Premier League set for kick-off

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE OPENING WEEKEND - 14-16 AUGUST
Coverage across the BBC, including Football Focus, Final Score, Match of the Day and Match of the Day 2 on TV and online - plus live radio commentary on Tottenham v Man City, Wigan v Blackpool, Liverpool v Arsenal and Man Utd v Newcastle and live text commentary throughout the weekend
Full coverage details

World Cup stars heading for the Premier League

The new Premier League season kicks off on Saturday, with many tipping this to be the most competitive campaign yet.

Big-spending Manchester City open up away at Tottenham at 1245 BST, with champions Chelsea completing the day's action at home to West Brom at 1730.

Newly-promoted Blackpool get their top-flight return under way at Wigan, with a total of eight games scheduled.

Liverpool host Arsenal in Sunday's only Premier League fixture, with Newcastle away at Manchester United on Monday.

While Chelsea remain many pundits' favourites to retain their Premier League title, Carlo Ancelotti's side could face challenges from a number of sides.

Manchester United, who have won 11 out of the 17 Premier League seasons, go into the campaign as their most likely rivals for the title, and having boosted their squad with the likes of Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez.

Yes (it is a realistic aim). There is no point me looking anywhere else. The sky is the limit. Tottenham will never get a better chance Redknapp on Spurs' title chances

But Arsenal - who have kept hold of Cesc Fabregas despite Barcelona's best efforts to sign him this summer - Roy Hodgson's rejuvenated Liverpool and Tottenham, who finished fourth last season, also go into the season full of optimism.

In fact Spurs boss Harry Redknapp insists his side will "never get a better chance" at a title push, adding: "Yes (it is a realistic aim). There is no point me looking anywhere else. The sky is the limit.

"We finished fourth last year and Tottenham will never get a better chance."

To do that, the Londoners would have to finish above Manchester City, the financial powerhouse tipped by many to upset the established order at the top of the league.

The Eastlands club, backed by billionaire Arab owners, have already splashed the best part of £80m on transfers this summer - and that is almost certain to rise with deals for Aston Villa midfielder James Milner and Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli widely expected to go through in the next few days.

They are one of a number of clubs facing a balancing act in the coming campaign, following the introduction of new Premier League rules on squad limits and home-grown quotas .

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Those rulings have had little impact, though, on Blackpool ahead of their Premier League bow, with Ian Holloway boasting just 15 senior players in his squad before making five signings on Wednesday.

West Brom have been similarly active following their promotion, Baggies boss Roberto di Matteo bringing in five new players this summer, while the third of the Premier League new boys Newcastle have bolstered their squad with the likes of Sol Campbell, James Perch and Dan Gosling.

Also in action on Saturday are Aston Villa, currently managerless following Martin O'Neill's shock resignation earlier in the week, and West Ham, who will be led by Avram Grant following his summer appointment.

Everton - also tipped to do well this season after their last campaign was hampered by a series of injuries - kick off away at Blackburn, Bolton host Mark Hughes's Fulham, and Steve Bruce goes up against one of his former sides when Sunderland host Birmingham.

The BBC offers extensive coverage of the Premier League , and UK users will be able to see every goal on Match of the Day and Match of the Day 2. There will also be live commentaries on BBC Radio 5 live and live coverage on the BBC website.

The action begins at 1245 at White Hart Lane.

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