English Premier League 2011-12 Fixtures: 10 Best Rivalry Games
The 2011-2012 English Premier League fixtures were released to the public not one week ago, and though it's still the summer and the transfer season is beginning to heat up, already we are visualizing the biggest games on the schedule.
Every match is meaningful, and securing three points is a weekly goal. But the rivalry matches present much more than that.
These are the games that bring momentum and raise confidence, chemistry and form. Three points is still three points, but when taken from a contending club, it carries extra weight.
Each of the following fixtures will be doubled up during the season, but the matchups alone present potentially star-studded lineups with more than a few points on the line.
Here are the 10 best rivalry games of the 2011-2012 EPL season.
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
1 of 10
The 2011-2012 Tyne-Wear Derby begins on Match Day 2 in the Premiership.
When Sunderland hosted Newcastle at the Stadium of Light in its most recent meeting in January, 24 people were arrested in connection with a hooligan incident. It is obvious that the fans rile themselves up enough for this rivalry.
Of all the derbies in England, we are greeted first with the Toons and the Black Cats in the second round of league play.
Everton vs. Liverpool
2 of 10
Though the Merseyside Derby between Liverpool and Everton isn't the most tumultuous and inspiring of England's derbies, it is a true rivalry by geography.
The Reds have consistently outshined the Toffees in recent years in terms of end of the season finishing, trophies and European qualification.
But despite Everton's obvious shortcomings heads-up against Liverpool, the lesser of the two Liverpool-based clubs has stayed afloat in England's top flight.
Both squads will field respectable starting XIs, and though Liverpool's may consistently outclass Everton's, it is a far cry away from the typical Manchester and North London Derbies.
Tottenham vs. Manchester City
3 of 10
The clashes between Tottenham and Manchester City have heated up in recent seasons.
Two years ago, Spurs barely edged out City for the final qualifying position for Champions League entry. Spurs rode good form from a variety of players en route to a quarterfinals elimination, but not before ending the dreams of big European clubs like AC Milan and Inter Milan.
City have upped the ante in the past season and a half. Reeling in huge signings via its owners' endlessly deep pockets has catapulted the club into some heavy spotlight.
Tottenham employs one of the top managers in England in Harry Redknapp. And though City's Roberto Mancini doesn't receive the same applause and recognition, his team can compete with the best in Europe.
Spurs won't have the flashy roster, but they have pieced together some great footballers that have given some of Europe's best a run for their money.
Liverpool vs. Manchester United
4 of 10
Manchester United have had a target on its back for some time, given the club's successes in recent memory.
Although Liverpool have had a couple of lackluster campaigns in the past few years, they have still made headlines as one of the more productive clubs.
There is a new era of Reds football that is coming, but as United and Liverpool remain a couple of the Premierships top teams, any sort of blooming rivalry, geographic or otherwise, is inevitable.
Chelsea vs. Manchester City
5 of 10
As Manchester City's product grows in visibility with very flexible transfer budgets, its promise of top-class performance grows as well.
Roberto Mancini employs a vanilla strategy: Get a goal and play behind it. With one of the best defenses in the Premier League, and an attack with a trio of high-profile strikers, City has shown its ability to compete with the EPL's finest.
All season long we will hear of Manchester City and Chelsea making news in Europe and England, as they are a couple of the EPL's most visible clubs.
Chelsea's reputation precedes itself; all of Europe knows what Chelsea is.
Top-class players with high expectations will breed stinging competition.
Manchester United vs. Arsenal
6 of 10
A couple of other top clubs in the Premiership are Manchester United and Arsenal, two teams that have prided themselves in piecing together appropriate footballers to meet a specific strategy. And those approaches have blossomed into success in recent memory.
Arsenal are showing signs of weakness, and it's possible some changes will be made. The Gunners' every move will be under the watchful eye of many across England and Europe. Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas have proven to be instrumental in Arsenal's form and fortune.
Manchester United are the defending champions and will undoubtedly contend for a repeat opportunity.
It is simply a case of two contemporary powers facing off—an eye-catching fixture that resonates of exciting football.
Chelsea vs. Arsenal
7 of 10
Chelsea and Arsenal are top in West and North London respectively. They are consistently heralded as a couple of England's best clubs.
It is no surprise that games between these two have begun holding more weight in recent seasons.
The Blues are the old and skilled men, but the Gunners' current core of footballers is young and extremely talented. Even though Arsenal could undergo changes that could hurt its future, it is still a matchup of the EPL's contemporary best.
Manchester United vs. Chelsea
8 of 10
Dating back to the 2003-2004 season, Manchester United and Chelsea have both finished in the top three every year, a true sign of the clubs' success and winning direction.
In the past eight seasons, only one other team besides United and Chelsea have claimed the EPL title.
The two best teams in England's top flight going head-to-head should excite any English football fan.
Though geography plays a minimal role, the talent level of both of these clubs is off the charts. And at the rate they are going, the expectations will not dip.
Tottenham vs. Arsenal
9 of 10
The North London derby is one of the more exciting local derbies in all of England.
Arsenal and Tottenham have met in league play 150 times, with the Gunners holding the edge with a 61-42-47 record against the Spurs.
Their respective playing grounds are less than four miles apart, giving the feel of a true geographic rivalry.
And although Arsenal have a command of the scoreboard, Tottenham have secured themselves as prime competition in the Premier League.
There are few rivalries that match the intensity of North London's.
Manchester United vs. Manchester City
10 of 10
Like the North London derby, the Manchester derby pits two same-town clubs less than four miles from one another.
Manchester United, however, recently have experienced much better success over Manchester City relative to Arsenal's over Tottenham's.
As the Reds are one of the most well-known clubs in the entire world, it is difficult for City to catch a glimpse of the spotlight.
But with City's owner, Sheikh Mansour, and his seemingly endless financial freedom, the Blues have established themselves as a force in the EPL with their high-profile signings and lavish transfer budgets.
Still, United stand as City's older brother.
