Lovers of sport spend the long summer evenings watching the Euro 2020 Championships, Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the Wimbledon Championships. It was a memorable few months of sport as the top tournaments played catch-up following the lockdown enforced postponements of 12 months ago.
With the international competitions now at an end, followers of the beautiful game now turn their attention back to club football. The English Premier League is the most-watched division in the world and that popularity is showing no signs of slowing down. We are approaching the start of what will be another thrilling season that gets underway in August and armchair fans can’t wait for the big games to be back on the box.
Fans around the world are making their predictions and placing their bets on who they think will be crowned the Premier League champions. From the leading sportsbooks in London to the traders in Las Vegas, the odds are out and bets are being placed. You will find the best odds on the Premier League at Canadasportsbetting.ca.
Before placing your stake money down on the table and making your call there are a few things you should know about the 2021/22 season. Let’s take a closer look.
City favourites, fans return and Bees open the show
Manchester City wrestled the crown back from Liverpool last season and the team playing out of the Etihad Stadium start as champions. They are also the favourites with most respected pundits to make it two-in-a-row and continue their recent dominance over English football. Manager Pep Guardiola has invested in his squad during the summer months as he bids for what would be a historic double – the Premier League title and UEFA Champions League crown. They lost in the final of Europe’s elite competition to Chelsea last season.
Fans will also be back inside stadiums with all coronavirus restrictions lifted in time for the big kick-off. In summer, we saw thousands return to Wembley during Euro 2020 but many clubs in the top flight of English football haven’t been permitted capacity crowds for over a year. Fans returning will bring back the atmosphere that is unique to the EPL.
Dates and times for your diary
The fixtures have been revealed and we now know the action begins on Friday 13th August. Newly promoted Brentford, who came up from the Championship last season following a few near misses, bring the curtain up against Arsenal. Both teams are hoping for a successful season. The Bees will aim to steer clear of the relegation zone in their first season while Gunners boss Mikel Arteta knows he must return the glory days to his club or it could end up costing the Spaniard his job. Follow that match live on TV from 20:00 GMT.
There’s plenty to celebrate on that first weekend of the new season with no less than five games set to receive the live TV treatment. There will be no sound effects, fake crowd noise and empty stadiums. This is the Premier League in all its glory and followers who can’t make it along to a match will be watching in their millions.
The start of a new campaign always pulls in huge viewing figures, but this season is set to be even more popular. It’s not just football viewers who will be celebrating. It will be a return to normal, something we have craved for over 18 months. The schedule also holds something we haven’t seen since early in the pandemic – a list of games kicking off in the traditional Saturday 3.00 pm slot.
Saturday’s viewing on matchday one begins at 12:30 when Manchester United host Leeds United at Old Trafford. The Red Devils are one of the early favourites to challenge for the title following last season’s runners up finish, and they’ll want to prove their worth with a big win that sends them into pole position at the first opportunity. They’ll get nothing for free against a free-scoring Peacocks side and their fans who would love nothing more to spoil the party and leave with all three points.
The second match on Saturday pairs Norwich and Liverpool before Sunday’s schedule brings us Newcastle v West Ham and Tottenham v Man City. Strap yourselves in for the ride.
