Arsenal vs Fenerbahce August 27, 2013

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Arsene Wenger has called on Arsenal to finish the job when they host Fenerbahce at the Emirates on Tuesday bidding to qualify for the lucrative UEFA Champions League group stages.

The Gunners go into the second leg play-off clash in a dominant position following a 3-0 win in Turkey last week.

Second-half goals from Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud boosted the Gunners' hopes of securing their place in Thursday's draw for the group stages for a 16th successive season.

UEFA Champions League playoff round, Emirates Stadium, London

Arsenal vs. Fenerbahce 

Date: 7.45 p.m. BST/2:45 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013

Another season of UEFA Champions League football is almost secure.

The Gunners hold a 3-0 aggregate lead ahead of the second leg play-off after cruising to a straight forward victory in Istanbul thanks to goals from Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud last week.

Arsene Wenger may also be tempted to field a weakened side against the Turkish outfit, with one eye on this weekend's north London derby with Tottenham.

After beating Fenerbahce last week in Turkey, Arsenal need only to see out the second leg successfully at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night. With a 3-0 advantage in hand, the Gunners seem destined for a 16th consecutive season in Europe's most prestigious club competition.

The second leg is scheduled to kick off at 7.45 p.m. BST, or 2:45 p.m

It was just the morale-boosting performance Wenger was seeking following his side's 3-1 opening Premier League home defeat by Aston Villa.

Fulham vs Arsenal August 24, 2013

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The alarm sirens for Arsene Wenger's reign will be screeching if Arsenal lose back-to-back opening league matches for the first time since the inaugural Premier League season 21 years ago. If they surrender as meekly as they did against Villa then Fulham can record successive opening Premier League victories for the first time.

But the Gunners reminded everyone that they're not far short of being a really good team when they won handsomely at Fenerbahce in the Champions League on Wednesday. Arsene Wenger has been overly-cautious in the transfer marker so far, but some of the criticism of him has bordered on the hysterical.

Fans have rightly been frustrated that big-name signings have been mooted yet no deals have been forthcoming. But it's not Wenger's fault that Liverpool wouldn't sell Luis Suarez. The Anfield club told me last week the Uruguayan was never going to move to the Emirates.

weekend, top up their Oyster cards, and get on the Underground for the 30 minute journey down to Craven Cottage, where Fulham awaits, well-rested after their Opening Day win at Sunderland.

With such a thin squad and a very short turnaround time, there's not a whole lot to say about this game, lineup- or tactic-wise, that we didn't see Wednesday; Kos is out, Flamini won't be signed in time for the game, and otherwise it's more or less status quo. Arsenal don't have a lot of options right now, so what you saw Wednesday is likely what you'll get Saturday.

The Cottagers made the perfect start to their 2013/14 campaign last weekend, with a 1-0 victory secured on the road at new-look Sunderland.

Martin Jol will be delighted to be off the mark away from home, but will also be aware that Fulham are historically stronger in front of their own supporters than they are on their travels.

They will hope that proves to be the case this weekend, with it important to establish, and then maintain, early momentum.

Arsenal will feel that they have the wind back in their sails following an impressive 3-0 victory over Fenerbahce in their UEFA Champions League qualifier in midweek, but that success has only served to paper over old cracks.

Wenger remains firmly under the spotlight after failing to bolster his ranks this summer, and a 3-1 reversal at the Emirates on the opening day saw Gunners supporters make their feelings clear.

Speculation suggests it could be a busy couple of weeks in north London, with Arsenal likely to spend big before the window closes, but they need to ensure that they get things right on the field if events off it are to become less of a distraction.

Fulham vs. Arsenal 
English Premier League
Saturday, 24 August 2013
4.45AM PT/7.45AM ET/11.45AM BT

Real Madrid vs Real Betis August 18, 2013

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Real Madrid begin their battle for Spanish supremacy with Barcelona by welcoming Real Betis to the Bernabeu.

In most leagues, watching the second-place and seventh-place finishers would be an interesting matchup. Since this is La Liga, you don't give the seventh-place team much of a chance

Real Madrid begin life under Carlo Ancelotti this weekend as they get the 2013-14 La Liga campaign underway at home to Real Betis.

Ancelotti could hand full debuts to summer signings Isco and Asier Illarramendi, while Daniel Carvajal is in contention for a first start after rejoining Madrid at the end of last season.

The Italian coach must also contend with injury doubts surrounding senior players in his first match in charge, with Xabi Alonso, Raphael Varane and Pepe all carrying knocks.

Betis will be without last season's top scorer Ruben Castro on Sunday night, losing the striker to a hamstring injury.

Xavi Torres should make his bow for the visitors in midfield, with Joan Verdu also hoping for a Betis debut in an advanced wide role.

Jose Mourinho is gone from the Bernabéu and has been replaced by Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid look to recover from season in which they failed to win a major trophy. That's not something that happens to Los Blancos very often and Ancelotti knows he has to turn things around quickly.

Possible lineups:

Real Madrid: Casillas, Marcelo, Ramos, Pepe, Arbeloa, Özil, Khedira, Modric, Isco, Ronaldo,

Betis: Andersen, Chica, Paulao, Perquis,Nacho, Matilla, Nosa, Cedric, Juanfran, Verdu, Molina
Fans have become accustomed to seeing Barcelona and Madrid cannibalize the rest of Spain, but this is getting ridiculous. Aside from the top two clubs, the Spanish league is seeing a major talent drain, as European teams cherry pick the best talent of every other club.

Match Date/Time: 9 p.m. local, 3 p.m. ET

Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain

West Ham vs Cardiff August 17, 2013

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Cardiff City travel to West Ham United without too many selection worries, though Malky Mackay will have been disappointed to lose powerful Danish striker Andreas Cornelius to an ankle injury a couple of weeks ago. That injury has cleared up, but having only recently returned to training Cornelius will have to settle for a place on the bench at best if he passes a fitness test. Craig Bellamy has recovered from illness and felt no effects after playing an hour in Wales` 0-0 draw with ROI midweek.

The world was a very different place when Cardiff City last dined at the top table. In the USA the charismatic JFK was President, while here at home Harold McMillan was Prime Minister. The average yearly wage was £799 and beer cost about 12p a pint. Acker Bilk had the best-selling single of the year while a little-known Liverpool band called The Beatles recruited Ringo Starr as their new drummer. It was 1962.

Many Cardiff supporters must have feared this day would never come but last season's Championship title finally turned the dream into reality after three consecutive play-off failures.

Media reports suggest Gary Medel will go into the starting line-up, despite a distinct lack of preparation. Medel only joined from Sevilla a few days ago and was since on International duty with Chile.

West Ham vs Cardiff August 17, 2013

The new Premier League season will prove to be an interesting challenge to both of these sides. West Ham subverted all expectations last year and finished in an unprecedented 10th position which garnered praise and admiration for Sam Allardyce and the Irons. However, due to the demands of the West Ham faithful, this season will be a tough one for the Hammers as they will be expecting more than last season which could make it very difficult for “Big Sam” to hold on to the hotseat for this season.

As with Cardiff, Malky Mackay’s reputation is currently very respectable after guiding Cardiff who had become the “nearly men” of the Championship to the promised land of the Premiership and will be looking to secure the safety of the Welsh side and follow in the footsteps of bitter rivals Swansea.

West Brom vs Southampton August 17, 2013

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West Bromwich Albion can mirror last season's strong start with a victory in their opening Premier League fixture, while Southampton's aim is to retain their top-flight status for a second campaign in a row.

The Baggies finished eighth last season under head coach Steve Clarke, who has added former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka, Goran Popov and Diego Lugano to the squad, while the club are awaiting news on Scott Sinclair's potential arrival from Manchester City.

The experienced striker, who has played for five top-flight clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea, is back in England after an 18-month absence following his arrival at the Midlands club in July.

Anelka is one of three new West Brom signings, with Diego Lugano and promising youngster Matej Vydra also joining from Paris-Saint Germain and Udinese, respectively, with the latter on a season-long loan deal.
And head coach Steve Clarke has already seen the 34-year-old Anelka prove he remains a prolific finisher by netting seven goals in as many preseason friendly games for the club.

The Baggies' boss will be hoping the Frenchman can make an instant impact on his return to the Premier League as West Brom looks to build on last season's eighth-place finish. History is on its side as the club is unbeaten against Southampton at home since May 1984.

But Mauricio Pochettino's men have their own plans, and, after returning to the Premier League after a seven-year absence last season, are targeting a top-10 finish. Southampton have new signings to showcase, too, with Croatia international Dejan Lovren and former Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama both available to the Argentine ahead of his first full campaign in charge.

Pochettino has a number of injury doubts, though, as he has concerns over young defenders Luke Shaw and Nathaniel Clyne, with the former suffering from a knee injury during a 4-3 friendly win over Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Anelka is likely to start up front alongside Shane Long at The Hawthorns, while Youssouf Mulumbu and Claudio Yacob could hold the midfield line.

Mauricio Pochettino's Southampton side will head into their first game with Luke Shaw and Nathaniel Clyne both doubtful, but Dejan Lovren is expected to make his Premier League debut for the Saints.

Rickie Lambert is likely to be chosen by Pochettino to lead the attack after scoring on his England debut in the Three Lions' 3-2 win over Scotland at Wembley on Wednesday night.

West Brom vs Southampton August 17, 2013

West Bromwich Albion: Foster; Ridgewell, Olsson, McAuley, Jones; Brunt, Mulumbu, Yacob, Morrison; Anelka, Long

Southampton: Boruc; Shaw, Yoshida, Lovren, Clyne; Lallana, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Cork, Ramirez; Lambert

Sunderland vs Fulham August 17, 2013

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Paolo Di Canio has worked diligently to stamp his authority into a struggling Sunderland squad. The team have rarely played free-flowing, attack-minded football across the last few years, but the Italian boss is looking to change that.

Jozy Altidore enters the Premier League season in fine form. His hat-trick during USA’s 4-3 comeback win over Bosnia and Herzegovina is the perfect confidence booster ahead of the campaign.

Expect the battling forward to lead the line with Emanuele Giaccherini and Adam Johnson in a front three that possesses real incision. With Stephane Sessegnon sitting behind Altidore, the Black Cats finally have a threat that will make knees tremble.

While many Sunderland supporters would settle for a pleasant mid-table plod through the campaign, they are equally realistic that yet another year of transition awaits.
The appointment of Martin O'Neill in December 2011 was supposed to herald a much-needed period of stability, yet within 16 months he was gone, with his side precariously close to a return to the Championship.

“Fulhamerica” visits Jozy Altidore‘s Sunderland in a U.S. special Saturday. The red-hot 23-year-old striker is set to make his Sunderland debut, his first in the English Premier League since his failed Hull City stint in the 2009/10 season.

Just like in the Stoke City vs. Liverpool matchup, both these clubs finished in relatively disappointing positions. Last year’s hot start for Fulham (including a 5-0 defeat of Norwich on Opening Day) fizzled out as they relied heavily on Dimitar Berbatov for goals. The end of the year brought fatigue, which led to them being sucked into the relegation battle before outsidee help saw them pushed up to 12th place.

Sunderland were very much in the relegation tempest, finishing just above the drop zone in 17th thanks largely to Wigan’s league failures down the stretch. Paolo Di Canio, brought in with seven games to go to inject some fighting spirit into the squad and avoid relegation, has signed a whopping 10 new players this summer, including Altidore. Many of them, like Emanuele Giaccherini and Vito Mannone, could not just make appearances Saturday but start as well.

Altidore is on a blistering hot streak this summer in international play for the United States, and Di Canio would love for his new signing to carry that success over to his team as well. Jozy bagged a hat-trick against Bosnia-Herzegovina to spur the United States to a stunning comeback just two days ago, making it five consecutive matches Altidore has scored in for the United States.

Norwich City vs Everton August 17, 2013

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Norwich fans will be looking forward to seeing new strikers Gary Hooper and Ricky van Wolfswinkel tomorrow as Norwich host Everton. Manager Chris Hughton has spent around £13m on the two strikers but is still expecting a tough season: “We've had two very good seasons in this division, but this season - irrespective of what we've brought in - will start just as hard as last season started”.

New Everton manager, Roberto Martinez, will be looking for positive start to his reign. Everton have managed to keep hold of their best players from last season and fans will be hoping that the signing of Wigan striker Arouna Kone will result in more potency upfront when last season no Everton striker managed to get into double figures.

KICK-OFF: Tomorrow, 3p

Norwich came from behind to win this fixture in February, when late goals from Kei Kamara and Grant Holt secured a 2-1 win for the hosts who have not lost to Everton at Carrow Road since 2004.

The tie represents the start of a fresh era for the visitors, as new boss Roberto Martinez prepares to take charge of his first competitive game, following the departure of David Moyes at the end of last season.

It has also been a summer of change for the Canaries with a host of new arrivals, as manager Chris Hughton looks to build on last season's seventh place finish, breaking the club's transfer record to spend £8.5million on Dutch striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel from Sporting Lisbon.

Highly-rated youngsters Nathan Redmond and Leroy Fer have also joined, from Birmingham City and FC Twente respectively, while the signings of Gary Hooper, Martin Olsson, Javier Garrido and Carlo Nash will boost Hughton's options.

Martinez himself has been busy in the transfer market, signing three familiar faces in Arouna Kone, Antolin Alcaraz and Joel Robles who all worked under him at Wigan, in addition to the loan capture of Barcelona's 19-year old winger Gerard Deulofeu.

Arsenal vs Aston Villa August 17, 2013

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The more last season went on, the more impressive Paul Lambert's side were, and the addition of six more young new signings should only improve his squad further AND the supporters' belief in the idea of evolution through youth.
At 23, the exciting Bulgarian winger Aleksander Tonev is the oldest of Villa's new boys, and if, as expected, Shay Given departs this transfer window - there won't be a single player aged 30 or above in the squad.

As well as the incomers, seven of last season's team have signed new long-term deals this summer, with the persuasion of Christian Benteke to stay surely the most important signing of all. Will Arsenal fans be looking at him thinking what they could have had?

They have signed one player who's been likened to Benteke (20-year-old Frenchman Yaya Sanogo) - but that's it, just one player. You can understand some Gooners thinking it's 'groundhog season' again.
Bids for superstars like Luis Suarez and Gonzalo Higuain show that Arsene Wenger is trying to strengthen with sizeable funds available, and the boss insists the club will be active in the transfer market until deadline day.

The bookies make Arsenal strong favorites to win this game but, I have a feeling this could be very tight.

Although Arsenal have had a reasonable pre season culminating in a 3-1 victory over Man City there is sure to be a hint of unrest over the lack of any, as promised, marquee signings.

Aston Villa on the other hand seemed to have invested wisely during the window with numbers and experience being added to the squad. This being topped off with Paul Lambert persuading star striker Christian Benteke to stick with the Villain’s for at least another season.

From the outside I see Villa progressing this season and finishing in the top ten, would be interested if their fans would be satisfied with that progress and a run in one of the cups. I won’t mention Bradford if you don’t!

I think there will be goals in this with both teams looking stronger offensively rather than defensively and with my Arsenal head I am tipping the Gunners to edge it by the odd goal.

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

English Premier League
Saturday, 17 August 2013
7AM PT/10AM ET/3PM BT
Emirates Stadium, London

Liverpool 1-0 Stoke City August 17, 2013

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Potters' boss Mark Hughes appeared set for a point in his first game in charge but Mignolet kept out Jon Walters's spot-kick after Daniel Agger handled. Earlier, Potters' defender Robert Huth and Reds centre-back Kolo Toure were both denied by the woodwork. Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge then scored the eventual winner, arrowing in a 22-yard shot. The first game of the league begins today. Liverpool vs Stoke City match of the first week after a long break. This match Premier League's first match played today.

Information about the match, the match stats share with you. Detailed article about the struggle played today.

As the Premier League season kicks off, Liverpool will host Stoke City, as both clubs eye improvement on last year.

Liverpool open the Premier League season against Stoke City on Saturday, with Brendan Rodgers' team favourites for the lunchtime match. They've been busy in the transfer market so far, with Spanish attacking arrivals Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas, defender Kolo Touré and goalkeeper Simon Mignolet all set for their debuts.

However, Rodgers will be without striker Luis Suárez, who is still suspended after chewing on Branislav Ivanović's arm last season. Defensive duo Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel are both early doubts with slight injuries, though will hopefully be available for selection.

Liverpool injuries and suspensions

Out: Luis Suárez (suspended). In doubt: Daniel Agger (knee), Martin Skrtel (knock).

Stoke City injuries and suspensions

Liverpool vs Stoke August 17, 2013

Both clubs experienced disappointing campaigns last season relative to what the clubs are looking to achieve, and the new campaign is an opportunity to erase those failures.

Venue: Anfield, London, England

The match kicks off at 12:45 p.m. UK time (7:45 a.m. ET)

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