It’s less than a month to the start of the English Premier League season, the most-watched football league in the world. With a raft of new elite managers and the increased spending power of the clubs, the prestigious tournament is set to be very very exciting this year. Most teams will be eager to hit the ground running, and below are take a look at some of the most important games in the early rounds which might have a substantial impact on the entire league campaign.
3. Manchester United vs. Southampton (Friday, August 19).
Jose Mourinho’s first home game Manchester United coach will see him play against a Southampton side under the stewardship of new manager Claude Puel. The Saints gave former United manager Louis Van Gaal all kinds of problems last season and the French manager will be hoping to continue in the same fashion. The Manchester club’s summer outlay need to be justified by a title challenge, and Jose Mourinho must know that beating teams like Southampton will be important in this regard.