Celtic and Rangers have continued to jostle for positioning atop the Scottish Premiership table and the Glasgow rivals will rekindle their rivalry on Saturday with the first Old Firm derby of the new season.
Cameron Carter-Vickers, James Sands, and Malik Tillman will all fight for minutes this weekend at Celtic Park with the trio of U.S. men’s national team players all enjoying strong starts to the season. Carter-Vickers has helped Celtic to a 5-0-0 record so far in league play, conceding just one goal and posting a +20 goal differential. The USMNT centerback joined Celtic on a permanent transfer this summer from Tottenham after enjoying a terrific loan spell in Glasgow last season.
Sands and Tillman have led Rangers to a 4-1-0 league record so far while also advancing to the UEFA Champions League group stage. The 22-year-old Sands has started in seven of his eight appearances across all competitions, featuring mainly as a centerback in Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s set up. Tillman has scored two goals and registered one assist in all competitions, setting up the decisive goal against PSV in the final round of UCL qualifying. Both Tillman and Sands have yet to feature in an Old Firm clash, but will certainly know the importance of the match with both teams once again fighting for the Premiership title.
In Germany, Jordan Pefok and Union Berlin host Bayern Munich while Joe Scally and Borussia Moenchengladbach face off with Mainz. Gio Reyna will hope to be involved as Borussia Dortmund faces Hoffenehim.
In England, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson will aim to lead Leeds United past Brentford. Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson face a tough test at Tottenham while Josh Sargent and Norwich City host Coventry City.
In Spain, Yunus Musah and Valencia welcome Getafe to Mestalla.
In Italy, Weston McKennie and Juventus face a trip to Fiorentina.
Elsewhere, Ian Harkes and Dundee United face Motherwell following the sacking of manager Jack Ross. Alex Mendez and Vizela take on Benfica in Portuguese action while Mark McKenzie and Genk host Sint-Truiden in Belgian Pro League play.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:
England
Premier League
Christian Pulisic and Chelsea host West Ham United on Saturday.
Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United visit Brentford on Saturday.
Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream and Fulham visit Tottenham on Saturday.
Chris Richards and Crystal Palace visit Newcastle United on Saturday.
Matt Turner and Arsenal visit Manchester United on Sunday.
Championship
Josh Sargent, Jonathan Tomkinson and Norwich City host Coventry City on Saturday.
Lynden Gooch and Sunderland visit Zack Steffen, Matthew Hoppe and Middlesbrough on Monday.
Ethan Horvath and Luton Town host Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
Duane Holmes and Huddersfield Town host Blackpool on Sunday.
Auston Trusty and Birmingham City visit Matt Olosunde and Preston North End on Saturday.
Daryl Dike is OUT (Injury) for West Bromwich Albion.
Germany
Bundesliga
Jordan Pefok and Union Berlin host Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Joe Scally and Borussia Moenchengladbach host Mainz on Sunday.
Gio Reyna and Borussia Dortmund host Hoffenheim on Friday.
Kevin Paredes and Wolfsburg host Cologne on Saturday.
Pellegrino Matarazzo‘s Stuttgart host Schalke on Saturday.
Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt host RB Leipzig on Saturday.
2. Bundesliga
Julian Green, Timothy Tillman and Greuther Furth host St. Pauli on Saturday.
Terrence Boyd and Kaiserslautern visit Sandhausen on Sunday.
George Bello and Arminia Bielefeld visit Darmstadt on Sunday.
Nico Carrera and Holstein Kiel visit Jahn Regensburg on Saturday.
Bryang Kayo and Nuremberg visit Eintracht Braunschweig on Friday.
3. Liga
Johan Gomez and FSV Zwickau host Viktoria Koln on Sunday.
Spain
La Liga
Yunus Musah and Valencia host Getafe on Sunday.
Jonathan Gomez and Real Sociedad host Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Luca De La Torre and Celta Vigo host Cadiz on Friday.
Segunda Liga
Samuel Shashoua and Tenerife host Racing Santander on Saturday.
Italy
Serie A
Weston McKennie and Juventus visit Fiorentina on Saturday.
Sergino Dest and AC Milan host Inter Milan on Saturday.
Serie B
Gianluca Busio, Tanner Tessmann, Andrija Novakovich, Jack DeVries and Venezia host Benevento on Saturday.
Anthony Fontana and Ascoli host Cittadella on Saturday.
France
Ligue 1
Erik Palmer-Brown and Troyes host Rennes on Sunday.
Folarin Balogun and Stade Reims host Lens on Sunday.
Tim Weah is OUT (Injury) for Lille.
Netherlands
Eredivisie
Ricardo Pepi and FC Groningen visit Vitesse Arnhem on Sunday.
Richie Ledezma and PSV visit Twente on Saturday.
Cole Bassett and Fortuna Sittard host Taylor Booth and FC Utrecht on Friday.
Portugal
Liga Portugal
Reggie Cannon and Boavista host Pacos de Ferreira on Monday.
Alex Mendez and Vizela visit Benfica on Friday.
Scotland
Premiership
Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic host Malik Tillman, James Sands and Rangers on Saturday.
Ian Harkes and Dundee United visit Joe Efford and Motherwell on Saturday.
Christian Ramirez, Dante Polvara and Aberdeen visit Ross County on Saturday.
Belgium
Pro League
Sam Vines and Royal Antwerp host Bryan Reynolds, Griffin Yow and Westerlo on Sunday.
