Premier League 2013-14 Fixtures: First 6 Must-Watch Games

It says everything about the Premier League's monstrous appeal that the announcement of fixtures is an event in and of itself these days.

Though the exact dates and times of the games remain subject to change and at the whim of the television networks, Wednesday's release has got everybody excited about England's top flight again.

Just over a month after Manchester United wrapped up Premier League title No. 13, the last of Sir Alex Ferguson's reign, we are already looking ahead to their defence under David Moyes.

There's no time for summer in football.

Elsewhere, returning Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will be scanning the early challenges ahead for his team, as will Manchester City's new boss, Manuel Pellegrini. There are newcomers to assess in the form of Hull City, Crystal Palace and Cardiff, and there are new signings to cast our eyes over everywhere.

Here are my first six must-watch games of the 2013-14 Premier League season.

Manchester City vs. Newcastle United

When: Matchday 1 (August 17*)

Respective fixture last season: Manchester City 4-0 Newcastle United 

Manchester City's title defence was weak last season. Roberto Mancini's team lacked consistency, and some of their bigger names failed to show up in the manner they had in the glorious campaign before.

Add to that their Champions League exit at the group stage and Mancini's perceived relationship struggles with his players, and you have the (albeit harsh) justification for his sacking.

In his place, enter Manuel Pellegrini, the widely respected former Malaga coach who will be tasked with making good on Sheik Mansour's considerable investment. City have already made two smart signings in Fernandinho and Jesus Navas this summer, and we should expect Pellegrini to add several more.

Seeing how City's new coach sets them up against Newcastle and the competitive debuts of their new signings will be fascinating.

Newcastle, like City, have a major point to prove next season. They fell flat during the 2012-13 campaign, and Alan Pardew came in for heavy criticism. He's kept his job, but the appointment of Joe Kinnear as director of football could be read as a transparent move to undermine his position.

Newcastle are yet to make a summer signing but will undoubtedly be strengthened by the time August arrives. On paper they still have a strong squad sprinkled with creative flair in the likes of Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa.

*Subject to change

West Ham vs. Cardiff City

When: Matchday 1 (August 17*)

Respective fixture last season: N/A

Cardiff made it two Welsh teams in the Premier League by earning automatic promotion under Malky Mackay last season. 

Their opening-day trip to West Ham will give us an early read on how they'll stack up against a jobbing top-flight outfit, and it will come with no shortage of passion from two sets of famously vocal and passionate fans.

The ever-loveable Craig Bellamy will return to a former stomping ground and be as fired-up as ever to prove to the world how good he is. 

Sam Allardyce's West Ham defied expectations to finish 10th last season and played some extremely entertaining football along the way. They're direct, but they also have players with imagination and are capable of breaking opponents down on the deck.

Expect this one to be fiery. I predict this is where we'll see the first red card of the season.

*Subject to change

Manchester United vs. Chelsea

When: Matchday 2 (August 24*)

Respective fixture last season: Manchester United 0-1 Chelsea

David Moyes begins the monumental task of following Ferguson with a trip to Swansea and nothing less than a convincing away win required to get his tenure away on a positive footing.

Next up, it's Chelsea and Jose Mourinho in a clash that will see the focus fall heavily on two managers desperate to inflict an early blow in the title race. Moyes will not want to lose his first competitive game at Old Trafford, but Mourinho has made a habit of beating Manchester United over the years.

Expect this one to be tense and extremely tight. Mourinho's Chelsea will be hard to break down, while Moyes' time at Everton suggests he'll set United up more cautiously than his attack-minded predecessor. 

Chelsea are sure to have made some big summer signings by then. United will also dip into the market and may yet lose Wayne Rooney and a couple of others before this one comes around.

In terms of the title race, this is the first meeting between two of the four genuine contenders. 

*Subject to change

Arsenal vs. Tottenham

When: Matchday 3 (August 31*)

Respective fixture last season: Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham

For the 18th straight season Arsenal finished above Tottenham and claimed the bragging rights of North London, culminating in what was sure to be a celebratory St. Totteringham's Day.

Spurs had only themselves to blame. From a position as title contenders they fell away towards the end of the campaign and once again missed out on the Champions League spots. Arsenal were the major benefactors.

That said, the Gunners' season was still deemed a major disappointment by most of their fans. Selling Robin van Persie and failing to replace him had another year pass without a trophy. For all his early successes, Arsene Wenger surely doesn't have many more chances left. 

Arsenal must buy big this summer to be competitive. Tottenham's biggest task is keeping hold of Gareth Bale, who won every award going last season and was a force of nature in their colours.

Expect some new faces in this one, but expect the usual intensity and frantic football as these two great rivals try to make an early statement of intent.

*Subject to change

Liverpool vs. Manchester United

When: Matchday 3 (August 31*)

Respective fixture last season: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United

The rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United burns as brightly as any in the Premier League, but it's been one-sided for a generation now.

United have won 13 titles since 1993, while Liverpool have gone empty-handed. 

Brendan Rodgers used his first season in charge at Anfield to impart his blueprint for success and was rightly given patience. His second will be measured on results, and there would be no better signal of forward progress than an early win against the enemy.

Rodgers is eyeing several transfer targets and has already added defensive cover in Kolo Toure. Whether or not Luis Suarez stays, he'll still be banned for the visit of United, so Liverpool will need to decide on a player to fill his boots either way.

United will come into this one on the back of facing Chelsea. If that result doesn't go their way, Moyes could find himself under some very early pressure. 

Should Liverpool beat Stoke and Aston Villa in their opening two games, as they perhaps should, United could find them high in confidence and in the mood for some revenge.

*Subject to change

Crystal Palace vs. Sunderland

When: Matchday 3 (August 31*)

Respective fixture last season: N/A

This one will pit two of football's most colourful coaches against each other—Sunderland's Paolo Di Canio vs. Crystal Palace's Ian Holloway.

Palace won promotion through the playoffs and will be widely considered near-certain relegation fodder. They've lost Wilfried Zaha to Manchester United and desperately need to add some quality to stand any chance of survival.

Winning home games against teams outside the top six will be key to their survival, and the visit of Sunderland provides an early opportunity for three points.

Di Canio will be thinking exactly the opposite, and with this fixture following games against Fulham and Southampton, he may have realistic ambitions of seeing his Sunderland team atop the Premier League table after Week 3.

*Subject to change