Weekend Football Schedule
Here`s a look at the key football matches across various leagues this weekend:
Friday
- 🏴 EPL: Bournemouth vs. Fulham, 3 p.m. ➡️ USA Network
- 🇺🇸 NWSL: Houston Dash vs. Orlando Pride, 3 p.m. ➡️ Amazon Prime Video
Saturday
- 🇮🇹 Serie A: Inter vs. Cremonese, 12 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
- 🏴 EPL: Chelsea vs. Liverpool, 12:30 p.m. ➡️ NBC
- 🇩🇪 Bundesliga: Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Bayern Munich, 12:30 p.m. ➡️ ESPN+
- 🇪🇸 LaLiga: Real Madrid vs. Villarreal, 3 p.m. ➡️ ESPN+
- 🇺🇸 MLS: Philadelphia Union vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m. ➡️ MLS Season Pass
- 🇺🇸 NWSL: Portland Thorns vs. Bay FC, 10 p.m. ➡️ Ion
Sunday
- 🇪🇸 LaLiga: Sevilla vs. Barcelona, 10:15 a.m. ➡️ ESPN+
- 🏴 EPL: Brentford vs. Manchester City, 11:30 a.m. ➡️ USA Network
- 🇺🇸 NWSL: Washington Spirit vs. San Diego Wave, 1 p.m. ➡️ ESPN
- 🇮🇹 Serie A: Juventus vs. AC Milan, 2:45 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
- 🇺🇸 MLS: LAFC vs. Atlanta United, 9 p.m. ➡️ MLS Season Pass
⚽ Premier League Focus
Chelsea and Liverpool Seek to Rediscover Form
A highly anticipated Premier League clash awaits this Saturday as Liverpool journeys to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. Neither of these traditional powerhouses has been performing at their usual high standards lately, making this encounter particularly unpredictable given their recent inconsistent form.
Chelsea managed only their second victory in five games on Tuesday, securing a narrow 1-0 win against Benfica in the UEFA Champions League. However, their league performances this season have largely been underwhelming. Nine matches into the campaign, they`ve only once managed to hit two non-penalty expected goals, indicating that their attacking output hasn`t matched the substantial investment in new players. Enzo Maresca`s squad also faces significant disciplinary issues, having seen a player sent off in three of their last four matches. Trevoh Chalobah, for instance, will be unavailable for the Liverpool game after receiving a red card in their recent 3-1 loss to Brighton and Hove Albion.
Liverpool`s potential is arguably higher this season, but their recent 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday highlighted significant challenges for manager Arne Slot. His squad displayed notable tactical imbalance in Istanbul, with Dominik Szoboszlai deployed as a right-back and Jeremie Frimpong as a right-winger, both playing out of their natural positions. This strategy appeared to impact their offensive play; Florian Wirtz, since joining the Reds, has struggled to showcase his best form. Pressure is mounting on Slot to adjust his approach before their season derails.
The intriguing aspect of Saturday`s match at Stamford Bridge lies in how these two imperfect teams will contend. Both have conceded a concerning number of goals in their six Premier League games thus far—Liverpool with seven and Chelsea with eight—suggesting that a moment of attacking brilliance could be decisive. This will be a tough task for both sides, who often struggle for consistent offensive output, making this an early and crucial test. There`s much at stake: Liverpool holds just a two-point advantage over Arsenal heading into the weekend, while a win could propel Chelsea from eighth to fourth, provided other results are favorable.
🇺🇸 USMNT World Cup Preparations
Mauricio Pochettino Unveils Latest USMNT Roster
The experimental phase for the U.S. Men`s National Team concluded on Thursday as head coach Mauricio Pochettino announced his squad for this month`s friendly matches against Ecuador and Australia. While some notable players are absent for valid reasons—Tyler Adams due to personal matters and Sergino Dest with an injury—this roster largely indicates the frontrunners for the World Cup squad, now just eight months away. Some of Pochettino’s selections have raised eyebrows.
Here is a breakdown of the announced roster:
- Goalkeepers: Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)
- Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Mark McKenzie (FC Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati)
- Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), James Sands (FC St. Pauli), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyon), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Forwards: Patrick Agyemang (Derby County), Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Tim Weah (Marseille), Haji Wright (Coventry City), Alex Zendejas (Club America)
After a year of assessing various options, Pochettino appears to be settling on his preferred forwards, clarifying who might join established stars Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah. Folarin Balogun reaffirmed his position as the USMNT`s primary No. 9 following strong performances in September, marking his return to the national team after an injury-plagued year. Patrick Agyemang could serve as his backup in October, having missed last month`s friendlies due to injury. Alex Zendejas, similar to Balogun, impressed in September and seems to have earned his place. Notably absent from this month`s call-up is Josh Sargent, despite his excellent form for Norwich City, having seen his opportunities with the USMNT dwindle.
