The Barclays Premier League kicks off the 2012-13 season this weekend, and while the opening weekend of play is short on marquee matchups, there are several pairings worth keeping an eye on. Here's SWR's breakdown of what to look for this weekend.
TOP MATCHUP: Newcastle United vs. Tottenham Hotspur
TV COVERAGE (U.S.): Fox Soccer Channel, 12:30 p.m. ET
THE STORY: Both Spurs and Newcastle contended for top four status in 2011-12, and while Tottenham eventually secured the fourth spot, they wound up missing out on the Champions League when Chelsea defeated Bayern Munich to win the 2012 title and an automatic place in this year's league. Spurs' slow finish helped bring about the end of the tenure of manager Harry Redknapp, with former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas coming on board to take over. Other new faces for Spurs this season include former Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen and Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, who split last season between German side TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Swansea City. Luka Modric, meanwhile, is finally on his way to Real Madrid, but Spurs' win percentage with Modric in the lineup last year (46 percent) wasn't much higher than the win percentage without him (44). A bigger worry could be the fitness of Gareth Bale, who aggravated his nagging back injury on Wednesday during Wales' friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Newcastle, meanwhile, has finally brought on Vurnon Anita from Ajax after weeks of speculation, and picked up Gael Bigrimana earlier in the summer from Championship side Coventry. The Magpies are setting their sights high after last year's fifth-place finish, but will find it tough going to hold off the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool.
OTHER MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
Arsenal vs. Sunderland (10 a.m. ET Saturday, ESPN): Arsenal is set to begin the post-Robin van Persie era, having brought in Santi Carzola, Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podoloski on the summer transfer market. Louis Saha is the newest arrival at Sunderland, and the former Tottenham striker probably remembers a thing or two about the drive to beat the Gunners. Arsenal got off to a tough start last season, which Arsene Wenger would love to avoid in 2012-13.
Manchester United vs. Everton (3 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN2): The Red Devils look to have the transfer of Robin van Persie wrapped up in time for their season-opener on Monday, just in time for a date with Everton, coming off of a seventh-place finish in last year's Premier League. Everton will see the official debut of Steven Pienaar after his transfer from Spurs, while goalkeeper Tim Howard rides the momentum of his performance for the United States in Wednesday's historic 1-0 win over Mexico,.
Queens Park Rangers vs. Swansea City (10 a.m. ET Saturday): Swans surprised as the first Welsh side to play in the Premier League with last season's 11th-place finish, but Welsh international and Team GB Olympian midfielder Joe Allen is gone after a transfer to Liverpool. QPR barely avoided relegation in their return to the Premier League, and are hoping to make a stronger showing in 2012-13.
