WEEKEND WATCH GUIDE
Premier League: Liverpool at Everton, 7:30 a.m. Sunday, NBC Sports. After the departures of Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard in the summer, nobody expected Liverpool to fly high this year — but few expected such a struggle. Manager Brendan Rogers seems increasingly desperate to turn the club's fortunes around, as the Reds have endured some ugly performances this year, including a 3-0 loss at home to West Ham. Everton, meanwhile, seems to be on the upswing, highlighted by a 3-1 win over Chelsea that included a Steven Naismith hat trick — a feat he'd love to repeat as Everton welcomes its crosstown neighbors.
Premier League: Manchester United at Arsenal, 10 a.m. Sunday, NBC Sports. The defining rivalry of the Premier League era has lost a bit of its luster as oil billionaire owners at Chelsea and Manchester City have sent the two clubs to the top of the league. Nevertheless, the ghosts of the past live on — and this early in the season, the game has some meaning in the standings, too. United enters the weekend in first place, but a win from Arsenal could potentially allow the Gunners to supplant ManU at the top of the heap. All this match needs is former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson barking from the sidelines like old times.
Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund at Bayern Munich, 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Fox Sports 2. Bayern has begun the season without so much as a blemish, winning all seven league games, both Champions League games, and its German Cup game. The German giants have scored 34 goals in those 10 games; they have given up three. Borussia Dortmund, which began its own season with 11 consecutive victories in all competitions, has drawn its last two league matches — undefeated still, but now four points behind Bayern at the top of the standings. Dortmund can't afford to fall further behind at this stage of the year.
MLS: Los Angeles at Seattle, 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox Sports 1. Just when the Sounders seemingly have everyone healthy, the injury bug gets them again. This time, it's center back Chad Marshall, who was carted off in practice on Wednesday with a neck sprain. Between Marshall and the injured Roman Torres, Seattle is down two center backs – never a good sign when taking on Los Angeles, even if the league leaders just ended a three-game stretch without an MLS goal. That said, the Galaxy have the West's worst road record this season.
