081613_isi_altidorejozy_usmntfk081413149 Fedja Krvavac/isiphotos.com
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.
BY Eduardo Mendez Posted
August 16, 2013
1:38 PM

FRIDAY

Santos Laguna vs. Tigres
10:30 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 City
7:45 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.

BEST OF THE REST

Ligue 1: Lorient vs. Nantes (11:00 a.m., Sunday, beIN Sport Play)—Will this be the Ligue 1 debut for Alejandro Bedoya? Here's hoping.

Liga MX: Chivas Guadalajara vs. Puebla (6:00 p.m., Sunday, UniMas)—Nine matches. Eight goals. One win. Those are the combined totals for Puebla and Chivas Guadalajara entering the weekend. The soccer may not be aesthetically pleasing, but at least it’ll feature DaMarcus Beasley.

NO U.S. ANGLE BUT...

Italian Super Cup: Juventus vs. Lazio (3:00 p.m., Sunday, beIN Sport Play)—Juventus will look to capture its sixth Italian Super Cup with a win on Sunday.

So what are you watching this weekend? Let us know in comments section below.

Eduardo Mendez is a Brooklyn-based writer and an ASN contributor.

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