The Premier League continues this weekend with Matchday 8, and Sportsnet will have live coverage of five games.
Friday, October 5
• Brighton & Hove Albion vs. West Ham United, 2:00 p.m. ET (Sportsnet World)
Saturday, October 6
• Tottenham vs. Cardiff City, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet)
• Burnley vs. Huddersfield Town, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet ONE)
Sunday, October 7
• Southampton vs. Chelsea, 9:00 a.m. ET (Sportsnet)
• Liverpool vs. Manchester City, 11:00 a.m. ET (Sportsnet and Sportsnet World)
Here’s what you need to know ahead of this weekend.
MARQUEE MATCH
Liverpool vs. Manchester City: It’s a battle of first vs. second place on Sunday when Liverpool welcomes Manchester City to Anfield.
Both teams are undefeated through the first seven games of the campaign, and have identical 6-1-0 records, but City tops the table by virtue of a superior goal difference.
History is on Liverpool’s side. The Reds haven’t lost in 17 matches (with 12 wins) in all competition against Manchester City at Anfield, a run that dates back to May 2003.
Liverpool also hasn’t conceded a goal in its last nine home Premier League games, so Manchester City will have its work cut out for itself on Sunday.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Sergio Aguero, Manchester City: He has five goals in seven Premier League games this season, but, incredibly, he’s never scored a single goal at Anfield in nine previous appearances for both Atletico Madrid and Manchester City. Sunday might be the moment that the Argentine finally breaks out and ends his drought at Liverpool’s home.
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BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION vs. WEST HAM UNITED
Brighton striker Glenn Murray has scored five goals in his last four league matches against West Ham, including three during the 2017-18 campaign.
BURNLEY vs. HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
Burnley striker Chris Wood has eight goals in all competitions against Huddersfield Town, three more than against any other team.
CRYSTAL PALACE vs. WOLVES
Saturday’s game at Selhurst Park is the first Premier League meeting between Crystal Palace and Wolves, and their first top-flight match since January 1981.
LEICESTER CITY vs. EVERTON
Jamie Vardy has had a hand in six goals in six Premier League appearances against Everton, with four goals and two assists
TOTTENHAM vs. CARDIFFF CITY
Tottenham is riding a 37-match unbeaten streak against promoted sides, with 34 wins and three draws, since losing to Queens Park Rangers in April 2012.
WATFORD vs. BOURNEMOUTH
Bournemouth has failed to keep a clean sheet in any of its last nine away league matches, conceding 20 goals in those games.
MANCHESTER UNITED vs. NEWCASTLE UNITED
Manchester United has lost only one of its last 36 home matches in all competitions against Newcastle United, with 26 wins. The lone loss came under David Moyes in December 2013.
FULHAM vs. ARSENAL
Fulham has yet to keep a clean sheet this season, and has not kept one at home in a London derby in the Premier League since October 2011.
SOUTHAMPTON vs. CHELSEA
Chelsea’s Maurizio Sarri is looking to become the sixth manager to remain unbeaten in his first eight Premier League matches. The other five are Frank Clark (Nottingham Forest), John Lyall (Ipswich Town), Peter Taylor (Leicester City), Jose Mourinho and Felipe Scolari (both Chelsea).
THE BIG QUESTION
Every week, Sportsnet’s soccer panel will debate The Big Question. Have your say by voting in the poll below:
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HE SAID IT
“There’s a lot of cry babies out there. When you walk out on that pitch you’re playing for your pride, you are playing for your family, you’re playing for your city. I’m not talking about Pogba. I’m talking about players in general. Players who get upset with a manager or coaching staff and think ‘I’m not going to train properly because somebody upset me.'” – former Manchester United player Roy Keane.
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