Liverpool vs Manchester United

Liverpool host Manchester United on Sunday looking to record a fifth successive Premier League win for the first time since May 2009.

Brendan Rodgers's side have followed up their strong finish to last season by winning their opening two games of the new campaign against Stoke City and Aston Villa but, despite their good form, extending this sequence against their arch-rivals at Anfield will not be an easy task, as they have not beaten the Red Devils in their last four league meetings and lost the corresponding fixture 2-1 last season.

That victory was the first time that United had won at Liverpool in five attempts, though, and new boss David Moyes heads back to Merseyside looking for his first ever victory at Anfield.

The Scot masterminded just three wins in 22 matches against Liverpool during his 11-year stint in charge of Everton - with all of those successes coming at Goodison Park.

Captain Steven Gerrard and in-form striker Daniel Sturridge are the men to whom the hosts will look to for inspiration in the absence of Luis Suarez, who serves the seventh game of his 10-match suspension.

Gerrard has scored four goals in his last six league appearances against United - including a goal in each of the last two encounters at Anfield - while Sturridge has netted 10 goals in his last eight appearances in all competitions.

Robin van Persie is likely to be the main threat for the visitors. The Dutchman, who has finished as the Premier League's leading goalscorer for the last two seasons, has netted four times in his last three top-flight appearances against Liverpool.

Rodgers will be without new signing Aly Cissokho as the 25-year-old is expected to be out for between four and six weeks after suffering an ankle injury during the Capital One Cup clash with Notts County.

However, close-season signing Kolo Toure, who also went off in Liverpool's second-round win over the League One outfit, could be fit after recovering well from a groin problem.

United have doubts over Rafael and Chicharito (both hamstring), while Portugal international Nani continues to struggle with a groin injury. Darren Fletcher is unavailable indefinitely due to a bowel condition.

Essendon Bombers vs Richmond Tigers

The fourth game on Saturday for AFL Round 23 is between Essendon Bombers and Richmond Tigers. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:40pm with the game to be played at MCG. The favourite for the match is away team Richmond Tigers. View our preview and teams for the game between Essendon Bombers and Richmond Tigers.

Big clash on Saturday night sees the recently punished Essendon up against Richmond who are on the eve of their first finals appearance since 2001.
It was a big performance by the Bombers last week who, as they’ve done for the majority of the season, were able to put the off-field drama aside and register a tenacious six point win
over Carlton.
Unfortunately though, their efforts this year will amount to nothing with the AFL declaring the Bombers will not be permitted to participate in this year’s finals due to the supplement scandal findings.
It is one of if not the biggest drama to have hit the AFL and it is anyone’s guess how the Bomber players will perform this weekend.
Richmond coasted to a 121 point victory over GWS last week. It was their third win in the past four weeks which included a win over Hawthorn in round 19.
There’s little between the two teams in terms of season stats and it could come down how well the Bomber players handle the developments of this week.
Richmond will have to brace for an early onslaught from the Bombers who generally start well. If they can weather that, the emotional toll of this week and season, as it had prior to last week’s Carlton match, might start to take a toll on the Bombers.
Richmond have won 2 of 5 matches between the two clubs since 2011 – all held here at the MCG.
This is a unique clash and from a betting point-of-view has too many questions that can’t be answered until during or after the game.

Manly Sea Eagles vs Melbourne Storm

What a way to round of three good matches on Saturday.
There’s a lot of history between these two sides and these clashes always, without exception, produce fantastic games.
Both sides have named full strength line-ups and there will be standing room only on the Manly hill.
Manly’s only lost in the past eight weeks, some might say controversially, has come at the hands of South Sydney.
The Sea Eagles have scored first in the past eight games and will come out all guns blazing. Melbourne will have to weather the onslaught early but there’s no better at doing that then the Storm.
It was nothing but a training session for them last week as they embarrassed Parramatta 64 – 4.
It was their fourth win in a row and after a testing Origin season, the Storm appears to back to their best.
The two sides played out a draw back in round 10 at AAMI Park but Melbourne will hold no fears going to Brookvale, having won there last year 26 – 22.
Melbourne shade Manly in the betting but it’s hard to find a legitimate reason why. As they demonstrated earlier in the year, there’s nothing between the two sides and we can expect another close, low scoring encounter here.

