Everton vs. Liverpool, Inter Milan vs. AC Milan, Bundesliga and MLS,,,,,,,,,,
The soccer deities are being kind to us this weekend, as the international break ends and club soccer returns across the globe with a buffet of brilliant matches.
Written content via ESPN
So many, in fact, that our viewing plans might benefit from a little structure. From the Premier League to MLS, from Serie A to the Bundesliga, there’s plenty of top action and enough of it to melt your DVR and/or internet connection.
So we decided to welcome back league play with a neat guide to the best matches in the soccer universe over the next two days.
Let’s feast.
Saturday
EVERTON vs. LIVERPOOL
7:30 a.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. GMT (English Premier League)
The Merseyside derby has been sadly moribund in recent years given Liverpool’s dominance — Everton haven’t beaten their rivals in a decade — but this weekend might be the Toffees’ best chance in all that time to finally get back in the win column. The Blues, under genius manager (and magnificently eyebrowed) Carlo Ancelotti, are perfect so far this season and boast an all-star attack: James Rodriguez arrived this summer to knit things together, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored six league goals in four matches and Allan (a former Liverpool transfer target) is the steel needed in attack.
The Reds have been simmering rather than on full boil in 2020 despite clinching that first league title in 30 years, but don’t expect them to let subpar form, the emotional aftershocks of their previous league game (a 7-2 hammering at Aston Villa) or a string of health concerns following some positive COVID-19 tests derail them for the short trip across Stanley Park. Mohamed Salah is quietly having a good season, and all the talent is still in place from last season’s runaway procession to the title. — James Tyler
CELTIC vs. RANGERS
7:30 a.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. GMT (Scottish Premiership)
Both teams come into the first Old Firm derby of the season with near-perfect records: Rangers (who have a growing injury list) sit at the top of the league with eight wins and two draws, Celtic are second with eight wins and one draw. Saturday’s clash between the two sides of Glasgow will go some way to giving us a solid indication of where the balance of power will lie this season.
– Celtic vs. Rangers: Stream LIVE on ESPN+
It’s a crying shame the game will be played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 protocols, but it should be a fascinating tug-of-war as the two sides have alternated victories in their past six meetings. Keep an eye on two prolific strikers: Rangers’ Alfredo Morales and Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard (who has scored six against Rangers). It’s also going to be a timely test of Rangers’ watertight defence (the best in the Scottish Premiership) against Celtic’s potent attack (they have the best shot conversion rate). — Tom Hamilton
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