English Premier League Preview: August 23, 24, 25

The second match of the season is very early to start 'needing' to win games, but both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur will be getting that familiar sinking sfeeling if they don't pick up three points from their opening home league games of the campaign this weekend. Both sides and their fans are well used to false dawns, as they have spent most of the last few decades building themselves up to think that things are finally getting better, only to be bitterly disappointed as reality bites back.

Admittedly, last Sunday's 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa won't have come as a complete bolt from the blue for City after the way things have gone for them in the last few weeks, but all of thi is a long way from the optimism that seemed to be surrounding the club for the first half of last season, when a rich new owner, a famous manager and his talented new signings were riding high near the top of the Premier League. It's been downhill ever since, and Mark Hughes must be hoping he was halt the slide.

Even his arrival looked like a brave new start for City, getting a young and highly-rated manager who had been touted for the job at Old Trafford in the future, and if they could also bring in Ronaldinho, his star appeal alone would have had Eastlands packed, particularly with fellow Brazilian Jo already joining earlier in the summer.