In England, it doesn’t get any bigger than Manchester United and Liverpool. Just ask Pele, who compared the Northwest England derby to El Clasico last spring. Thirty-four miles and two major trophies separate the two most successful sides In England history.
Liverpool, owner of 44 major titles will pay a visit to Old Trafford, where 42 major trophies are housed. The history of the rivalry is epic, for a taste check out SkySports’s review of ten classic matches.
But this is not a matchup only for historians, as both sides hope to solidify up-and-down starts to the new campaign. Brendan Rodgers will have to do without Brazilian maestro Philippe Coutinho, suspended for his red card during Liverpool’s home loss at the hands of West Ham United.
Rodgers will look to summer signing Christian Benteke for offensive production while relying on a defensive unit that has pocketed three clean sheets in the first four weeks.
The burning question for Louis van Gaal and Manchester United is “Will de Gea start in goal?” By now, everyone has heard about the debacle that was Real Madrid’s attempt to sign the Spanish keeper. And, while it is worth more than a few chuckles in rival camps, most believe that LVG must get de Gea out on the pitch.
The Red Devils’s captain, Wayne Rooney, should be flying high after an international break that saw him become England’s national team’s top goal scorer. Rooney will look for support from Juan Mata, who scored for Spain against Macedonia, and Memphis Depay, who will welcome a return to club football after a disastrous Euro qualifying session for his home country, the Netherlands.
All of the action from Old Trafford can be seen on NBC on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. EST.
Elsewhere in England, Chelsea looks to right the ship with a visit to Goodison Park against Tim Howard and Everton on Saturday at 7:45 a.m. EST on NBCSN while the top two in the table, Crystal Palace and Manchester City, meet at Selhurst Park on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. EST on NBCSN.
Leicester City hosts Aston Villa and American keeper Brad Guzan on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. EST on NBCSN before West Ham and Newcastle United close out the weeks games on Monday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
The Best of the Rest for the Weekend
In France, Zlatan and Paris Saint-Germain look for a fifth straight win to start the season as they host Bordeaux on Friday at 2:30 PM EST on beIN Sports Espanol. Nantes, with American midfielder Alejandro Bedoya, host Rennes, winners of three in a row, Sunday at 11:00 a.m. EST on beIN Sports.
In Italy, the match of the weekend is the battle of Milan as Inter and AC Milan face off at the San Siro on Sunday at 2:45 p.m. EST on beIN Sports Espanol. Juventus, still looking for their first point of the new season, welcomes league leaders Chievo to Turin on beIN Sports Connect (streaming) at 2:45 p.m. EST on Saturday.
The match of the weekend in Spain is between the last two league champions, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid from the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. EST on beIN Sports. Real Madrid travels to Espanyol earlier in the day, 10:00 a.m. ET on beIN Sports.
In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich hosts Augsburg Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. EST on FOX Sports 1, while Borussia Dortmund will try to keep pace as they travel to Hannover 96, also at 9:30 a.m. EST on Saturday on Fox Soccer Plus. Chicharito makes his German debut for Bayer Leverkusen against Darmstadt 98 on Fox Sports 2, Saturday at 9:30 a.m. EST.
Moving to the western hemisphere, in Liga MX first place Club Leon travels to Chiapas to face the Jaguars, Saturday night at 10:00 p.m. EST on Univision Deportes. Club America welcomes Tigres to the Azteca on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. EST on Univision Deportes.
The MLS weekend finds Jozy Altidore and Toronto FC facing off against the New England Revolution on ESPN2 at 5:00 p.m. EST on Sunday while Kaka and Orlando City welcome Sporting KC to the Citrus Bowl in Orlando at 7:00 p.m. EST, Sunday on Fox Sports 1.
