Sky Sports go for a local vibe with first collection of televised games

The announcement of the forthcoming season’s televised fixtures always whets the appetite of football-starved fans across the nation, and this summer it has been no different.

Sky lead the way as always, securing some of the biggest games on the calendar, with September derby clashes between Manchester United and Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham and the Manchester derby, along with the west London clash between Chelsea and Fulham, setting up a fantastic month for the broadcaster.

The Premier League’s chief programmers have opted to stick with a local theme throughout their listings, opting for the capital clash between Crystal Palace and Fulham, the Tyne-Wear derby and the division’s first ever all-Welsh clash between Cardiff and Swansea.

BT Sport have been given the 12:45pm Saturday slot for the 2013/14 campaign, with the jewel in their crown seemingly the Merseyside derby at GoodisonPark alongside Spurs’ meetings with both Chelsea and Man United.

Liverpool and Stoke will open proceedings on the new channel with the lunchtime kick-off on Saturday 17^th of August.

Brendan Rodgers’ Anfield revolution has gathered apace this summer, with exciting attacking options Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas adding to an already intriguing forward line including Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez, should he stay.

The Reds are 4/9 to secure a victory against the Potters, but the new-look side being built by Mark Hughes could cause the north-west club issues. With five draws between the pair in five seasons, a 6/5 price on this ending all-square looks good value.

Sky have chosen David Moyes’ league debut as their curtain opener. The Red Devils travel to Swansea whom they have yet to lose to since their promotion two years ago.

United are 7/10 for a fourth win in five against the Swans here.

The first Super Sunday of 2013-14 sees Palace host Andre Villas Boas’ Spurs side, with Jose Mourinho returning to Chelsea with a home game with Hull.

A win for the former is 4/5, while a win for the Special One is available at 1/5.    

Manchester City’s annual home success over Newcastle has been chosen as the first outing of Sky’s new-look Jamie Carragher-Gary Neville fronted Monday Night Football.

The Toon have never won at the Etihad, and that is unlikely to change, so backing the Citizens at 2/9 seems the only option.   

Accumulator pays just under 18/1.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date