Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool (VIDEO)

Kansas City Wizards - Chivas USA: Head To Head Preview

On Form

Kansas City Wizards, by Isabel Navarro: The playoff chase is on and the Wizards are doing everything possible to stay in it. Last week they walked away with a point against Philadelphia Union. One of the team's key players was goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen. Nielsen is playing on another level, as he literally kept the team in the game. Nielsen earned his sixth NAPA save of the week award for a save he made during the game. Another Wizards player that is on point is veteran midfielder Davy Arnaud. The captain is a reliable player that is always alert and ready to pick up the slack; he scored the goal for the Wizards against the Union.

Chivas USA, by Manuel Carrera: Alan Gordon’s Player of the Week performance against New England may be the jump start that the Goats needed after losing two of their last three, as they cling to their very slim playoff aspirations. The Gordon and Braun tandem is an absolute nightmare for squads when the Chivas USA midfield provides enough service, due to their unrelenting work rate and defensive aggressiveness in the final third of the pitch. Sal Zizzo is also regaining fitness as he looks to regain the pre-injury form that landed him at Hannover.

Tactics

Wizards: Coach Peter Vermes has a talented team, including some very skilled strikers. The combination of Kamara and Birahim Diop has proven to be a successful formula. Kei Kamara was not present at the Philadelphia game due to international duty. Now that Kamara is back it is logical for Diop to remain a starter and Teal Bunbury to go back to the bench.

Chivas USA: A more traditional 4-4-2 from the Goats will start the match with Gordon and Braun covering large expanses of the pitch and alternating positions will help keep the Wizards on their heels, with Rodolfo Espinoza and Paulo Nagamura providing the service. Whether the tactic continues to function for the Goats will be determined by how well their back line can hold off the Kansas City attack and provide cover for the midfield.

Intangibles

Wizards: There are eight games left in the regular season, meaning that there are 24 points up for grabs. Kansas City is desperate to make it to the playoffs. They have proved in their last few games that they have the talent to make it. Other teams might have crumbled against the pressure but the Wizards seem to be able to handle it pretty well.

Chivas USA: A backs to the wall mentality coupled with an emotional win against their sister club will give the squad a boost in confidence as it attempts to defy all odds and make it out of the Western Conference cellar and into the playoffs.

Outcome

Wizards: The Wizards are ready to battle it out for a spot in the playoffs, and they have the amazing Nielsen who is looking for another shutout. Kansas City 1-0.

Chivas USA: Chivas USA 2-1 Kansas City: The Goats have not lost at home since June and have plenty of motivation, but the result will hinge on who scores first. The Goats have struggled when playing from behind, and an early Kansas City goal can derail any hope of a Chivas USA appearance in the playoffs early.

goal.com

United and Barcelona have points to prove

FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC are among those seeking domestic pick-me-ups after disappointing results last week, while in the Eredivisie in-form AFC Ajax meet Feyenoord.

Following disappointing results last weekend, FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC are looking to reassert their domestic prowess after midweek UEFA Champions League exertions. Elsewhere, the Ruhr Valley derby takes centre stage in Germany and two of France's heavyweights are seeking to emerge from their Ligue 1 slumbers. You can follow the scores from all the European leagues live in our MatchCentre.

England: Manchester United FC v Liverpool FC (Sunday, 13.30)
Having let slip a two-goal lead at Everton FC and then failed to find a way past a resilient Rangers FC team, midfielder Darren Fletcher is hoping United can rediscover their "killer instinct" against arch-rivals Liverpool. "There has been nothing wrong with our overall performances," insisted the Scotland captain. "We are playing some good stuff at times. What we are missing just now is the killer instinct." Liverpool have also struggled to string results together, but after winning 4-1 against FC Steaua Bucureşti they will be hoping for better at Old Trafford.

Germany: FC Schalke 04 v BV Borussia Dortmund (Sunday, 17.30)
Schalke approach the Ruhr Valley derby without a point from three Bundesliga matches while their opponents are in somewhat buoyant mood after successive victories. Though Dortmund fans have been quick to gloat about the situation, Schalke coach Felix Magath views the fixture as the ideal one to kick-start their season. "This is the best match for us at the moment," he said. "We have to win the derby against Dortmund, no matter what. It's immaterial what has gone before, be it three wins or three defeats in a row."

Spain: Club Atlético de Madrid vs FC Barcelona (Sunday, 19.00)
Atlético welcome Barcelona in the somewhat unusual position of being above the Azulgrana at the Liga summit. The visitors banished memories of a shock home loss to Hercules CF last Saturday with a 5-1 defeat of Panathinaikos FC in the UEFA Champions League, but will no doubt be keen to avenge the 2-1 reverse at the Vicente Calderón last term − their sole Liga setback in 2009/10. "It's an important match," said Barça midfielder Javier Mascherano. "They're very difficult opponents who are full of confidence after winning silverware and leading the Liga."

France: FC Girondins de Bordeaux v Olympique Lyonnais (Sunday, 21.00)
A home triumph over Schalke on Tuesday has boosted Lyon's morale after Les Gones collected only five points from their opening five Ligue 1 games. Bordeaux, however, are also suffering domestically – they sit two places lower in 18th, and have yet to win either of their two home games this term. "It's not that bad to have a tough trip after Schalke," said Lyon coach Claude Puel. "We need to succeed in such games to make strides."

Netherlands: Feyenoord v AFC Ajax (Sunday, 12.30)
The duo are meeting for the 55th time in Rotterdam, where second-placed Ajax will seek to extend their winning run to five Eredivisie matches and keep pace with PSV Eindhoven. Feyenoord are six points adrift though coach Mario Been fancies his chances given Ajax's midweek exertions against Real Madrid CF and the partisan crowd that will be in attendance. "Although most players can cope with that, they will still feel it in their legs," said Been. "We have the support of a full De Kuip stadium. Everyone will be behind us."