NZ Warriors vs. Canberra Raiders

Saturday first NRL Round 25 match is between New Zealand Warriors and Canberra Raiders with the opening kick to commence at 5:00pm local time. The game is to be played at Mt Smart Stadium with the home team New Zealand Warriors hold favouritism in the match. View our preview and teams for the game between New Zealand Warriors and Canberra Raiders.

These are two teams right in the middle of the ruck of seven sides vying for the final two final spots.
Both are on 24 competition points, equal with Penrith, Gold Coast, Cowboys and one point behind seventh placed Newcastle.
New Zealand literally came within an each from losing last week when taking on the Gold Coast Titans. They had to wait until the TMO ruled a no try against Gold Coast in the dying minutes of the game before they could claim the 24 – 22 win.
The victory sees them survive for another week.
Canberra had won five from seven in the lead up to last month however, the past four weeks have seen them not only lose each match, they’ve also lost coach David Furner.
In Canberra’s defence, they have had a horrid run in terms of the draw and have faced
Melbourne, Roosters, Canterbury and last week, Manly, coupled with their recent record of three straight wins over the Warriors, including a 20 -16 win in round 6 this year, the Raiders are not to be underestimated.
The Warriors have lost their last three at home but with so much riding on this match and with last week’s win under their belt, they’ll have no excuse for not putting in an effort.
Warriors at home, but not as comfortably as the market would suggest.

Port Adelaide FC vs Carlton Blues

Seventh placed Port are two wins in advance of their opponents, who have not been elevated to inside the top eight with punishment handed down to Essendon during the week.
Ironically, Essendon defeated Carlton last week 82 – 76 in a game that was there for the taking for the Blues but poor kicking (9.21) meant they were always within Essendon’s reach throughout the match.
Had their conversion rate been better, the market for this game would be a lot different however it was Carlton’s third loss in the past month and in each of those games they’ve had their opportunity to secure a win.
In short, Carlton has been disappointing of late.
Port felt the full force of an in-form Fremantle when travelling to Perth last week and were dealt a 134 – 60 hiding.
Prior to last week, Port had registered three narrow wins from four games with each victory coming over teams outside of the eight. Port need to find better form then they are currently displaying if the wish to survive past the first week of the finals.
Carton won when the two sides last met back in round 8 this year, 109 – 91. It was their sixth win over Port in the past seven matches between the two sides and whilst it is hard to tip either side with confidence at the moment, as the market would suggest, Carlton’s should be able to create more opportunities – if they can capitalise on them!

Manchester City vs Hull City

Manchester City will look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League when they entertain Hull City Tigers on Saturday.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side fell to a shock 3-2 defeat at Cardiff City in their last league encounter and will be eager to avoid further disappointment against another of the newly-promoted teams at the Etihad Stadium.

City looked in fine form in their first game of the campaign as they comprehensively dismissed Newcastle United 4-0 but then came unstuck in South Wales, despite dominating large spells of the match.

Vincent Kompany missed the encounter at the Cardiff City Stadium after sustaining a groin strain in their opening victory and will again be on the sidelines this weekend.

The injury to their captain has exacerbated City’s shortage of defenders, with Micah Richards (knee) also unavailable.

However, Serbia international Matija Nastasic could be in line for a place on the bench against Hull after injuring his ankle in pre-season.

Pellegrini has no such problems at the other end of the pitch and the wealth of attacking options available to the Chilean is shown in the fact City’s six league goals so far have been scored by different players.

David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri, Edin Dzeko and Alvaro Negredo have all found the net, while close-season signing Stevan Jovetic is yet to make his debut.

Hull have also made a mixed start to their first top-flight campaign since 2009-10 but will head to last season’s runners-up in high spirits after beating Norwich City at the KC Stadium last weekend.

