United starts against Baggies
Source: Agencies |
June 18, 2011, Saturday
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MANCHESTER United will begin its English Premier League title defense with a trip to West Bromwich Albion before potentially tougher matches against Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at home over the following two weekends.
After surpassing Liverpool's record of 18 titles last month, United is chasing a 20th championship when the season begins on August 13. It concludes on May 13, when United travels to Sunderland.
Chelsea, which was runner-up last season, will hope to have a manager by the time the team visits Stoke City for its first match. The London club goes to Old Trafford to play United on September 17.
In other opening-weekend matches, Arsenal is at Newcastle United, Manchester City hosts Swansea City - which beat Reading in the League Championship playoff final to become the first Welsh team to make it into the Premier League - and Liverpool hosts Sunderland.
In the league's first major match, Arsenal is at home to Liverpool on the second weekend.
"It's important to hit the ground running if you want to compete for the title," Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said. "You can't afford any slip-ups early on. It's a tough first two games but I'm really looking forward to them and I think we can get two positive results."
Sunderland's trip to Anfield means Jordan Henderson could make his competitive debut for Liverpool against the team that sold him for a reported 20 million pounds (US$33 million).
Arsenal has been given a tough early-season schedule, combined with Champions League qualification matches in mid-August after the club finished fourth in the league last season.
For the other Premier League newcomers, Queens Park Rangers opens at home against Bolton Wanderers and Norwich City heads to Wigan Athletic.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa appointed Alex McLeish as its new manager yesterday, less than a week after the Scot quit arch-rival and city-neighbor Birmingham City by email.
The move to interview 52-year-old McLeish, who was unable to prevent Birmingham from being relegated from the Premier League last season, resulted in protests at Villa Park by a number of die-hard fans earlier this week.
McLeish, whose contract details have not been announced, replaces Gerard Houllier, who left Villa last week because of heart problems after just nine months in charge.
"I am honored to have this opportunity to manage a club with such a fantastic history as Aston Villa's," McLeish said on the club's website.
"I know that some of our fans have voiced concerns and I can understand why."
Villa had a lackluster season, finishing ninth, and will be counting on McLeish to improve its fortunes.
After surpassing Liverpool's record of 18 titles last month, United is chasing a 20th championship when the season begins on August 13. It concludes on May 13, when United travels to Sunderland.
Chelsea, which was runner-up last season, will hope to have a manager by the time the team visits Stoke City for its first match. The London club goes to Old Trafford to play United on September 17.
In other opening-weekend matches, Arsenal is at Newcastle United, Manchester City hosts Swansea City - which beat Reading in the League Championship playoff final to become the first Welsh team to make it into the Premier League - and Liverpool hosts Sunderland.
In the league's first major match, Arsenal is at home to Liverpool on the second weekend.
"It's important to hit the ground running if you want to compete for the title," Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said. "You can't afford any slip-ups early on. It's a tough first two games but I'm really looking forward to them and I think we can get two positive results."
Sunderland's trip to Anfield means Jordan Henderson could make his competitive debut for Liverpool against the team that sold him for a reported 20 million pounds (US$33 million).
Arsenal has been given a tough early-season schedule, combined with Champions League qualification matches in mid-August after the club finished fourth in the league last season.
For the other Premier League newcomers, Queens Park Rangers opens at home against Bolton Wanderers and Norwich City heads to Wigan Athletic.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa appointed Alex McLeish as its new manager yesterday, less than a week after the Scot quit arch-rival and city-neighbor Birmingham City by email.
The move to interview 52-year-old McLeish, who was unable to prevent Birmingham from being relegated from the Premier League last season, resulted in protests at Villa Park by a number of die-hard fans earlier this week.
McLeish, whose contract details have not been announced, replaces Gerard Houllier, who left Villa last week because of heart problems after just nine months in charge.
"I am honored to have this opportunity to manage a club with such a fantastic history as Aston Villa's," McLeish said on the club's website.
"I know that some of our fans have voiced concerns and I can understand why."
Villa had a lackluster season, finishing ninth, and will be counting on McLeish to improve its fortunes.
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