Denmark: FC København v Brøndby IF (Sunday, 18.00)
Much of the talk in the build-up to the 'New Firm' encounter between the unbeaten Super League leaders and third-placed Brøndby has focused on the impending duel between in-form FCK striker Dame N'Doye and the visitors' defender Max von Schlebrügge. N'Doye added to his six goals in eight league games with a headed winner at home to FC Rubin Kazan on Tuesday as Ståle Solbakken's team made a successful return to Europe's premier club competition. "I'm sure Max can match N'Doye in the air," said Brøndby coach Henrik Jensen. "He is also fast enough to follow him."

uefa.com

Gerard Houllier confirms Owen interest

New Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has confirmed his interest in working with Michael Owen again.

Houllier, who will officially begin work at Villa Park next week, has been linked with a swoop for Owen after sealing his own switch back to England.

Houllier worked with Owen for six-years during their time together at Liverpool and the new Villa chief has not dismissed the chances of a reunion.

"He has always been in my thoughts," Houllier Canal+.

"I like him (Owen), as a player and a man."

Houllier also dismissed suggestions that Owen, 30, was no longer capable of producing goals at Premier League level.

"I went to Liverpool on September 4 for Jamie Carragher's testimonial, and I saw Michael play a half of football," he said.

"He still has the legs for it."

Houllier's comments come on the same day as Owen revealed that he could be growing increasingly discontented with life on the bench at Manchester United.

"You can only do your best and prepare and train well, so that you are ready when the manager calls on you," said Owen.

"After that, it's up to the manager who he chooses.

"It sounds easy, but probably the most difficult thing is not playing for a couple of weeks and then all of a sudden getting called up and being mentally and physically right to perform well.

"At the end of the season, I'll look and think, 'Was I happy with the amount of games I was available for?', 'Did I score enough goals in the games when I played?' and 'Did I play well enough in those games?'

"You look at highlights of the season, did we win anything, things like that. But I wouldn't put any goal or appearance totals out there because, at a club like this, you never know when the manager is going to use you."

football365.com

Ferguson : Valencia may return by February

Sir Alex Ferguson today revealed that Antonio Valencia could be back in action by the end of February.

The Manchester United winger was stretchered off on Tuesday during United's UEFA Champions League 0-0 draw with Rangers after suffering an horrific injury following an innocuous incident involving Kirk Broadfoot. Initially, Ferguson said Valencia would miss the remainder of the campaign.

However, it now appears the damage is not quite as bad as the United boss feared. "You can never be 100 per cent accurate in these situations and it is a bad injury, but we are looking at the end of February, which is better than we thought on Tuesday," said the United boss.

Valencia had an operation on Wednesday evening to put his left ankle back into place after it was fractured and dislocated. Ferguson revealed the Ecuador star had also suffered some ligament damage.

"The operation has been successful and the break was clean, which was the major concern for us at the time," he said. "He is a strong boy, who is very positive about it. Being positive helps you in these situations, so we are very hopeful we will get him back then."

fifa.com

Bundesliga : Week 4 Preview

It's rivalry weekend in the Bundesliga as two of the premier derbies in Germany take place in the fourth round. The next nail-biting, white knuckling weekend of German football is headlined by two of the local derby matches. St. Pauli and Hamburg meet in the Hamburg derby, while Schalke hosts Dortmund in the Rhine River Derby. Some of the heavyweights in German football will continue to look to turn their season around, as Stuttgart and Wolfsburg look to pick up their first points of the season. Hoffenheim and Mainz will also have the opportunity to keep their perfect records intact in the fourth round of the German Bundesliga.

Game of the Week:
Schalke 04 vs. Borussia Dortmund (September 19, 11:30 am EST)
Ah, the Rhine River Derby! What a matchup it will be! So much anticipation! So much excitement! There's just a touch of sarcasm there, but for good reasons of course. This version of the Rhine River Derby will be the 77th contested, and there will be plenty at stake. At the same time though, there are a couple of caveats that will take away from the derby match. Firstly, Schalke are in dire straits at the moment. There are troubles on the field, where they have not won a game this season, and troubles off the pitch as well, with manager Felix Magath taking much of the heat. Think: Bob Bradley, only the fans' opinion matters. Magath can't take another loss, surely. If so, he'll be the most successful person to fail a majestic ship since Captain Edward Smith ran the Titanic straight into an iceberg all those years back. In addition to the game on the pitch potentially failing to live up to the hype, the stands will also be noticeably quiet. Dortmund's fans have boycotted the match, angered by the increase in ticket prices that would make it difficult for younger fans to get in to the game (sounds something like Michael Jackson would say). Should the plan go through, the away section of the stadium will be empty, which will take away from what tends to be a fantastic derby.

Young: Houllier Will Bring Success To Aston Villa

Aston Villa winger Ashley Young is looking forward to working with new boss Gerard Houllier, insisting that the Frenchman can guide the club to silverware this season.

The former Liverpool boss was handed the opportunity following the departure of Martin O'Neill, who left the club following a disagreement with owner Randy Lerner.

Houllier, for his part, is still sorting out his ties with the French Football Federation, and is not expected to take charge of the team before the game against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

Now the former Watford winger insists that the players are all looking forward to working with the ex-Olympique Lyonnais boss.

"You look at his history and how well he has done as a manager and he can only bring success here," Young said, according to The Mirror.

"Moving the club forward is what we want and we can’t wait to work with the boss.

"Last year, we suffered ­disappointment in both cups, but ­fingers-crossed it will be different this time. We want to win trophies at Villa."