Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By MICHAEL KLINE
The start of the 2013/14 Barclays Premier League and Spanish La Liga headline this weekend’s soccer action.
Liverpool welcome Stoke City to Anfield early Saturday morning, with the meeting between the two clubs commencing the 13/14 Premier League season.
Brendan Rodgers will be without the services of his polarizing Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, who is still serving a 10-match suspension for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic at the end of last season. His adversary, newly-appointed Stoke City boss Mark Hughes, will manage his first competitive match in charge of The Potters, and will look to improve on last season’s 13th place finish.
Later on Saturday afternoon, Swansea City will host Manchester United live on NBC. The reigning Premier League Champions will be without Sir Alex Ferguson for the first time in league-play in over 27 years. A Scot still mans the touchline, however, with David Moyes hoping to get his Manchester United managerial career started off in a positive direction Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday, Barcelona will face Levante in Gerardo Martino’s first league-match in charge of the Spanish titans.
Lionel Messi is doubtful for the season-opener due to a quad injury, but newly-signed Brazilian phenom Neymar is set to make his official debut for the club.
Here is a rundown of This Weekend’s Soccer on TV:
FRIDAY
2:30pm – Univision Deportes – Sochaux vs Olympique Lyonnais
8:30pm – ESPN Deportes – Morelia vs Atlas
10:30pm – Univision Deportes – Santos Laguna vs Tigres UANL
SATURDAY
7:45am – NBC Sports Network – Liverpool vs Stoke City
9:30am – GolTV – Eintracht Frankfurt vs Bayern München
10am – NBC Sports Network – Arsenal vs Aston Villa
12:30pm – NBC – Swansea City vs Manchester United
12:30pm – GolTV – Borussia M’gladbach vs Hannover 96
1pm – beIN Sport en Español – Real Sociedad vs Getafe
2pm – Univision Deportes – Nice vs Rennes
2pm – beIN Sport – Toulouse vs Bordeaux
3pm – beIN Sport en Español – Real Valladolid vs Athletic Club
5pm – beIN Sport en Español – Valencia vs Málaga
5:30pm – ESPN Deportes – Cruzeiro vs Vitória
6pm – Univision Deportes – Veracruz vs Querétaro
6pm – Univision – Cruz Azul vs Atlante
7pm – MLS Direct Kick – Montreal Impact vs DC United
7:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – New England vs Chicago Fire
7:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – Columbus Crew vs Toronto FC
8pm – NBC Sports Network – New York Red Bulls vs Philadelphia Union
8pm – UniMás – Monterrey vs Tijuana
8pm – Univision Deportes – Pachuca vs América
9pm – MLS Direct Kick – Houston Dynamo vs Seattle Sounders
9:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – Colorado Rapids vs Vancouver Whitecaps
10pm – Univision Deportes – Chiapas vs Toluca
10:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – Los Angeles Galaxy vs Real Salt Lake
11pm – MLS Direct Kick – Portland Timbers vs Dallas FC
SUNDAY
8:30am – NBC Sports Network – Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur
11am – NBC Sports Network – Chelsea vs Hull City
11:30am – GolTV – Borussia Dortmund vs Eintracht Braunschweig
1pm – beIN Sport – Barcelona vs Levante
1pm – Univision Deportes – Pumas UNAM vs León
3pm – GolTV – Flamengo vs São Paulo
3pm – beIN Sport – Real Madrid vs Real Betis
5pm – beIN Sport en Español – Sevilla vs Atlético Madrid
6pm – UniMás – Guadalajara vs Puebla
10pm – UniMás – San Jose Earthquakes vs Sporting Kansas City