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5 games to watch: Manchester City and Liverpool clash at top of Premier League

By Adam Stocker

Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino (L) vies with Chelsea's Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2018. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino (L) vies with Chelsea's Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2018. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Here are five of the best matches in Europe that you should watch this weekend, including a Premier League matchup between the top two teams.

Following midweek European games, the domestic season resumes with several big games from across Europe’s big five leagues. The Bundesliga features a top-four matchup, while Serie A offers two games between teams currently in the top six. In the marquee matchup of the weekend, Liverpool and Manchester City clash at Anfield.

5. Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lyon — Sunday, Oct. 7, 3 p.m. ET (BeIN Sports)

Paris Saint-Germain are running away with the Ligue 1 title again. After eight games, PSG are perfect, picking up 24 points and an incredible plus-23 goal differential. On Sunday, PSG play Lyon in their toughest test of the Ligue 1 season. Lyon have had an up and down season that has seen them reach extreme highs but also have their own share of disappointing results. Lyon were able to beat Manchester City in their first Champions League game but also lost to Reims.

PSG are coming off of a 6-1 win against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League and their attack makes them an interesting team to watch. In all competitions, Neymar, Edinson Cavani, Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria have combined for 28 goals. Lyon will be tasked with finding a way to slow down Thomas Tuchel’s side.

4. Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Monchengladbach — Saturday, Oct. 6, 12:30 p.m. ET (FS2)

It has been a rough run for Bayern Munich. The defending Bundesliga champions drew with Augsburg, lost to Hertha Berlin and then drew with Ajax in Champions League. The poor run dropped Bayern from first in the Bundesliga, to one point back of Borussia Dortmund. If Bayern drop points again, the pressure will really get turned on for first-year manager Niko Kovac.

On Saturday, Bayern play Borussia Monchengladbach at the Allianz Arena. Gladbach are fourth in the Bundesliga with 13 points. Alassane Plea and Thorgan Hazard both scored against Wolfsburg last weekend, giving them four and three goals respectively. The Foals can move past Bayern in the table if they are able to win in Munich. However, Monchengladbach have struggled away from Borussia-Park, failing to win any of their three away games.

3. Napoli vs. Sassuolo — Sunday, Oct. 7, noon ET (ESPN+)

The Serie A title race could end faster than expected if Napoli drop points on Sunday to Sassuolo. The Little Donkeys fell six points behind Juventus after losing 3-1 to the defending Serie A champions last weekend. Napoli bounced back in the Champions League on Wednesday, beating Liverpool 1-0 thanks to a late Lorenzo Insigne goal. Insigne has had a great start to the season, scoring six goals in all competitions. Napoli will rely on Insigne and the rest of their front three to continue scoring goals on Sunday against the Neroverdi.

Sassuolo are the most surprising team in Serie A this season. After seven games, the Neroverdi are fifth in Serie A with 13 points. However, Sassuolo are coming off a disappointing 4-1 loss to AC Milan. Manager Roberto De Zerbi will try to keep Sassuolo’s promising start going by stealing a point from Napoli at the San Paolo. Part of the reason that Sassuolo have got off to a good start is their diverse attack. Four different players have scored at least two goals, with the club scoring 15 goals in their seven games. However, Sassuolo’s defense will likely be the reason that they cannot continue their strong start. The Neroverdi have conceded 12 goals in seven games.

2. Lazio vs. Fiorentina — Sunday, Oct. 7, 9 a.m. ET (ESPN+)

One point separates third-place Fiorentina and sixth-place Lazio in the extremely tight Serie A table. Last season, tiebreakers determined which clubs played in Champions League and which one played in Europa League. This season again looks like European positions will be tightly contested in Italy. Lazio had their four-game winning streak ended by their city rivals Roma last weekend, losing 3-1. Ciro Immobile scored his fourth goal of the season against Roma. However, Lazio need other players to pick up the scoring. If Lazio are going to finish in the top four, Luis Alberto and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic need to start scoring like they did last season when they combined for 23 goals.

Following a loss against Inter Milan, Fiorentina bounced back last weekend, beating Atalanta 2-0. Stefano Pioli’s side have got off to a strong start to the season thanks to a balanced attack. Four different players have scored at least two goals for the Viola. After finishing eighth last season, Fiorentina have European aspirations this season. If the Viola are going to qualify for Europe they need to be significantly better away from home. Fiorentina have won all four home games this season, outscoring their opponents 12-1. However, in their three away games, the Viola have lost twice and have scored only two goals.

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1. Liverpool vs. Manchester City — Sunday, Oct. 7, 11:30 a.m. ET (NBCSN)

Manchester City ran away with the Premier League title last season. However, in Champions League Liverpool knocked out the Citizens in the quarterfinal. After seven games this season, Liverpool and Manchester City have 19 points. Sunday’s game could be the difference in what should be a very tight Premier League title race.

Liverpool have slipped up lately, losing to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup and needing a late goal from Daniel Sturridge to steal a point from the Blues at Stamford Bridge. On Wednesday, the Reds went to Naples and lost 1-0 to Napoli on a late goal. Jurgen Klopp will use his high pressing system to try to force City into mistakes at the back.

City have barely missed a beat this season despite Kevin De Bruyne missing the majority of the season with a knee injury. After a mistake led to an early Hoffenheim goal, City were able to fight back and beat the German club 2-1. Sergio Aguero scored against Hoffenheim, giving him three goals in his last three games.

Sunday’s game will hopefully be filled with goals. Liverpool are averaging more than goals a game this season. While City are on pace to score more goals than they did last season when they found the back of the net 106 times.

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