Another stellar weekend of overseas football action on Fox Sports. Source: AAP
THERE'S another compelling weekend of action ahead, as the world examines Arsenal and Liverpool's bona fides, with Jose Mourinho waiting to pounce on any failure in north London.
Here's this weekend's Big Five on Fox.
All times EDT.
- A-LEAGUE
- Friday: Western Sydney Wanderers v Adelaide, 7.30pm, Fox Sports 1 HD
- Saturday: Perth v Sydney FC, 5.30pm; Newcastle v Central Coast, 7.30pm; Fox Sports 1 HD
- Sunday: Brisbane v Melbourne Heart, 5pm, Fox Sports 1 HD
- Monday: Melbourne Victory v Wellington, 7.30pm, Fox Sports 1 HD
Kick Off, 6.30pm (EDT) Friday: Patrick Zwaanswijk joins Tara and Harps to preview the round.
Shootout, 7.05pm (EDT) Sunday: William Gallas gives his first television interview since signing with Perth Glory; Bruce Djite and Michael Bridges join Adam and Boz in the studio, and there will be a cross to the Mirror's Darren Lewis in England.
Saturday morning
- Barcelona v Espanyol, 6.55am, Fox Sports 2 HD
Saturday night/Sunday morning
- Chelsea v Newcastle, 11.35pm, Fox Sports 1 HD
- Fulham v Manchester United, 1.50am, Fox Sports 1 HD
- Viewers' Choice: West Bromwich Albion v Crystal Palace; West Ham v Aston Villa, Stoke City v Southampton, Manchester City v Norwich
- Hull v Sunderland, 1.50am, Fox Sports News
- Arsenal v Liverpool, 4.25am, Fox Sports 1HD
- Rayo Vallecano v Real Madrid, 5.55am, Fox Sports 3 HD
Sunday night/Monday morning
- Tottenham v Everton, 12.25am, Fox Sports 1 HD
- Cardiff v Swansea, 2.50am, Fox Sports 1 HD
Arsenal v Liverpool
Sunday morning, 4.25am (EDT), Fox Sports 1 HD.
What. A. Match-up.
The sceptics play down Arsenal's superb start to the Premier League campaign because Tottenham are the only other Champions League rivals they've played. After a tired win at Selhurst Park in between home losses to Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea in Europe and Cup competitions, a clash against Liverpool beckons as a great test and a chance to knock a fellow contender off their perch.
Arsene Wenger knows it's the stage to bounce back, and to prove their credentials against a side who could go top if they win.
"It's better to win," Wenger said of their recent run. "It's difficult, but that's part of the season. We know the games. We have to respond well against Liverpool. We are in a strong position in the league and have a good opportunity at home, and we have to turn this round. Away from home we are very solid, but at home you know it is important and vital to win the big games."
Arsenal's big guns will return, after their support act couldn't do the job in the Capital One Cup. Meanwhile, Liverpool had the week off. Phillipe Coutinho will return to the bench, although left-back Jose Enrique is a major doubt.
All eyes will remain on the SAS combination, with Luis Suarez, an off-season target for Wenger, the key protagonist with six goals and one assist from four outings since his return from suspension.
Without Mathew Flamini's defensive stability, Wenger's shielding two, likely Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta will want to snuffer the supply to Liverpool's dynamic front two, while Arsenal will pay particular attention to hitting Liverpool out-wide, to peg back their dynamic wingers.
Whether or not you believe either of these sides can maintain the rage in the premiership race, this is a contest not to be missed, with two positive managers who believe their teams can win in style.
The bad news for Liverpool fans? Arsenal have lost just one of their last 12 clashes in this fixture.
Newcastle United v Chelsea
Saturday night, 11.45pm (EDT), Fox Sports 1 HD
Jose Mourinho's side are settling in nicely just underneath Arsenal and will fancy their chances of arresting the league lead in the coming weeks, while Newcastle want to bounce back after Tyne-Wier derby and Capital One Cup extra-time heartbreak.
Mourinho made 10 changes to his side for the Cup clash – a second-string side featuring Michael Essien, Samuel Eto'o and Mark Schwarzer, just quietly - and will see his cavalry return for the EPL task this weekend. But will he reward Juan Mata for a positive display against Arsenal mid-week?
Fernando Torres is showing signs of life again and will hope to cash in on recent history at St James' Park, where Chelsea have averaged two goals a game in their five recent outings there.
For Alan Pardew, his 11th-placed side simply need a tonic to kick-start the year.
"We are down and we need a lift and I hope our fans give us a lift on Saturday. They did last night and we responded to that, and they need to be in really, really good voice for us to have a chance against Chelsea," he said.
Cardiff v Swansea
Monday morning, 2.50am (EDT), Fox Sports 1 HD
The working week begins with the Premier League's first ever South Wales derby.
It's the 106th clash between the sides; in the past, it's been heated, with animosity in the stands. This time, it marks the rapid ascent of two teams who have exploded into English football's top flight.
One guarantee is it will be intense, especially as both teams could use the derby to propel them back into form. Cardiff were toothless against Norwich, and can thank David Marshall, who has made a league high 44 saves. Swansea, meanwhile, well liked for Michael Laudrup's style of football, come off a 0-0 stalemate with West Ham.
This one will be historic and feisty – but there will be goals, with only three goalless games in the past 50 encounters.
Barcelona v Espanyol
Saturday, 6.55am (EDT), Fox Sports 2 HD
Live Saturday morning football hits our screens this weekend with a Catalan derby, as Espanyol look to defy the past, where they've won once at Camp Nou since 1982.
The away side, eighth, have just one win in their last six matches and face a side who have recovered from a loss to Osasuna with wins over Real Madrid and Celta Vigo.
Derbies can do strange things – Espanyol did hand Real Madrid the league with a huge upset late in 2006-2007 - but this one looks a mismatch, as Barca aim to entrench themselves at the top of La Liga and continue an unbeaten run in competitive action since UCL elimination in May.
Gerardo Martino's side may have to shift Martin Montoya to left-back in the absence of Jordi Alba and Adriano, but otherwise have a full squad to choose from.
"A derby is always a derby. It will be difficult and we hope to show our best form and win the three points," Cesc Fabregas, who was involved in all three goals against Celta, said.
Rayo Vallecano v Real Madrid
Sunday morning, 5.55am (EDT), Fox Sports 3 HD
Carlo Ancelotti's side have to play the waiting, and chasing game this weekend, as they play 24 hours after Barcelona.
Their mid-week La Liga clash against Sevilla was pure entertainment – but not one for the defensive purists.
The locals have been purring over their first true glimpse of Gareth Bale's potential, as he dismantled Sevilla with a double to go with Cristiano Ronald's treble. Frighteningly for Vallecano, the Portuguese superstar has scored five times in four previous games against them, and has 11 goals in as many league starts this season.
We could see Xabi Alonso start for the first time after five-month lay-off with groin and foot injuries, while Bale's return to fitness provides an embarrassment of riches, with one of Isco and Angel di Maria likely to miss out.
Rayo have struggled to score this term, as they drop back into the bottom three, so against a side they haven't lost to since 1997, Real will focus on ensuring the six point gap to Barcelona does not expand.
01 Nov, 2013
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Source: http://www.news.com.au/national/the-big-5-arsenal-take-on-liverpool-while-barcelona-look-to-keep-their-six-point-gap-on-real-madrid/story-e6frfkp9-1226751030628?from=public_rss
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