Dripping with more money than ever, the English Premier League returns to U.S. television screens this weekend

The English Premier League kicks off this weekend with new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho serving notice the revamped Red Devils are title contenders once more after defeating defending champion Leicester City a week earlier in the aual Charity Shield game.

Whether it was the Foxes’ fairy-tale 5,000-1 campaign or the wide-open season that saw traditional powerhouses like United stumble, the EPL has solidified its status as the most popular soccer league among English-language viewers in the U.S.

NBC reported that viewership rose 7 percent last season, the third campaign in a row the network has seen record-high ratings.

Last season an average of 514,000 viewers watched EPL games on TV, while the number of game minutes streamed on the NBC Sports Live Extra app rose 118 percent.

By comparison, ESPN reported recently that MLS ratings have increased 32 percent so far this year, meaning an average of 312,000 viewers watch games on the chael and ESPN2.

Indeed, the global profile of the EPL has never been higher.

That means clubs are awash in cash as money from new global TV rights deals — worth a staggering $10.4 billion English pounds — have rolled in, leading to unprecedented outlays on new players, especially in this last frenzied week before the season starts.

If you took your eye off the ball this summer, as it were, here’s a little catch-up ahead of the key games this weekend:

Hull City vs. Leicester City, 4:30 a.m., Saturday, CNBC >> Last season’s 24-goal scorer Jamie Vardy and Leicester begin an even more unlikely defense of their still-amazing EPL title against the newly-promoted Tigers. The club aounced Tuesday that manager Claudio Ranieri had signed a new four-year deal. And they bid a club record $30 million for 19-year-old Brazilian Olympian Gabriel Barbosa.

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Everton, 7 a.m., Saturday, CNBC >> Everton lost 22-year-old central defender John Stones to Manchester City in a $61.2 million deal this week, making him the second-most expensive defender in soccer history. Then Landon Donovan’s former club turned around and immediately bought a replacement in Swansea City’s Ashley Williams for $15.6 million without blinking an eye.

Sunderland vs. Manchester City, 9:30 a.m., Saturday, CNBC >> Former Barcelona coach Pepe Guardiola, now at the helm of United’s crosstown rivals, scooped up German internationals Ilkay Gundogan (from Borussia Dortmund for $26 million) while Leroy Sane arrived in a $47.2 million deal from Schalke 04. City has become an instant contender (if it wasn’t already) as it seeks its third EPL title since 2012.

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Manchester United-Bournemouth, 5:30 a.m., Sunday, NBCSN >> Not satisfied with luring Zlatan Ibrahimovic from PSG, Mourinho added Paul Pogba on Tuesday for a staggering world-record fee of $116 million after the French international won four consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus. Remember, United is the club an out-of-contract Pogba left for absolutely nothing in 2012.

Liverpool vs. Arsenal, 8 a.m., Sunday, NBCSN >> This may be the game of the opening weekend with new Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp overhauling the Reds in the offseason and Arsenal yet again standing largely pat, much to the frustration of the club’s fans who want to see American billionaire and Rams owner Stan Kroenke open his checkbook.

West Ham United vs. Chelsea, noon, Monday, USA >> Chelsea may have landed Napoli’s Senagalese international Kalidou Koulibaly by Monday, although the Italian club is holding out for a reported $65 million for the defender.

Money may not guarantee EPL success — just ask little Leicester — but it’s going to make the upcoming season even more fascinating — and pressure-packed.

For more local soccer news, read the 100 Percent Soccer blog at www.insidesocal.com/soccer.