That result followed a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea and Steve Bruce’s men are likely to face another stern test on Saturday against a City side that has lost just four of their last 58 home Premier League games.

Hull have never beaten City in their previous four Premier League meetings and they failed to win a single match away from home in the 2009-10 season.

However, Hull managed to grab a point from their last trip to the Etihad Stadium in November 2009.

Bruce has no new injury worries ahead of the match but midfielder Stephen Quinn, who has missed both of Hull’s first two games with a hamstring problem, will again be absent.

Meanwhile, Yannick Sagbo begins his three-game suspension after receiving a straight red card in last Saturday’s win over Norwich.

UFC 164

Benson Henderson (155) vs. Anthony Pettis (155)
Frank Mir (248) vs. Josh Barnett (255)
Chad Mendes (145) vs. Clay Guida (146)
Ben Rothwell (262) vs. Brandon Vera (241)
Erik Koch (145) vs. Dustin Poirier (145.5)
Jamie Varner (156) vs. Gleison Tibau (155)
Louis Gaudinot (125) vs. Tim Elliott (125.5)
Pascal Krauss (170) vs. Hyun Gyu Lim (171)
Chico Camus (135) vs. Kyung Ho Kang (136)
Soa Palelei (265) vs. Nikita Krylov (236)
Ryan Couture (156) vs. Al Iaquinta (156)
Jared Hamman (185.5) vs. Magnus Cedenblad (185)

UFC 164 will be held on Saturday with the most anticipated rematch in a long while. Former WEC champs will reconnect, as current UFC titleholder Benson Henderson meets bitter rival Anthony Pettis.

Benson Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis

It really is possible to cobble together several plausible scenarios where either fighter wins. Henderson's mix of offense, inability to be trapped in bad spots and nearly 30-rounds of UFC experience are hard to overlook. By contrast, Pettis' development and momentum is hard to ignore. He is clearly the superior striker of the two and it's not impossible to think he can stuff the takedown enough over five rounds to win three.

In the end, I'll side with Pettis. I don't know if he's the best lightweight in the sport, but I do believe his talents match up uniquely well with Henderson's, which is all that matters for our purposes here. I simply cannot ignore how long Henderson lets opponents hang around and how many times that's come close to costing him with the judges. I believe this time it'll come back to haunt him. We shall see.

Frank Mir vs. Josh Barnett

What a tough fight to call. It's not just a fun scrap, but a well-matched one as well. Barnett is the sturdier pocket exchanger, but Mir's combination punching is nothing to overlook. Barnett is a top player on the ground, but Mir's guard is the best in the heavyweight division (in terms of MMA jiu-jitsu, anyway). Neither is a spring chicken, but both are still viable competitors. I'm going to side with Barnett (while acknowledging the fight is ultra close) because of his more proactive style of offense. For better or worse, he typically presses the action, especially standing. Mir is often a little too content for my tastes to react to his opponents attacks.

Chad Mendes vs. Clay Guida

This is going to be a hard one for Guida to win. He's not going to break Mendes with his pace. He might score a takedown or two, but won't be able to rely on it. He also won't be able to avoid Mendes' attempts, at least not for very long. I'm not entirely sure how the fight will play out, but I don't see Guida being able to mount enough sustained enough to either stop or decision Mendes, which is basically all that matters.

Ben Rothwell vs. Brandon Vera

I believe this one will come down to the ability to absorb damage. Rothwell could try to smother Vera against the fence and on the ground. That is a realistic possibility, but I suspect this will more be a series of striking exchanges. For all of Vera's many problems, he is the cleaner, more reliable, and frankly, more battle-tested striker of the two. I get the inclination Rothwell will get popped with a few hard strikes that either put him away or give Vera the openings he needs to win rounds.

Erik Koch vs. Dustin Poirier

Another tough, well-matched bout on the card. I deeply respect the talents of both competitors, but will side with Koch. He's a bit more of a potent outside striker and has all the tools to at least be defensively nullifying in the clinch or on the ground. Poirier, however, is by no means out of this fight.

