By FRANCO PANIZO
Tim Howard and Everton's start to the season has not been a flawless one, but the Toffees could get momentum rolling if they come up with a win in one of the weekend's marquee matches.
Everton hosts Liverpool on Saturday in the first Merseyside derby of the season, and Howard is sure to be tested as he goes up against Luis Suarez, Andy Carroll, Steven Gerrard and the rest of Liverpool's attacking weapons. Howard is coming off a strong, five-save performance against Manchester City, and another outing like that could be needed if Everton is to pull off the upset.
Howard won't be the only goalkeeper to face top quality attackers this weekend. Tottenham Hotspur is set to take on Arsenal, and Brad Friedel will be relied upon to stop the Gunners' high-powered offense. If Friedel can do that and help Tottenham earn a victory, the Spurs could raise to as high as fourth place in the Premiership standings.
Wondering if there's any intriguing duels? There's a couple on tap as DaMarcus Beasley and Puebla take on Michael Orozco and San Luis, while Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest face Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City.
Here is who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:
Ricardo Clark and Eintracht Frankfurt play FC Union Berlin.
Adrian Ruelas and Jaguares de Chiapas play Atlas.
SATURDAY
Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann and Everton play Liverpool.
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Wigan Athletic. (Lichaj is out injured.)
Zak Whitbread and Norwich City play Manchester United. (Whitbread is out injured).
Conor Doyle and Derby County play Leicester City.
Mike Grella and Brentford play Huddersfield Town.
Anton Peterlin and Walsall play Frank Simek and Carlisle United. (Simek is out injured.)
Maurice Edu, Alejandro Bedoya, Carlos Bocanegra and Rangers play Hibernian.
David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen play VfL Wolfsburg.
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play Mainz.
Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play Bayern Munich. (Johnson is out injured.)
Alfredo Morales and Hertha Berlin play FC Cologne.
Edson Buddle and FC Ingolstadt 04 play VfL Bochum.
Quentin Westberg and Evian Thonon Gaillard play AS Nancy Lorraine.
Chris Rolfe, Marcus Tracy and Aalborg BK play Silkeborg IF. (Tracy is out injured.)
Samuel Petrone and Mjallby AIF play IFK.
Edgar Castillo and Club America play Pumas UNAM.
Herculez Gomez and Estudiantes Tecos play Morelia.
Michael Orozco and San Luis play DaMarcus Beasley and Puebla.
Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante play Jose Torres and Pachuca. (Torres is out injured.)
SUNDAY
Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Chelsea. (Holden is out injured.)
Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Queens Park Rangers.
Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Arsenal.
Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest play Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City.
Dominic Cervi and Celtic play Heart of Midlothian.
Michael Bradley and Chievo Verona play Cesena.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Werder Bremen.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Hamburg SV.
Luis Robles and Karlsruher SC play SpVgg Greuther Furth.
Matt Taylor and SC Paderborn 07 play MSV Duisburg.
Bobby Wood and TSV 1860 Munich play Dynamo Dresden.
Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play VVV Venlo.
Oguchi Onyewu and Sporting CP play Guimaraes.
Eugene Starikov and FK Tom' Tomsk play FK Rubin Kazan.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Racing Genk.
Brad Rusin and HB Koge play Odense BK.
Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play Lyngby.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Conor O'Brien and SonderjyskE.
Ryan Miller and Halmstads BK play Orebro SK.
Mix Diskerud and Stabaek IF play Sarpsborg 08.
Josh Gatt, Sean Cunningham and Molde FK play Tromso.
Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Club Tijuana.
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Which matches are you most looking forward to? How do you think Howard will fare this weekend? Think Friedel will help the Spurs beat the Gunners? Which match-up are you most interested in seeing, Beasley-Orozco or Findley-Spector?
Share your thoughts below.
If you mean to compare Holden to JOB it’s not a good comparison.
JOB had a run of chronic injuries and did not play as much as he should have. Yet he won two titles with Ajax and had a great World Cup in 2002 where he played evey minute and was a vital player.
In contrast Holden has never been a regular for the US (I’m not counting the B team 2009 Gold Cup). Everytime he looked like he was about to break through, he got hurt. His best games have been for Bolton not the USMNT.
As a USMNT player his actual performance has been unremarkable.
It’s a shame that John O’Brian isn’t suiting up for Bolton anytime soon.
Yeah true, you got a point.
” but I think he should get a look still. You never know I say.”
When fans say that I often think they really mean “we want to get a look at him”.
I don’t think fans trust Klinsmann (and certainly did not trust Bradley)to make a decision on a player unless it goes through them first.
I’m pretty sure JK either will or has already seen something of him. That is his job after all.
There was a recent article that Tracy’s contract will not be renewed so he is basically free now to look for a new team. Shame for both him and Aalborg.
Also, is Marcus Tracy ever going to come back he has been injured for a long time.
I know he has not been scoring much, but I think he should get a look still. You never know I say.
Random, but wanted to point out that according to FIFA 12, Eugene Starikov is our 2nd highest rated striker..