The 2016-17 Premier League season continues this week with Matchday 9, and Sportsnet will have live coverage of five games:
Saturday, October 22
• Arsenal vs. Middlesbrough, 9:30 a.m. ET / 6:30 a.m. PT (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
• Burnley vs. Everton, 9:30 a.m. ET / 6:30 a.m. PT (Sportsnet ONE)
• Leicester City vs. Crystal Palace, 9:30 a.m. ET / 6:30 a.m. PT (Sportsnet World)
• Swansea City vs. Watford, 9:30 a.m. ET / 6:30 a.m. PT (Sportsnet World NOW)
• Liverpool vs. West Bromwich Albion, noon ET / 8:00 a.m. PT (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
You can also follow all of the Premier League action this weekend online with SPORTSNET’S LIVE MATCH TRACKER.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of this weekend…
THE BIG GAME
Chelsea vs. Manchester United: Jose Mourinho will make his return to Stamford Bridge since being fired by Chelsea last year in Sunday’s marquee matchup between the Blues and Manchester United.
While Chelsea sits fifth in the table (three points adrift of co-leaders Manchester City and Arsenal) and have won two straight (including a 3-0 decision over champions Leicester City), United visit London while mired in a bit of a slump—Mourinho’s men have only won one of their last five league games and sit seventh in the standings.
“This is not the week where we were expecting to close the distances to the top of the league. This is the week we have to keep contact with them,” Mourinho told the club’s website. “Then we will arrive at the moment where we win three, four or five matches in a row and we will be there fighting with almost everybody for the title.”
PLAYER TO WATCH
Diego Costa, Chelsea: The Chelsea striker is in fantastic form with seven goals through the first eight games of the season. You just know he’d love to put one over on his old boss by adding to his goal tally on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
MENDY OUT FOR LEICESTER CITY
Leicester City midfielder Nampalys Mendy will be out of action for roughly five weeks after undergoing surgery on his ankle.
Mendy, 24, joined the Foxes from French club Nice in July. He was substituted on his Premier League debut against Arsenal the following month after landing awkwardly in injuring his ankle. He had been training with the club, but recently suffered a setback in his recovery.
The Foxes host Crystal Palace on Saturday.
SUNDERLAND GIVES MOYES VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
Sunderland chief executive Martin Bain stated earlier this week that manager David Moyes is not in immediate danger of losing his job. The Black Cats currently sit bottom of the table with just two points through their opening eight games of the season.
“It’s been a turbulent start,” Bain told the club’s website. “David is an experienced manager and he is a character. I think he is in the top four most experienced managers in the Premier League in terms of games managed. Fundamentally, that experience, coupled with David’s long-term approach.”
Sunderland visits West Ham United on Saturday.
ASIAN CONSORTIUM LOOKING TO BUY HULL CITY
An Asian consortium known as GreaterChina Professional Services is interested in buying Hull City, according to a document on the Hong Kong stock exchange.
The document said completion of the deal is subject to approval of the Premier League and the English Football Association, and that the agreement is not legally binding. Assem Allam has owned the club since 2010, but he put the team up for sale in 2014. A deal with a Chinese consortium broke down last month.
Hull City hosts Stoke City on Saturday.
INTERESTING STAT
THE BIG QUESTION
Arsenal’s Theo Walcott has been on fire in recent weeks with six goals in six games for the Gunners in all competitions.
The Englishman’s time at Arsenal has been characterized by his inconsistent play, but his current run of form has led to an ongoing debate about how he fits in with Arsenal in the log-term.
All of which leads us to ask “The Big Question”…
Sportsnet wants to know what you think, so have your say by voting in the poll. Then tune in to Sportsnet’s Premier League coverage this weekend as soccer commentators James Sharman, Craig Forrest and Danny Dichio debate “The Big Question.”
HE SAID IT
“I’m an old man but I continue. I feel good. For me my job is my life, I want to carry on. When I started at 35 I said, ‘okay at 50 I finish’. When I arrive at 50 I said, ‘why now, 55?’ Five by five, step by step, 65, 70.” – Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri on turning 65 earlier this week.
