What to Watch this Weekend
Have a Seat & Enjoy Jozy's Premier League Return
With Clint Dempsey back in MLS, which Premier League team will capture the hearts of American fans? Stoke City and Sunderland are both strong contenders, and you can catch them on TV this weekend.
FRIDAY
Santos Laguna vs. Tigres10:30 p.m. (all times Eastern)
Univision Deportes
After a slow start to the season, Tigres won its second consecutive match last Saturday. Jose Torres went the full 90 minutes in the 3-1 victory over local rivals Monterrey. A much tougher test awaits Tigres this weekend, however. The club must now travel to Estadio Corona to face an unbeaten Santos Laguna.
SATURDAY
Liverpool vs. Stoke City7:45 a.m.
NBC Sports Network
The Premier League is back. Thankfully for a few Americans abroad, Tony Pulis is not. The Welsh manager was sacked last season and replaced by fellow Welshman Mark Hughes. With a new regime in place, Geoff Cameron and an injured Brek Shea will look to build on last season’s 13th-placed finish. The first test comes at Anfield this Saturday. Sunderland vs. Fulham
10:00 a.m.
NBC Sports Live Extra
The anticipation surrounding Jozy Altidore’s return to the Premier League was already at an all-time high. It only escalated after his hat-trick in a 4-3 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday. Altidore will make his Sunderland debut this Saturday as an older, confident, and a more-polished striker than he was in 2009. Expect to see him score more than one goal for the Black Cats this season. New York Red Bulls vs. Philadelphia Union
8:00 p.m.
NBC Sports Network
Never mind Jack McInerney—Conor Casey is the Philadelphia striker to watch in Week 25. The 32-year-old New Hampshire native has scored three of the Union’s four goals against the Red Bulls this season. His latest achievement, a brace in a 2-0 victory D.C. United, increased his goal total to nine on the year. If Philadelphia hopes to capture its first-ever victory at Red Bull Arena, the club will need Casey to continue his scorching form. Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake
10:30 p.m.
MLS Live
There’s a new Designated Player in the City of Angels, and it’s Omar Gonzalez. The No. 12-ranked player in the ASN 100 signed a hefty contract extension on Thursday to continue playing in Los Angeles. Now it’s incumbent upon Gonzalez to live up to the new pressures surrounding a DP contract. His first opportunity will come this Saturday when Real Salt Lake—the current Supporters’ Shield leaders—visit the StubHub Center.