Brisbane Broncos vs Newcastle Knights

These two sides met recently, back in round 21 at Hunter Stadium and played at an 18 all draw.
The scenario for them both this week, as it was back then, is that if they hold any hopes of making the finals, this is a must week game.
Brisbane sit in thirteenth spot on 23 competition points and only one win behind Newcastle who in seventh spot on the ladder with 25 points. Between them however are five teams in what has become an enthralling contest for the remaining two finals’ spots.
Brisbane suffered their first lost in the past five week when defeated by Penrith 28 – 12. Some poor defensive lapses close to their own line allowed Penrith’s James Segeyaro to score three soft tries.
It may act as an indication that the effort to stay alive in the competition over the past month, is starting to take its toll on Brisbane – as it is their opponents.
Newcastle were strong, at home, against Melbourne in round 23 before travelling to Townsville last week and taking on a rejuvenated Cowboys outfit.
Two quick tries by the home-side had the Knights on the back-foot from the get-go. The task made harder again when forward Kade Snowden was sent from the field for a high shot. (Since suspended for seven weeks).
With six teams breathing down their necks, Newcastle can not afford to lose.
Brisbane haven’t lost to Newcastle since round 24, 2010 and to ensure they keep that record in tact, they’ll need to measure up defensively.
If they do, the home ground advantage up against Newcastle’s second interstate trip in as many weeks, may see Brisbane home in a close one.

Sydney Swans vs Hawthorn Hawks

The final round of the regular season kicks off with a clash that sees fourth placed Sydney up against Hawthorn.
Sydney suffered a 44 point defeat at the hands of Geelong last week. It was only the fourth time they faced a team inside the top eight since round 14. Of those four games, they’ve won one.
Sydney are missing some key players at present and last week, those player’s absences were noticeable as Geelong led at every change. Add to their injury list Daniel Hannebery, who will miss this week’s clash with a knee injury and Sydney will have to do it tough.
Losing two in a row and three of your last four is not ideal for the Swans heading into the finals.
The Hawks had to find something in the second half as they trailed a spirited North 117 – 103 at the major break but, as all good teams do, they did find a way with the comeback led by Captain Luke Hodge.
A win here will see Hawthorn claim the minor premiership – their second in row and one that would be thoroughly deserved.
When they last met back round 7, Hawthorn were comfortable victors 119 – 82. That win kept the ledger balanced as each of the clubs has won two each of the last four encounters but with Sydney just struggling for some traction and Hawthorn out to secure the minor premiership and keen to hit the finals running, they’ll be too good for the Swans and would expect they’ll cover the 10.5 line that’s in place.

Bayern Munich vs Chelsea

Pep Guardiola will be looking to win his first trophy as Bayern Munich boss when they face Chelsea in the European Super Cup on Friday.

Bayern secured their place in German football history last season, as they became the first side to win the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League in one campaign under the guidance of Jupp Heynckes.

Guardiola, who was announced as Heynckes' replacement in January before taking over in June, has designs on furthering Bayern's dominance of both German and European football after guiding Barcelona to three Liga titles and two Champions League crowns between 2008 and 2012.

Mario Gotze and Thiago Alcantara have moved to the Allianz Arena in the close-season to bolster Guardiola's squad, but the Bavarians' start to the new campaign has been far from straightforward.

Indeed, Bayern were fortunate to overcome Borussia Monchengbladbach on the opening day of the Bundesliga campaign, and were held to a draw by Freiburg on Tuesday.

Now Bayern will renew acquaintances with the side who dealt them one of their most bitter defeats at the Eden Arena, Prague, with Guardiola set to face off with Jose Mourinho, who guided Real Madrid as they snatched the Spanish title away from Barcelona in 2012.

Chelsea's last meeting with Bayern came in the 2012 Champions League final, with the Premier League side securing their first European crown in a penalty shoot-out at the Allianz Arena.