Mark McKenzie and Genk host Sint-Truiden on Saturday.
Owen Otasowie and Club Brugge host Cercle Brugge on Friday.
Greece
Super League
Konrad de la Fuente and Olympiakos host Ionikos on Saturday.
Turkey
Super Lig
Haji Wright and Antalyaspor host Kasimpasa on Sunday.
Tyler Boyd and Besiktas visit Ankaragucu on Sunday.
Denmark
Superliagen
Christian Cappis and Brondby visit Horsens on Sunday.
Emmanuel Sabbi and Odense host Viborg on Sunday.
Austria
2. Liga
Ulysses Llanez and SKN St. Poelten host Floridsdorfer on Sunday.
Hungary
NB 1
Henry Wingo and Ferencvaros visit Ujpest on Sunday.
Norway
Eliteserien
Sam Rogers and Rosenborg host Viking on Sunday.
Kobe Hernandez-Foster and HamKam visit Sarpsborg on Sunday.
Sweden
Allsvenskan
Forrest Lasso, Joe Corona and Sundsvall visit AIK on Sunday.
Jeffrey Gal, Joe Gyau and Degerfors visit Hacken on Sunday.
Romain Gall is OUT (Injury) for Malmo.
Israel
Ligat HaAL
Josh Cohen and Maccabi Haifa visit Hapoel Beer Sheva on Saturday.
Argentina
Primeira Liga
Alan Sonora and Independiente visit Gymnasia on Saturday.
Brazil
Serie A
Johnny Cardoso and Internacional visit Corinthians on Sunday.
As much as I don’t want Tuchel to be right about Pulisic…. he may just have a good argument to be right. Finally gets the start and wasn’t effective at all. Pulisic has to start producing if he wants to get more minutes. But with that being said he doesn’t really fit Tuchels system. He needs to get his career back on track and I don’t see many big teams wanting or needing Pulisic at the moment. He may have to swallow some pride and make a move to a mid tier team to get back on track. Many talented players have done just that and still had great careers.
Mount, Ziyech, Pulisic all 0 g this season. Havertz just 1 g. It’s not just Pulisic who has been ineffective. There’s little combination in the Chelsea attack it’s all get the ball and go one on one.
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Maybe I’m missing your meaning by mid-tier but Abraham, Lukaku, Werner, Giroud have all landed on their feet at big clubs after being cast off by Tuchel. Once you’ve had even a little success at a big club another one will take a look at you.
Leeds need a striker. Wonder if they consider Josh Sargent during the January transfer?
No Pefok in the 18 today for Union. Hopefully it’s not serious.
Sarge with another goal.
Celtic pummeled Rangers.
Otherwise an uneventful day for American players.
Berhalter, Sands, CCV, and Tillman had dinner afterwards. Clearly some fan snuck a pic and posted on social media.
Apparently a lot of Rangers fans losing their minds about Sands and Malik eating with CCV after getting thrashed by Celtic.
Another g and a from Sarge today.
Just one pt in last three, that was a come from behind draw at home to winless Everton. Jesse Marsch has the exact problem as Berhalter how do you break down teams that sit back and let you have the ball when you don’t have a playmaking 10 or a punishing striker. When teams come out and play Leeds are dangerous like Chelsea or Wolves when they sit and look to counter quickly like Brentford and Brighton, Marsch or Gregg have struggled to figure out the solutions.
hey JR, yes, and it’s the same issue that has plagued Klopp’s Liverpool (see the UCL final for the latest testimony 😉 ). it’s not really unique for teams who press to see these tactics and to see them used effectively seems to me
anyway, also seems to me that another big idea issue is with defensive balance when in possession. with either of the 6s or both CBs stepping and missing after turnovers, or the 6s too high in attack with no balance behind them after turnovers…those ideas need to be sorted imo or it’s goal city. Same with Liverpool btw. Toney is a beast and credit their pressure too, Brentford is playing well
but Bamford was in on goal twice, other chances too and 2 goals, on the road. BUT defensively unbalanced…coming back to score making it 3-2, then proceeding to concede immediately on an assist from Koch’s head?!
so for me, defensive shape/balance/ideas big issues today, including but not limited to when Leeds had possession as they did not account for the counter…to go along with the attacking ideas vs. the Brentford pressure and their bunker (can’t get dispossessed in the middle channel)
haven’t even talked about Jesse’s red card!
A big difference is Liverpool has Van Dijk not Lorentes at CB. It’s pretty much why Berhalter isn’t playing Brooks at CB anymore if you’re going to push so far up field your CBs better be mobile.
no doubt, yet Liverpool still struggle against the same tactics
50 minutes in and Brendan is having his first stinker so far. looks beat up to me,maybe not
Not many ideas from Leeds. Aaronson just trying to ram it up the middle or playing out to the left for Strujik and Harrison to hit crosses to no one. Sinissterra had the nice goal but couldn’t seem to find the ball for large portions of the first half.
specifically, looks like his tailbone (from before this game) and maybe something else idk, but in his holdup play today looked to me like he avoided taking any hits from behind after taking some early hard whacks, and throughout the last 3 games in 8 days, that negatively affected his play and specifically, his first touch. he’s adjusting to that physical approach which won’t be going away, and his durability has always been the biggest concern at this level imo. we’ll see, maybe I’m wrong, but maybe Jesse manages the workload to account for this. long season