Photo by Free-ers

The first Sunday of the Premier League 2011-12 season is here and, not surprisingly, we see two heavyweights enter the ring. In the early kick-off we have Stoke City against Chelsea, live from the Britannia Stadium. You’ll definitely know that the Stoke fans will be up for this one especially since the Potters should have won the match late last season where they outplayed the Blues.

All eyes will be on a Chelsea squad managed by new manager Andre Villas-Boas who — thankfully — doesn’t have to come out of the gates in his first match and make a decision regarding whether to field Torres or Drogba. Torres is injured, so it’s an easy decision there.

In the second match of the day, West Bromwich Albion host Manchester United at The Hawthorns. As we saw last season, West Brom is no pushover especially if Peter Odemwingie passes a late fitness test to recover from an ankle injury. Even if Odemwingie doesn’t start, West Brom have enough firepower and creative midfielders to cause Manchester United a few nervous moments, at least.

For Manchester United, it’s a golden opportunity to cement an early advantage in the Premier League especially since Arsenal and Liverpool dropped points on the opening day of the season.

Before, during and after today’s games, be sure to use the comments thread below to post your questions, observations, rants and raves. Tell us what you think of FOX Soccer’s new show, Goals On Sunday which replaces Super Sunday +. How does Chelsea look under new manager Villas-Boas? Etcetera.