However, much has changed at Stamford Bridge since then, with Chelsea's place in the Super Cup coming after former interim manager Rafael Benitez helped rescue a disappointing 2012-13 season with victory in the Europa League.

Mourinho has since returned for a second stint in charge but, although the Portuguese has yet to lose a competitive game, recent performances against Aston Villa and Manchester United have been far from convincing.

The Portuguese has almost a fully-fit squad to choose from for this game, with David Luiz - who has a hamstring injury - the only senior player expected to miss out as the Blues look to atone for last season's 4-1 thrashing by a Radamel Falcao-inspired Atletico Madrid.

Bastian Schweinsteiger (ankle) and Javi Martinez (abdominal injury) are both doubts for Bayern, while Thiago and Holger Badstuber (both knee) will both definitely miss out for Guardiola's side, who face an imposing challenge if they are to add another trophy to their cabinet.

Real Madrid vs Deportivo La Coruna

The 68th installment of the Teresa Herrera Trophy will be an exciting match for Deportivo La Coruna, as the hosts will face Real Madrid.

The club, which was relegated a season ago after finishing 19th on the table with 35 points, is no stranger to Los Blancos. Real Madrid won the two La Liga matches between the clubs by a combined score of 7-2 last season.

Deportivo La Coruna will hope to keep things a bit closer than that on Thursday evening. Let's break this one down.

From Marca:     On local Galician radio station 'Radio Galega', Lendoiro thanked Real Madrid for agreeing to take part in the Teresa Herrera tournament at the end of August to help Deportivo, with the team from 'A Coruña' experiencing tough times. "Madrid's visit will give us €1 million. They are making the trip between official games and it's the best present we could hope for", he said.

    The Deportivo director revealed that 'Los Blancos' will receive no payment for the away game against Deportivo, and will even pay its own costs for the trip, a move that Lendoiro praised.


That said, Real Madrid probably won't have many of their top players in action, with a La Liga match against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

That's good news for Deportivo, which fell to Cordoba on Saturday, 1-0. A positive draw against Real Madrid's second team—even in a loss—would give Deportivo confidence as they continue on their Spanish Segunda Division campaign.

For Real Madrid, it's a chance to trot out a few of the team's many promising youngsters, such as Alvaro Morata, Jese Rodriguez and Nacho Fernandez.

Whether Real Madrid unleash Cristiano Ronaldo, Isco and company on Deportivo or go with second-team options, Los Blancos will be favored to beat the Segunda Division side.


Frankly, Real Madrid's reserves would beat most La Liga sides, so Deportivo La Coruna shouldn't come out of this match with a win.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Dinamo Tbilisi

Andre Villas-Boas has praised Tottenham's "winning mentality" as the club aims to make certain of a place in the Europa League group stage.

Tottenham welcome Dinamo Tbilisi to White Hart Lane on Thursday virtually assured of progressing, boasting a 5-0 lead after the first leg of their qualifying play-off with the Georgian champions last week.

Two of Tottenham's close-season signings, Paulinho and Roberto Soldado, were on target against Dinamo, with the latter helping himself to a brace.

Soldado also converted penalties in 1-0 wins against Crystal Palace and Swansea City, meaning Tottenham are yet to concede a goal this season in competitive action.

Hardly surprising, then, that Villas-Boas has paid tribute to the way his recent recruits have settled quickly, with Etienne Capoue another new boy to impress.

"All of the new signings plus the team are very, very committed to achieving our objectives this season, so this start is a good one," Villas-Boas told BBC Sport.

"They (the new signings) are bonding in very well within the squad.

"The squad are great professionals and they want to succeed this season and I think the fact that they see these new players arriving and the way they are helping the team always creates a winning mentality that we have to have.

"Alongside what they bring on the pitch, they also bring outside the pitch with this mentality."

Given Tottenham's commanding lead in the tie, coupled with the fact that a Premier League derby clash with Arsenal looms large on Sunday, Villas-Boas is likely to make wholesale changes.

