The Premier League continues this weekend with Matchday 6, and Sportsnet will have live coverage of five games, plus the Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers:
Saturday, September 23
• Celtic vs. Rangers, 7:00 a.m. ET (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific, and Sportsnet World)
• Manchester City vs. Crystal Palace, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
• Everton vs. Bournemouth, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet World)
• Burnley vs. Huddersfield Town, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet World Plus)
• Leicester City vs. Liverpool, noon. ET (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific, and Sportsnet World)
Monday, September 25
• Arsenal vs. West Bromwich Albion, 2:00 p.m. ET (Sportsnet World)
Here’s what you need to know ahead of this weekend…
THE BIG GAME
Leicester City vs. Liverpool: The Foxes and the Reds will meet for the second time in five days on Saturday at King Power Stadium, with Jurgen Klopp’s side still stinging from a 2-0 loss to Leicester City in the League Cup.
Defence continues to be Liverpool’s main problem, as their nine goals allowed are the most by any team in the top half of the Premier League table. The Reds have just two clean sheets in their nine matches across all competitions, and they are winless in their last four overall (0-2-2).
Liverpool have lost only two of their last 10 Premier League meetings vs. Leicester City, but both defeats came in their last three meetings. Jamie Vardy has scored five goals in his last three league matches vs. Liverpool, including a pair of braces at the King Power Stadium.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Harry Kane: The Tottenham striker only has two goals through the first five matches of the season, but if recent history is any indication he could add to that total when Spurs visit West Ham on Saturday. Kane has scored five goals in his last five appearances against West Ham. Overall, he has bagged 19 goals in 28 Premier League London derbies for Spurs.
COSTA LEAVES CHELSEA TO RETURN TO SPAIN
The Diego Costa saga is finally over. On Thursday, Chelsea announced that it had reached a transfer agreement with La Liga club Atletico Madrid for the Spanish international forward. Costa joined Chelsea from Atletico in July 2014, helping the club win two Premier League titles in three years, scoring 59 goals in 120 appearances in all competitions. But he was at odds with manager Antonio Conte this season and fell out of favour, and tried to engineer a transfer move back to Atletico this summer. Chelsea visits Stoke City on Saturday.
GARETH BARRY SET TO BREAK GIGGS’ RECORD
It’s going to be a record-breaking week for West Bromwich Albion midfielder Gareth Barry. The Englishman is set to make his 633rd appearance on Monday when the Baggies visit Arsenal, breaking the record held by Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs. Barry made his league debut as a 17-year-old on May 2, 1998 when he turned out for Aston Villa against Sheffield Wednesday. Barry played 365 league games for Villa, 132 for Manchester City, 131 for Everton and four for West Brom. Incredibly, he’s started in 600 of his 633 Premier League appearances.
BURNLEY SIGN LINDEGAARD
Burnley signed Danish goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard until the end of the season on Thursday. The move came after first-choice ‘keeper Tom Heatond dislocated his shoulder in a game against Crystal Palace on Sept. 10. A former Manchester United goalkeeper, Lindegaard was a free agent after being released by Preston North End in May. Burnley host Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
INTERESTING STAT
THE BIG QUESTION
Every week, Sportsnet’s soccer panel will debate The Big Question. Have your say by voting in the poll below:
HE SAID IT
“Costa was brilliant at taking it up to the line and then stepping back, affecting opposition teams. Maybe they don’t have that ability with the dark arts right on spec at the moment. I don’t know the whole circumstances, but from a football fans’ point of view I think he’s a loss to the Premier League.” – Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager
