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4 things to look out for this weekend

By on September 19, 2014

A tough week for all in Europe – will there be any hangover?
It wasn’t a great week for any English clubs in the Champions League.   Arsenal lost to Borussia Dortmund, while Manchester City came out on the wrong end of the result in their tie Bayern Munich, and while it was a narrow defeat City were facing quite a weakened Bayern side. Worse, they faced the German champions onWednesday, just increasing their hangover from the week.  Chelsea also played a hard fought tie on Wednesday, yet only managed a draw out of Schalke 04.  Liverpool played at home in England much like Chelsea, but they too faced a tough match and only beat Ludogorets, who they were expected to blow out, via a stoppage time penalty.

It was the first week of the Champions League, and all four of those sides should be feeling the fatigue more than usual.   Chelsea actually face City, and their one extra day of rest over their opponents should give them an upper hand.  Meanwhile, you wouldn’t expect traveling to Aston Villa to be a massive challenge for Arsenal, with all due respect to Villa, but The Lions do currently sit second in the league after a great start with ten points from their first twelve matches.  It won’t be the easiest weekend for any of them, that is for certain.

Manchester United could very well be ahead of City by Monday.
We’re going to keep beating this dead horse until it stops spitting out, well, highly interesting debates and story-lines. Okay, so it isn’t as dead as, say, David Luiz’s swan imitation, and in fact gets more intriguing every week.  Last week it was about United’s “dream team” or “Gaalacticos” (pun intended) finally assembling, and this week, it is how that it is very possible United could end the weekend ahead of their cross-city rivals Manchester City.

City will be facing league leaders Chelsea in what is dubbed as a title decided, and if they lose, which they very well may after three matches without a win, and considering Chelsea’s form, United will likely finish one point above him.  The Red Devils face Leicester City, a match which they should win.  They are currently two points behind City, but may be one point ahead of them by Monday.

Frank Lampard to have amore than awkward meeting with Chelsea
All those Chelsea diehards talking of how horrible it was for Jose Mourinho to be simply pushing Chelsea legend Frank Lampard out of the club may be reconsidering his treatment come Sunday.  Lamps, in fact, opted to join Chelsea’s direct and biggest title rivals Manchester City upon leaving, albeit indirectly, joining on loan from the new New York City FC club owned by those in charge of City which will not be up and running in American Major League Soccer until 2015.  It certainly will be interesting to see whether Chelsea fans treat him with respect or as a traitor.

Can Sunderland bring goals to Burnley?
Burnley’s last two matches have ended in goalless draws, and moreover, they haven’t scored since their first match. Or, allowed a goal at home. This weekend, that goal drought may very well come to an end as they face Sunderland, who have scored five in their first four matches, at Turf Moor.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.