The Premier League continues this weekend with Matchday 5, and Sportsnet will have live coverage of five games:
Friday, September 15
• Bournemouth vs. Brighton & Hove Albion, 2:00 p.m. ET (Sportsnet World)
Saturday, September 16
• Liverpool vs. Burnley, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
• Watford vs. Manchester City, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet World)
• Huddersfield Town vs. Leicester City, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet World Plus)
Sunday, September 17
• Chelsea vs. Arsenal, 8:00 a.m. ET (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
Here’s what you need to know ahead of this weekend…
[relatedlinks]
THE BIG GAME
Chelsea vs. Arsenal: It’s a marquee London derby on Sunday when the Blues welcome the Gunners to Stamford Bridge. Both sides are coming off of impressive midweek wins in European competition, so it’ll be interesting if either club suffers from any kind of hangover.
If recent history is anything to go by, Arsenal should have their work cut out for them, as they have lost their last five Premier League matches away to Chelsea. Eden Hazard has tortured the Gunners as of late – the Belgian has scored three times in his last four Premier League home appearances against Arsene Wenger’s team.
Chelsea will be without midfielder Danny Drinkwater (calf injury). Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will also have to decide whether to insert Gary Cahill back into his starting 11 – the defender has not featured in the Premier League since earning a straight red card against Burnley in the opening game of the season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Romelu Lukaku: The Belgian is the Premier League’s top scorer with four goals this season. If he scores on Sunday, he’ll become the fourth-youngest player (at 24 years and 127 days) in Premier League history to score 90 Premier League goals – and you just know he’d love to score against Everton, his former club.
POGBA OUT FOR ‘A FEW MATCHES’
Manchester United will be without French midfielder Paul Pogba after he picked up a hamstring injury in the Red Devils’ Champions League win over Basel this week. United manager Joe Mourinho confirmed the injury, but refused to give a specific timeline as to when Pogba is expected to return, saying only: “I don’t know how many [games], but we are going to play without Pogba for a few matches but we have other players.” Manchester United hosts Everton on Sunday.
HODGSON TAKES OVER FOR DE BOER
Frank de Boer was fired by Crystal Palace on Monday, only four Premier League games into his managerial tenure. Palace lost all four of its league matches under the Dutchman, without even scoring a goal. The last team to make a similar a start in England’s first division was Preston in 1924. The day after De Boer’s departure, Palace hired Roy Hodgson as his replacement. His first game in charge of Palace will be against Southampton at home on Saturday.
STOKE DEFENDER CAMERON OUT FOR 2 GAMES
American defender Geoff Cameron will miss Stoke City’s next two games due to a right hamstring injury. Cameron suffered the injury during the first half of Stoke’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United last weekend. Cameron, 32, started in all four of the Potters’ games this season. Stoke visits Newcastle United on Saturday.
WATFORD’S KABOUL, PRODL TO MISS MAN CITY CLASH
Watford will be without defenders Younes Kaboul and Sebastian Prodl when they visit Manchester City on Saturday. Kaboul is dealing with hamstring injury suffered in last week’s 2-0 win at Southampton, while Prodl is carrying a knock sustained while playing for Austria. Craig Cathcart (knee injury) and Miguel Britos (suspended) will also be absent. Watford have not won against Manchester City in the Premier League, losing four of their past six meetings.
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
“He will get the welcome he deserves. In this country, the word ‘legend’ comes too easy. That’s not his case. He is a real legend at this club. The stadium will show him the respect that he deserves, I hope before the match and after the match but not during the match.” – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on Wayne Rooney’s return to Old Trafford as a member of Everton.