Domestically, Dinamo have won one and drawn one in their first two games of the new Umaglesi Liga campaign.

Manager Dusan Uhrin Jr instantly endeared himself to the club's supporters last season following his appointment in July 2012 as he steered Dinamo to a league and cup double.

Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid

Barcelona holds a slender advantage as they prepare to host Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the Supercopa de Espana on Wednesday.

The Catalan club leads the tie by virtue of away goals after earning a 1-1 draw in Madrid, as Neymar's 66th-minute header cancelled out David Villa's impressive volleyed opener at the Vicente Calderon.

For that reason, Gerardo Martino's side go into the return fixture as a slight favorite to seal an 11th Supercopa success in its fifth consecutive appearance in the competition.

Atletico, meanwhile, has only won the Supercopa on one occasion in the club's history - at the start of the 1984-85 season - and has finished as runner-up three times since.

Barcelona has several injury concerns ahead of the game at Camp Nou, with Adriano (hamstring) a doubt, while Ibrahim Afellay (thigh), Isaac Cuenca (knee) and Carles Puyol (knee) are all still out.

Lionel Messi, who is the all-time top scorer in the Supercopa with 10 goals, could also miss out after failing to feature in Sunday's nervy 1-0 victory against Malaga due to a thigh problem, although he has returned to training.

Atletico has no such worries, and comes into the game full of confidence after a crushing 5-0 win over Rayo Vallecano in La Liga last weekend.

Diego Costa netted his second and third goals of the new league season in that fixture, with the Brazilian looking in ominous form for Diego Simeone's side.

With Barcelona's away goal seeing it in the lead, Atletico will likely need to pull off its first win at Camp Nou since the 2005-06 campaign if it is to emerge with the trophy.

UFC Fight Night 27: Condit vs Kampmann II

MAIN CARD

   Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampmann
   Donald Cerrone vs. Rafael dos Anjos
   Kelvin Gastelum vs. Brian Melancon
   Court McGee vs. Robert Whittaker
   Takeya Mizugaki vs. Erik Perez
   Robert McDaniel vs. Brad Tavares

PRELIMINARY CARD

   Papy Abedi vs. Dylan Andrews
   Justin Edwards vs. Brandon Thatch
   Darren Elkins vs. Hatsu Hioki
   James Head vs. Jason High


Four years ago, Martin Kampmann served as a measuring stick for Carlos Condit, and at least as far as the judges were concerned, Condit didn't exactly measure up.

Making his UFC debut after a brief but celebrated run as champion in the lighter-weighted WEC, Condit was matched against Kampmann, who was 5-1 in the octagon and just getting back on his feet after a first-round TKO loss to Nate Marquardt.

In the headliner of UFC Fight Night 18 at Nashville, Tenn.'s Sommet Center, Condit (28-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC) and Kampmann (20-6 MMA, 11-5 UFC) fought a closely contested match over three rounds. But it was Kampmann who emerged with a split-decision win, and Condit's momentum was temporarily halted.

These days, no one would say "The Natural Born Killer" is anything less than one of the world's best welterweights. After his debut loss, Condit went on to win five straight bouts and captured the interim 170-pound title before Georges St-Pierre returned form an injury loss to defend his undisputed title. A subsequent loss to current No. 1 contender Johny Hendricks pushed Condit further down the ladder.

Kampmann squandered his career capital immediately after the Condit bout, losing quickly to slugger Paul Daley. He would recover briefly, and would later go on an impressive three-fight winning streak. But in two No. 1 contender matches, he stumbled badly against Jake Shields and Hendricks.

With two losses in common, it would appear he and Condit are not only linked by a previous bout, but their status as also-rans during a time in which St-Pierre and Hendricks occupy the top spots. In MMA, though, the need for reliable commodities might be as strong as for new blood, and with both fighters still in their prime, it's conceivable either could have another title run in their future.

That's why Kampmann and Condit's rematch, which headlines UFC Fight Night 27 on Wednesday at Indianapolis' Bankers Life Fieldhouse, isn't irrelevant to the division. It's a chance to see who stays in the running.

