They beefed up their central midfield in alliterative fashion, adding Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger. They also added sexy young Dutch winger Memphis Depay. Still trying to work out that awkward goalkeeper situation. Spurs have turned a profit. They will hope no one has figured out Harry Kane.
Arsenal vs. West Ham: London Derby. Arsenal finally added a top-class goalkeeper in Petr Cech. Will the Gunners compete for the title? Expect to hear a lot about “mental fortitude.” Will West Ham stay up before moving into their fancy new stadium? Halt the furious tide of red cards?
Bournemouth vs. Aston Villa: Contrasting narratives meet. Bournemouth won the Championship in fine fettle, tallying 98 goals. They’ve kept the team together. They are everyone’s tipped promotion team to stay up. Aston Villa almost went down last season. Their owner didn’t sell. They sold off their two best players, Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph. At least Villa fans can think back wistfully, to the turd the club laid in the FA Cup Final.
Full TV Schedule
SATURDAY
Manchester United vs. Tottenham [7:45am ET – NBCSN]
Bournemouth vs. Aston Villa [10:00am ET – NBCSN]
Everton vs. Watford [10:00am ET – USA]
Leicester vs. Sunderland [10:00am ET – NBC Live Extra]
Norwich vs. Crystal Palace [10:00am ET – NBC Live Extra]
Chelsea vs. Swansea [12:30am ET – NBC]
SUNDAY
Arsenal vs. West Ham [8:30am ET – NBCSN]
Newcastle vs. Southampton [8:30am ET – NBC Live Extra]
Stoke vs. Liverpool [11:00am ET – NBCSN]
MONDAY
West Brom vs. Manchester City [3:00pm ET – NBCSN]
Season Predictions
Top Four: 1. Arsenal 2. Manchester City 3. Chelsea 4. Manchester United
Relegation: Aston Villa, Watford, Leicester
Top Scorer: Wayne Rooney, Manchester United
Player of the Season: Mesut Ozil, Arsenal
Best Signing: Petr Cech, Arsenal