The new Barclays Premier League season gets underway on Saturday and prior to the first kick, TSN.ca presents a week long look at some of the teams and stories that will shape the up coming campaign. Last season, defending champions Manchester United endured a disaster season under David Moyes, finishing seventh and missing European qualification entirely. Can new manager Louis van Gaal reassert the Red Devils dominance once again in his first season in charge? Manager: Louis van Gaal Last Season: 19-7-12 (seventh in Premier League) Notable Additions: Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao) and Luke Shaw (Southampton) Notable Subtractions: Ryan Giggs (Retirement), Alexander Buttner (Dynamo Kiev), Bebe (Benfica), Patrice Evra (Juventus), Nemanja Vidic (Inter), Federico Macheda (Cardiff City) and Rio Ferdinand (QPR) That was Then: Taking over the helm of United from the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson would be a great challenge to just about any manager in the game of football, but David Moyes seemed primed and ready for the challenge of succeeding a man who 38 trophies in his 27 years at the club. The long-time Everton gaffer entered into Old Trafford with a massive banner hanging from the rafters proclaiming him "the Chosen One." By the time he left Manchester United in April, fans hoped that the Scotsmans year in charge of the club would be a forgotten one. Moyes reign in the red half of Manchester was an abject disaster and there were signs of impending doom as early as last summers transfer window, when vice-chairman Ed Woodward, taking over the mantle of top executive following the retirement of David Gill after 16 seasons at United, couldnt seem to get any business done. Everton dismissed "derisory" bids for Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini, while nothing came to fruition with very public courtships of the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Sami Khedira and Ander Herrera. United settled with signing Fellaini for 27.5 million pounds on transfer deadline day of August 31. If the fee seemed astronomical to supporters then, it must be noted that United refused to activate the Belgians release clause of 23.5 million pounds only weeks previous. (The Canadian Press) A Community Shield victory over Wigan on a Robin van Persie double got the year off to a bright start under Moyes, as did an opening day 4-1 thrashing of Swansea City, but the defeats began to mount, starting with a 1-0 defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool at Anfield on September 1. Against the "Big Four" opponents of Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, United could muster only five points in eight matches and were outscored 11-3 in them, including a 4-1 rout by City and an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford. If that werent galling enough, United began to drop points to clubs who would have had no business beating the team with Ferguson in charge. The likes of Everton, West Brom, Newcastle and Sunderland inflicted home defeats on United with the Toffees completing the double with a victory at Goodison Park, as well, the first time it had done so since 1970. Moyes never managed to beat United once while in charge of Everton. Following a 0-0 draw with Chelsea in the seasons second game, United found itself in fourth place in the table. The team would never be in a top-four place again afterwards. Uniteds domestic cup campaigns were disastrous, as well, going out in the third round to Swansea City in the FA Cup and losing to Sunderland in the League Cup semi-finals on an embarrassing gaffe by keeper David De Gea. What was all the more confounding for United players and supporters alike was that this was virtually the same team with which Ferguson had won the league the previous year by 11 points. Yes, there were injury woes with van Persie only making only 21 league appearances and the likes of Michael Carrick and Jonny Evans missing significant time, but the team just wasnt very good under Moyes. Phil Jones and Rafael seemed to regress badly. After a stellar 2012-13, Rio Ferdinand looked his age. Tom Cleverley looked lost at the centre of midfield. Nani and Ashley Young embarrassed themselves more often than they looked competent. The less said about Fellainis year, the better. By the time Moyes left, United finished with their lowest points tally in the BPL ever, its worst home form in over a decade and it missed out on European football for the first time since 1989. This is Now: 2013-14 was humbling for United...well, thats a relative term since clubs like United are never really humbled...or humble. What better way for United to wipe the slate clean than to bring in a manager whose arrogance and swagger are only matched by his pedigree? Fresh off of a third-place finish with the Netherlands at the