Fans shouldn't expect the same type of snoozer when they watch Condit and Kampmann, who both mix styles but favor the striking game. But this time around, the two have five rounds to decide who's the better man, which could mean it's going to take longer to reach the same level of action seen in their first meeting.

A question is how much Kampmann and Condit have really changed since their first meeting. By all indications, they're merely improved versions of themselves, as Kampmann pointed out in a pre-event interview. Although "The Hitman" said he's trying to be quicker out of the gate, he shouldn't be particularly worried about that with Condit, who traditionally isn't the type to start swinging immediately at a fight's start. What he should be worried about is getting caught with the surprise striking attacks more effectively utilized by Condit in his later career.

Kampmann might have a slight edge when it comes to offensive grappling, but he's shown a historic weakness to fighters who can rock him with a solid punch. Four years ago against Condit, he didn't have to worry about getting hit with the kind of shot that Daley caught him with. So many fights later, that might be a different story.

Indeed, Kampmann's knockout loss to Hendricks this past November might prove to be a bigger psychological burden. Condit has never been knocked out. Both, however, have suffered multi-fight skids and bounced back. Now, it's a question of who's better prepared to do so.

Current betting lines have Condit as a 2-1 favorite, which likely means Kampmann's history of TKO losses and inability to get a title shot is directing the flow of money.

Other main-card bouts

Donald Cerrone (20-5 MMA, 7-2 UFC) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (19-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC): Although riding a four-fight win streak, this bout undoubtedly is the biggest opportunity of lightweight Brazilian dos Anjos' career. Despite uneven performances when faced with division contenders, Cerrone is the type of opponent who puts you two or three bouts away from a title shot, which for dos Anjos, would come after several stumbles against top-tier competition. For Cerrone, it's a chance to break back into the title picture after a TKO loss to Anthony Pettis ended a 6-1 streak in the UFC. "Cowboy" is hard to beat when he's on point, but dos Anjos can't be counted out. Cerrone's standup advantage is evened out when the fight gets to the ground. Slim betting lines reflect the fight's competitiveness.

Kelvin Gastelum ( 6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) vs. Brian Melancon (7-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC): Welterweight Gastelum makes his first appearance since winning "The Ultimate Fighter 17," where he wrestled his way to victory over middleweight Uriah Hall. The matchup is as much of a test of Gastelum's viability as a reality-show winner as it is a measure of Melancon's potential. In his UFC debut, which came after a yearlong layoff from the sport, Melancon returned to the cage and showcased the kind of aggression that excites fans with a first-round TKO of Seth Bacynski. Now, he'll get a chance to prove that he can keep wrestlers away so he can land bombs. Gastelum, who remains unbeaten, has met exceptional strikers in the form of Hall. But Melancon, who replaced an injured Paulo Thiago, might be a little more aggressive out of the gate.

Court McGee (15-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) vs. Robert Whittaker (11-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC): Now that "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Australia vs. Team U.K." winner Whittaker is not just a flashy striker but a fighter capable of defending a takedown, the UFC gets the chance to see how he contends with McGee's overall durability in the ring. McGee, who dropped down from middleweight in February and won his debut at welterweight, is a pressure fighter inside the cage and will keep coming forward, whether it be to shoot for a takedown or slug it out. It's unknown how Whittaker's takedown defense has evolved, but he needs it for this fight.

Takeya Mizugaki (17-7-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) vs. Erik Perez (13-4 MMA, 3-0 UFC): For the heavily hyped Mexican bantamweight Perez, it's the stiffest test of his career after a trio of wins against unheralded competition in the UFC. Mizugaki doesn't tend to get finished unless he's fighting the best in the world, so Perez could be in for a long night. It's certainly a winnable bout, but he's unlikely to come out unscathed.

