Bale, Suarez, Rooney and the Title Race: Premier League 2013/14 Season Preview [PODCAST]

The start to the 2012/13 Premier League season is on the horizon and despite the raft of managerial changes the new campaign is likely to produce no shortage of thrills and spills.

David Moyes has the inauspicious task of replacing Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and has been immediately presented with the job of keeping Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford.

Moyes failed to win a major trophy nor compete in the Champions League during his 11 years at Everton and questions have been raised over his ability to step into such a big-time role.

Across Manchester, rivals City have reacted to their disappointing defence of their league title by replacing Roberto Mancini with Manuel Pellegrini, who joins from Malaga.

The Chilean has added a raft of attacking players to his squad and can expect competition from west London in the form of Chelsea, who after the return of Jose Mourinho will be plotting a return to the summit of English football.

Arsenal have once again endured a difficult transfer window which promised much but going into the new season with an unchanged squad Gunners fans can expect another assault on the top four.

Gareth Bale's future at Tottenham Hotspur has been the major talking point of the summer and despite the club being set to begin the season without the Welshman they are well equipped to challenge their north London rivals for a Champions League place.

Similarly, Luis Suarez's future has taken a number of twists in the summer and with a resolution seemingly no closer to being reached, Liverpool start the season under a cloud despite an encouraging transfer window.

Roberto Martinez will hope to manage the transition at Everton as well as hold on to prized assets Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines, while Swansea City have a squad capable of juggling their European and domestic schedule.

Newly promoted trio Crystal Palace, Hull City and Cardiff City have alternative ambitions this season, with the free spending Bluebirds potentially targeting a mid-table finish after some substantial summer investment.

Candidates for relegation include north east pair Sunderland and Newcastle United, Mark Hughes' Stoke City and Aston Villa whose season will again rest on the success of their young squad and that of striker Christian Benteke.

With plenty to discuss, Nick Howson, Tony Mogan and Gareth Platt look ahead to the new season in the first IBTimes UK podcast of the year.

IBTimes UK will have everything covered during the new Premier League season with up to the minute coverage and reaction to the most exciting league in the world.