World Cup, Louis van Gaal assumed control of Manchester United in July and installed tnow retired United legend, Ryan Giggs, as his number two. A winner everywhere hes been (Ajax, Bayern Munich and Barcelona), van Gaal represents a 180 shift from Moyes. Prickly, acerbic and unafraid to clash with star players, van Gaal brings with him a rigidity and authoritarian style that gets results, but often at the cost of longevity. He spent only three seasons at Barcelona (briefly returning again in 2002) and three at Bayern, where he famously clashed with stars Rivaldo and Mark van Bommel. (The Canadian Press) Still, van Gaal is a winner and thats exactly what he plans to do at United, but a championship in his maiden season might be a bit too ambitious. While he says that claiming a 21st English championship is his goal for this season, a far more modest (and, perhaps, attainable) aim for the Dutchman is a return to the top four and a Champions League spot. How van Gaal plans to go about his task is a complete shift in tactical make-up. The basic make-up for United will be a 3-4-1-2 similar to the one favoured by van Gaal with the Dutch at the World Cup. In an ideal employment, United can use this going forward and can collapse into a 5-3-2 to defend. The keys here will be the wings where new signing Shaw and Young, whos seemingly found a new lease on life at Old Trafford under van Gaal, are expected to start. Ander Herrera, who some earmark as Xavi Hernandezs natural successor on the Spanish national team, will be the cog at the centre of midfield with countryman Juan Mata in the number-10 role and van Persie and newly named club captain, Wayne Rooney, as a preferred strike pairing with England international Danny Welbeck ready to spell either. As witnessed in Uniteds pre-season fixtures, this system can be both deadly and a treat to watch when firing at all cylinders. Though this is what United will likely look resemble, more or less, in the seasons opening fixtures, its unlikely the finished product, with van Gaal intent to do more on the transfer market, both buying and selling. The likes of Fellaini, Nani, Anderson and Javier Hernandez, surplus to requirements under the Dutchman, could be sold off as van Gaal continues to attempt to put his stamp on the club. One or more defenders could be on the way in (with Sportings Marcos Rojo and Ajaxs Daley Blind linked to the club in recent days), as well as some more depth in the midfield (Serie A trio Arturo Vidal, Juan Cuadrado and Kevin Strootman are among those said to be coveted by van Gaal) where Carrick is on the shelf and vice-captain Darren Fletchers health a seemingly constant tenuous proposition. There is reason for optimism at Old Trafford. A lack of European football means laser-like focus on the league. While City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool prepare for midweek fixtures, United will have the luxury of rest and preparation for their next league match. Sure, the lack of European football stings from the loss of revenue, but the potential domestic advantage gained over its domestic rivals could be priceless. While any new manager can expect some sort of grace period in taking over a club, van Gaal will not expect one and it probably wont be offered from supporters. Though, van Gaal has warned players and supporters alike to expect growing pains, the importance of a strong start for United is obvious considering its schedule. The teams first six fixtures are against three teams who finished in the bottom half of the table last season (Swansea City, Sunderland and West Ham) and the three promoted sides (QPR, Burnley and Leicester City.) Contrast this with Liverpool, who get City and Spurs in its first three matches, or Arsenal, who have Everton, City and a Champions League qualifier with Besiktas in the next month. United must use its weak schedule to its advantage. Returning to the summit of English football could be wishful thinking for United in 2014-15, but theres no reason to doubt that this season will mark Manchester Uniteds reassertion as one of the dominant forces in the English game. Burning Question: With a relatively quiet transfer window, is a new tactical set-up and confidence under van Gaal enough for United to return to the top four? Andrew Wylie Jersey .J. -- Kyle Palmieri thrilled his personal rooting section with an overtime winner that sent the Anaheim Ducks to their seventh straight win. Dorian ODaniel Jersey . 