Meanwhile, the competition for the USMNT`s starting goalkeeper spot could intensify this month. Matt Freese has capitalized on his chances as the U.S. starter during the Concacaf Gold Cup and September friendlies. However, 2022 World Cup first-choice keeper Matt Turner is back in contention and is finally playing regularly at the club level after rejoining the New England Revolution this summer. All of Pochettino`s chosen goalkeepers for October hail from MLS, making it highly probable that a player from the domestic league will guard the net at the World Cup.
🔗 Around the Football World
Top Football Stories
- Jurgen Klopp Exclusive: In a detailed 45-minute interview, Jurgen Klopp stated he has no intentions of returning to coaching and explained how his new role as Red Bull`s global head of soccer satisfies his passion for management. Klopp also spoke out against fixture congestion and his boycott of the Club World Cup.
- World Cup Ball Revealed: Adidas unveiled the “Trionda” on Friday, designated as the official match ball for the 2026 World Cup hosted across North America. The Trionda is highlighted as their most customized and thoroughly tested World Cup ball to date.
- Henry on Fixture Congestion: Thierry Henry urged FIFA and UEFA to engage in a constructive dialogue with current professional players, rather than retired ones, to find solutions for the persistent problem of match overload.
- UCL Contenders Emerge: With only two matchdays completed in the UEFA Champions League group stage, discussions are already turning to which teams have demonstrated the potential to go all the way. Additionally, the latest Champions League power rankings have been released after an eventful week of matches.
- Harry Kane`s Indirect Impact: An analysis reveals how a goal scored by Harry Kane played a significant, indirect role in Goncalo Ramos` winning strike for Paris Saint-Germain against Barcelona during their Champions League match on Wednesday.
- Arsenal`s Evolving Attack: Martin Odegaard`s assertive ball-handling during Arsenal`s 2-0 victory over Olympiacos showcased the significant evolution in the Gunners` offensive strategy as they pursue major trophies.
- The `Hollywood Derby`: This Friday`s Championship fixture between Wrexham and Birmingham City features a clash between two clubs with celebrity ownership, offering a glimpse into the future landscape of English football.
- UWCL Coverage on CBS: The UEFA Women`s Champions League is set to be broadcast on CBS Sports, with coverage commencing on Tuesday. The broadcasts will feature an expert panel including analysts Jen Beattie, Janelly Farias, Darian Jenkins, Kelley O`Hara, and Ali Riley.
💰 Betting Insights
Weekend`s Best Bet
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English Premier League: Bournemouth vs. Fulham, Friday (3 p.m. ET)
The Pick: Bournemouth to win (-105): Although the Cherries have seen a dip in momentum with two recent draws, a return to their home ground is expected to reignite their form. Fulham has yet to secure an away victory this season, a trend unlikely to change here. Bournemouth`s effective pressing game is difficult to penetrate, and without Andresa Pereira, Fulham`s midfield lacks the necessary control to effectively challenge opponents. — Chuck Booth
📺 On CBS Sports Golazo Network
Discover the programming lineup on CBS Sports Golazo Network:
- Morning Footy (Weekdays 8-10 a.m. ET): Start your day with Golazo Network`s flagship morning show, featuring highlights, exclusive interviews, and the biggest soccer stories. This show is also available as a podcast for on-the-go listening.
- Attacking Third (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday): The premier women`s soccer podcast and brand now comes to you as a live studio show. With the NWSL season underway, our comprehensive coverage of the women`s game is stronger than ever. Our expert analysts will delve into the USWNT, NWSL, and European domestic seasons throughout the year. Don`t miss Sunday live streams on YouTube after the final NWSL match of the weekend.
- Call it What You Want (Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. ET): Join Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola as they discuss all things USMNT and the state of soccer in the United States, in anticipation of co-hosting the 2026 World Cup. New episodes air live on the Golazo America YouTube channel.
- Scoreline (Daily): Scoreline is your go-to source for catching up on the most important global football news and results, including match highlights from top competitions and all the must-see goals from the day`s action, broadcasting seven days a week.
- How to Watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network is a complimentary 24/7 channel dedicated to extensive coverage of leading soccer competitions worldwide. You can stream it free via the CBS Sports app, Pluto TV, and Paramount+.
