The Big Five: Merseyside derby kicks off a giant weekend of club football after international break
THE BIG 5: The Merseyside derby headlines the return to club football, but can Southampton spring a surprise at Arsenal?
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WORLD Cup spots have been allocated and now it's time to return to the bread and butter of club football, with the Merseyside derby a cracking way to begin on Saturday night.
Here's the pick of the action on Fox Sports this weekend.
Adam Peacock dropped by a chat on all things football. You can re-live it here.
Get into the mood for the weekend with episode six of the Fox Football Podcast.
Ange Postecoglou joins the gang to reflect on his Socceroos debut and he is typically forthright as he talks Neill, Rogic, a new belief and more; The Daily Telegraph's Tom Smithies is on deck in the studio to preview the weekend's A-League action and Daniel Garb is on the line from London to talk World Cup qualifying, including the might of France and the irrepressible Cristiano Ronaldo.
Check it out now by subscribing to the Fox Football Podcast at the iTunes store, or for Android users, listen via the iPP Podcast Player app.
Everton v Liverpool, 11.40pm (EDT) Saturday, Fox Sports 1 HD
There's little explanation needed for what's at stake in a rivalry that has seen 20 red cards given in the 42 Premier League encounters between these two side. The Merseyside derby is one of the tastiest fixtures on the EPL calendar, but this year there's even more at stake as Brendan Rodgers and Roberto Martinez's sides jostle for top four positions. Indeed, Liverpool can go top of the table (albeit temporarily if Arsenal win) should they prevail.
That's easier said than done in a fixture that's had more 0-0 draws than any other, although Liverpool have won four of their past six trips across Stanley Park in the league and have lost just one of the last 13 derbies, with Everton last beating their rivals in 2010 courtesy of Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta.
It's a different proposition in 2013, however, with Martinez's outfit energised with a renewed confidence in the way they play their football.
They've stuttered in an attacking sense in recent outings, but have continued to hover around the top four thanks to a foundation in defence, with three clean sheets on the bounce.
"We haven't been scoring goals due to certain aspects that we need to work on but the way we have been getting in the final third has been fantastic. That is where the excitement comes," Martinez said.
"We are very close to getting into a position where we can control games and score goals at the end of it.
"We see it as a normal process we need to get through rather than something that is lacking."
It makes for a fascinating match-up with the irresistible SAS on the other side of the ledger, with Liverpool owner John Henry organising a private jet to help Luis Suarez return from Uruguay's World Cup qualifier.
The duo have bagged 18 goals in all competitions between them, but it will be interesting to see how the battle plays out a little deeper. Liverpool were over powered and out numbered in midfield against Arsenal; will Everton employ similar tactics?
Gareth Barry has been excellent at the heart of their midfield and the dynamic Ross Barkley will be eager to be unleashed in such a big game against the likes of Jordan Henderson, Steven Gerrard and Lucas.
STARTING WITH SYDNEY FC V WELLINGTON ON SATURDAY AT 5.30PM (EDT), YOU CAN WATCH 17 STRAIGHT HOURS OF LIVE FOOTBALL ON FOX SPORTS!
Arsenal v Southampton, 2am (EDT) Sunday, Fox Sports 1 HD
First thoughts suggest this is going to be a game of beauty between two sides who are easy on the eye.
But that wouldn't do justice to Mauricio Pochettino's side, whose defensive record is second only to Serie A's Roma in Europe's five major leagues.
Trying to downplay expectations ahead of the clash, Pochettino hailed Arsene Wenger's outfit, who will have Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott in the squad this weekend, the No. 1 seeds in the Premier League at the moment.
"I would say that the team that we're going to play against on Saturday is the one that's playing the best football in the league," he said.
"I think they can win the league, but I also think that there's other teams that are going to be in the running to win the league.
"I think it's going to be a hard-fought competition throughout until the end of the season. It's going to be very competitive and I think it's going to be a very exciting end to the season."
Pochettino also hailed Mesut Ozil as one of the world's 10 best players - but no doubt his side will continue to swarm, press and play with the high intensity they have in defence in a bid to make life as difficult as possible for Wenger's side to play the ball around, as high up the pitch as possible.
Will that present opportunities for the likes of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana or Jay Rodriguez? That will depend a lot on how good Arsenal are.
Arsenal have not lost a home league game against Southampton since November 1987, winning 13 and drawing five of their 18 matches since. But this is a Saints side exceeding expectations, enjoying life in third and within striking distance of Arsenal's league lead.
Manchester City v Tottenham, 12.30am (EDT) Monday, Fox Sports 1 HD
Here's a clash between two clubs who wish they were in Southampton's spot on the table and playing with the fluency and confidence of their less illustrious rivals.
Two of the league's biggest spenders will hope to turbocharge their campaigns after the international break, beginning with this unlikely clash between seventh and eighth.
Andre Villas-Boas is under enormous pressure to see his summer spree pay dividends - instead, he'll want to avoid Spurs failing to score in three straight games for the first time since January 2009.
Both teams have accomplished midfields on paper, but City's 63 per cent (in a 1-0 loss to Sunderland) and Spurs' 65 per cent (in a 1-0 loss to Newcastle) is a snapshot of the lack in cutting edge.
Thankfully for City, they're at home, as they've been suffering nauseating bouts of home sickness when on the road in recent weeks. And there has been no ground that has seen more entertainment than Etihad, which has leaked 22 goals so far this term.
Spurs will hope they can cash in on the party and continue a trend of exciting matches between the two sides in recent seasons.
Christian Eriksen is out until Christmas having picked up an ankle injury on international duty, while key players Vincent Kompany and David Silva are missing for City.
Almeria v Real Madrid, 5.55am (EDT) Sunday, Fox Sports 3 HD
Can you call this the Cristiano Ronaldo tribute match? The Madrid star returns to club action, where he has scored 16 goals in 13 league appearances, after single-handedly steering Portugal to the World Cup finals in Brazil an
"Maybe because of the quantity of goals I have scored I could say this is the best moment of my career," Ronaldo was quoted as saying in AS sports daily on Thursday. "This could be my best season."
It gets worse for 17th-placed Almeria, with Gareth Bale declaring he is now clear of niggling injuries that hampered his start to the season.
"It has been great ever since I have been here, everyone has made me feel very welcome," he said at a sponsor's event on Thursday.
"I felt very comfortable straight away, but obviously after an injury and a bit of a slow start I am now enjoying everything on the pitch now and I am just looking forward to the rest of the season."
Almeria have recovered with three straight wins against Valencia, Real Valladolid and Osasuna - but their last meeting with Madrid in La Liga was an 8-1 shellacking in May 2011!
One thing you're guaranteed when Madrid take on a minnow is entertainment. They've scored 15 times in their last three outings, but Carlo Ancelotti will finally be hoping for some defensive discipline.
Madrid will likely to be without Germany midfielder Sami Khedira for the remainder of the season, with Casemiro or Isco a likely replacement for the key midfielder, while fullbacks Marcelo of Brazil and Fabio Coentrao of Portugal are also unavailable.
Atletico Madrid v Getafe, 7.55am (EDT) Sunday, Fox Sports 3 HD
The rest of 2013 will be hunting season in La Liga, where both Madrid sides try to peg back Barcelona during Lionel Messi's absence.
Atletico trail by three points, Real by six, and have a derby against Getafe, whose excellent start has just plateaued a little in recent weeks, at Estadio Vincente Calderon
Star strikers Diego Costa - second top scorer in the league - and David Villa are both in doubt for The Rojiblancos, which changes the complexion of this contest completely.
Atletico haven't lost at home this term, while Getafe have picked up just one win their last four clashes.
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