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They were only one stroke ahead of Adrien Saddier of France, the biggest mover with six birdies in his opening seven holes in a round of 64, South African Thomas Aiken (70) and Denmarks Thorbjorn Olesen (68) on a packed leaderboard.The days of the Big Four in the Barclays Premier League are a distant memory this season and the current dogfight for supremacy at the top of the table is unlike anything seen in recent memory. That battle continues on Wednesday on TSN2 and TSN.ca with four matches all beginning at 2:45pm et/11:45am pt. On TSN2, David Moyess current club hosts his old one as defending champions Manchester United - unbeaten in 12 matches in all competitions - welcome Romelu Lukaku and surprising Everton. It all begins with Barclays Premier League Live at 2pm et/11am pt. On TSN.ca, Hull City - fresh off beating Liverpool for the first time in its history - looks to slay another giant, as they travel to the Emirates to take on Jack Wilshere and table leaders Arsenal. Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool hope to take out their frustrations from the weekends defeat at Hull on Norwich City when the Canaries visit Anfield. That match is also available on TSN.ca. Having been used to a two-team battle for the title and occasionally one with a third thrown into the mix, whats going on in the 2013-14 BPL season is almost unprecedented. Just 10 points separate Arsenal from ninth-place Tottenham. To put that into perspective, consider Europes other top leagues where in La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga, there is a minimum of a 20-point gap between first and ninth. United is one of those teams in the mix, but have to make up the eight points between them and from Arsenal while leaping over the six teams between them. It would have been foolish for anybody to expect United to not skip a beat after Sir Alex Fergusons retirement and Moyes taking the reins at Old Trafford, but the early season jitters appears to have abated. The team has been buoyed by the play of Wayne Rooney, arguably the best player in the BPL this season and scorer of both goals in Sundays 2-2 draw with Spurs, and the brilliant goalkeeping of David De Gea, whose game has evolved from the shakiness displayed in his first season in England just two seasons ago. That isnt to say, of course, that everything is on track. Injuries have been a major concern for the team with midfield general Michael Carrick (shin) and superstar striker Robin van Persie (groin) currently among those wounded, as well as an inability to close the door in recent matches with Cardiff City and Southampton. Van Persie, however, appears to be okay to return and may see pitch time against Everton. High-flying Everton will provide a stiff test ffor the champions.dddddddddddd Roberto Martinez, hired to replace Moyes, has his Toffees sitting in fifth, level on points with Merseyside rivals Liverpool. Few expected such a lofty position for moderate-spending Everton, but a serious of shrewd loan moves has them with only has a single loss, the fewest of any team in the league. Lukaku, on loan from Chelsea, is among the league leaders in goals with eight, while Gerard Delofeu, loaned from Barcelona, starred in Saturdays 4-0 thumping of Stoke. United and Everton split their season series last year, each winning at home. At Anfield, Rodgers and Liverpool must continue to adjust to life without Daniel Sturridge. The England international suffered ligament straining in his ankle during training last Friday. Hes expected to be out for up to eight weeks. Still, Rodgers hopes that his team will step up in Sturridges absence. "This little period now will test us," said Rodgers. "Weve got players that will come in and its a great opportunity for them to stake a claim for a place in the team." The Reds failed that first test when they dropped a 3-1 decision to Hull City on Saturday, but will have the opportunity to get back on track against a Norwich City side looking for some consistency. Though coming off a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, Chris Hughtons Canaries have yet to win consecutive games this season. Hughton also must address the added distraction of a dissatisfied Luciano Becchio. The Argentine striker recently expressed his displeasure over his lack of usage by the team and suggested that he wouldnt mind playing elsewhere. While Liverpool attempts to make up lost ground, in London, Arsenal will attempt to grab some more breathing room at the summit of the BPL. The Gunners can pull seven points clear of idle Chelsea with a win over Hull.Arsenals 3-0 win at Cardiff on Saturday was propelled by two goals from Welshman Aaron Ramsey, who is enjoying a coming out party this season. "He was phenomenal," said Gunners manager Arsene Wenger of Ramsey. "He keeps surprising me. He has matured as a player and as a person. He can still develop. When you see the improvement in him in the last two years then why should he stop now?" But Steve Bruces Hull City will not be a soft touch for Arsenal. Fresh off their first win over Liverpool in the teams 109-year history, the Tigers will be hungry to knock off another top side, after already having beaten Newcastle. ' ' '