Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By JUSTIN FERGUSON
Following a rough trip to Aston Villa and a disappointing Champions League performance against Bayern Munich, Manchester City look to get their season back on track with a home victory over the English Premier League’s last unbeaten team.
With three wins and three draws to start the season, Roberto Martinez’s Everton squad enter the Ethiad Stadium early Saturday with confidence and an impressive record against Man City in recent seasons. Tim Howard and the Toffees sit in fourth place after Monday’s victory against Newcastle United, which featured another fantastic performance from on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku.
The day’s EPL action wraps up at the Stadium of Light, where winless Sunderland prepare for their battle against a reeling 12th-place Manchester United. David Moyes and the defending league champions were stunned at home by West Bromwich Albion last weekend, and a midweek draw at Shahktar Donetsk did not do much for the Red Devils’ confidence heading into their final match before the international break.
While Man United battle Sunderland, defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich continue their hunt for the top spot in their league in a road match against Bayer Leverkusen. First-place Borussia Dortmund, who take on Borussia Monchengladbach in the league’s early Saturday offering, will definitely have their eyes on the result of this battle between their two biggest competitors in this early season race.
If you will be watching today’s action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Today’s TV schedule is after the jump):
7:45am – NBC Sports Network – Manchester City vs Everton
9:30am – GolTV – Borussia M’gladbach vs Borussia Dortmund
10am – NBC Sports Live Extra – Cardiff City vs Newcastle United
10am – NBC Sports Live Extra – Fulham vs Stoke City
10am – NBC Sports Live Extra – Hull City vs Aston Villa
10am – NBC Sports Network – Liverpool vs Crystal Palace
10am – beIN Sport en Español – Elche vs Espanyol
11am – beIN Sport – Monaco vs Saint-Étienne
12pm – beIN Sport en Español – Rayo Vallecano vs Real Sociedad
12:30pm – NBC Sports Network – Sunderland vs Manchester United
12:30pm – GolTV – Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern München
2pm – beIN Sport – Levante vs Real Madrid
4pm – beIN Sport – Barcelona vs Real Valladolid
6pm – Univision – América vs Guadalajara
7pm – MLS Direct Kick – New York Red Bulls vs New England Revolution
7:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – Columbus Crew vs Sporting Kansas City
7:30pm – MLS Live – Philadelphia Union vs Toronto FC
8pm – UniMás – Tigres UANL vs Toluca
8pm – Univision Deportes – Atlante vs Monterrey
9pm – MLS Direct Kick – Real Salt Lake vs Dallas FC
9:05pm – Telemundo – León vs Puebla
10pm – NBC Sports Network – Colorado Rapids vs Seattle Sounders
10pm – Univision Deportes – Atlas vs Cruz Azul
So where are all the Jozy Altidore will score 10 goals comments from preseason? It went with the wind I guess. Yes it’s only 7 matches in, but guess what, Lukaku has 4 goals and even injured Benteke has 4 goals. And before you complain he had a goal disallowed v Arsenal, Lukaku had 2 called off v Newcastle and still scored 2 goals.
I’m not sure why so many seem to be getting so much pleasure out of Jozy’s struggle at Sunderland. He’ll probably be benched and Sunderland will be relegated. He’ll have an awful World Cup, we’ll go out after 3 loses. Many will celebrate the teams failure because they’ll be proven right. So let me go a head a say congrats you were right.
If you watch Jozy play, there are plenty of positives to point to. He’s twice the player he was a few years ago. He’s a handful for premier league defenders and his hold up play is really quite good.
His team is terrible tho. And it’s brutal to be put up top alone when you play for a team like Sunderland. I’m convinced he’ll have a good WC and will be playing for a top 6-8 club within 3 years.
2x today his team failed the team by not playing the simple ball to him with space in the box. Within 3 years he’ll be scoring in bunches.
Your comment proves you do not understand the game. Jozy is alone up top with no service or support. He’s set up to fail. That’s why he’s been praised for his hold up work and performances by real analysts but was predicted to struggle getting goals. Learn the sport before you try to souls smart about it.
Eric excuses, keep them up. You and RP. He is up alone, he is set up to fail. BS. Lukaku and Benteke are up by themselves. They set up to fail also. And the excuse about being a handful to EPL defenders, what has that turned into? ZERO goals. Keep being a handful with no end result and keep up the excuses. Don’t worry Eric you know the game better that’s why USA still can’t get pass Ghana.
Reports from Bolton are saying that Ream has been excellent several games in a row now…
What position has he been playing?? I thought I read on SBI somewhere that he was playing some midfield.
he’s been playing center back the last few games, i believe.
Sunderland will be relegated and Jozy should fire his agent, because that was an atrocious move.
Where should Jozy have gone exactly? AZ is a team that sells it’s players and Sunderland wanted to buy. It seems like some people have this idea that Jozy could just choose to go whatever he wanted.
John, are you serious? You’re saying Jozy had no say at all? You really believe that? If he told AZ that he didn’t want to go to Russia and then didn’t go, then why do you think Jozy had no say?
I’m just saying a lot of people seem to have this idea he just had his pick of any club in the world to go to. Sure I guess he could have stayed at AZ and made less money and continued to score goals. However the same people that are putting down his move, last year went on and on about how awful the defending in the Eredivise is. They are also the same people that hate Clints move to MLS and hate that Donovan never really tested himself in a top league. To some people no what a player does it’s the wrong move.
Yeah, that is why I said he should fire his agent. You pay an agent, hopefully, for more than just signing a contract.
It’s easy to hate on this move but playing for Sunderland fast tracks him to a better team quicker than anywhere else. Coming from AZ the English teams need more proof. I don’t think there were any other serious takers. He’ll battle this year and show he’s faster and stronger than most prem defenders and he’ll move on.
Can anyone comment on Bedoya if your happening to watch the Nantes, Evian game?
Looks like he didn’t play
That’s curious. Hopefully it was just for tactical reasons
I read that he didn’t play because he is sick.
Roma are doing very well, looks like Bradley is going to be the American Chicharito.
It is ever more clear that you are a troll.
Bradly is injured and well liked on that team. They need a solid player to rotate De Rossi, Strootman and Pjanic. I don’t see Bradley as a drop off compared to any of those guys.
thanks Increase
Roma weren’t willing to sell Bradley this summer, so he’s obviously in their plans. One injury to Pjanic, Strootman, or De Rossi and Bradley’s starting again.
1. Bradley’s been out injured
2. Bradley can play all 3 of the midfield positions in their lineup
3. It’s a long season across all competitions
4. They didn’t want to sell him so he’s in their plans
5. He’s young and well liked
Bradley’s going nowhere
Ok, I get it that Bradley is well liked, is versatile, can play the 3 CM positions, Roma doesn’t want to sell him…
But putting your usmnt hat on, aren’t you concerned that your most important player is a not a starter in a WC year?
This Roma game is pretty good. I wanna say positive things and Gervinho. Can I do that?
Totti just sent up an amazing counter.
It has been a bad couple weeks for yank club football.
Outside of Guzan, Johannsson and, to a lesser extent Howard, I’d agree its been pretty brutal. Hey, Tim Ream’s getting good minutes again though.
chandler’s got his spot back, as well.
I doubt Chandler will be selected though for any future WCQ/games so he’s kinda a lost cause
I wouldn’t bet on it.