Brad Tavares (10-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) vs. Robert McDaniel (21-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC): Better known as "Bubba" on "TUF 17," McDaniel rubbed a lot of people the wrong way as a veteran and teammate of champ Jon Jones at Team Jackson-Winkeljohn. Nevertheless, the UFC is giving him a chance to display the kind of promise that wasn't present during the show. Tavares is a longtime veteran in the sport and has only lost a split decision to Aaron Simpson, so he's got the skills. He just needs to use them against Tavares, who's not only a power puncher but a decent defensive artist on the feet. And Tavares has won three straight in the UFC, unlike McDaniel, who graduated from "TUF 17" to submit fellow castmate Gilbert Smith. It might be the night for Tavares to showcase his viability as a welterweight.

Liverpool vs Notts County

Liverpool have no fresh injury concerns for their League Cup second-round tie against League One Notts County at Anfield. The match will come too soon for defender Martin Skrtel, however, with the defender still struggling with a knee injury. Uruguayan centre-back Sebastian Coates is a long-term casualty – expected to be out for most of the season - with frontman Luis Suarez still serving his suspension. Fabio Borini, who spent much of last season out injured with a broken foot, could make the team with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers expected to make changes.

Notts County manager Chris Kiwomya will check on a number of players ahead of the League Cup clash. Captain Dean Leacock is a doubt, although Kiwomya will be keen to have his most-experienced defender play against the Reds. Fellow defender Alan Sheehan, who has been suffering with a hamstring strain, and forwards Enoch Showunmi and Danny Haynes missed the home league defeat to Stevenage on Saturday but will be checked ahead of the visit to Anfield


Brendan Rodgers will rotate his squad for the second round clash at Anfield against the League One side who have only picked up one point in their opening four matches.

Fabio Borini, Raheem Stirling, Andre Wisdom and summer signing Luis Alberto are all vying for a starting place in the Liverpool side whilst Notts County manager Chris Kiwomya is sweating over the fitness of several first-team players, including captain Dean Leacock, who sat out their weekend loss against Stevenage.

Brendan Rodgers: "There would be a queue of clubs wanting to take him (Fabio Borini) if he was available. We want to keep a strong group - it's a very long season for us. You've got Daniel (Sturridge), Fabio, (Iago) Aspas and Luis (Suarez) to come in a number of weeks. He's very settled here, he's fighting to improve his performance level. He's doing extra after training with the coaches."

Chris Kiwomya: "We're really looking forward to it. The lads can't wait to get out there and hopefully get a win in front of our fans. No manager wants to lose a game, whether it's in the league or cup.You always want to try to win every game and get good team performances. If we win this one we could get a good draw in the next round.One of the big boys would be great for the fans and for the club."

Arsenal vs Fenerbahce

Arsenal have given themselves a comfortable 3 goal cushion heading into the second leg, and the tie looks to be all but wrapped up. However, Fenerbahce will not be lying down and will be looking to restore some pride as they arrive at the Emirates following the drubbing the previous week.

Arsene Wenger has said that he will be taking the match very seriously, and will not be fielding a weakened side in preparation for the upcoming North London Derby. Arsenal were rampant as they shut down an imposing Fenerbahce crowd and atmosphere, coolly producing an impressive performance and silencing critics. It will be want for more of the same this time around, and with home ground advantage, one would have to be slightly bent to not make them the favorites for both the match, and qualification.

Olivier Giroud has now got 3 goals in 3 games and will want to keep that up, while Aaron Ramsey has seamlessly established himself as Arsenal’s best player so far. He was the Man of the Match in the previous tie and the Arsenal faithful will be looking to ‘Rambo’ as the midfield general once more.

The Turkish side were unnaturally quiet and meek in the tie and one might say it is due to the overhanging threat of elimination from Europe for the next 3 years due to a match-fixing scandal. The results come out on the 28th and it might be part of the players’ thoughts that even if they win, they will not be able to play. However, the team will be looking to restore some pride after the loss and will be out playing better than before. Certain changes are expected in the squad, with substitutes Potuk and Emenike performing well at the tail end of the last match.

Dirk Kuyt will once more be considered key, as his crosses and passing are still lethal. Potuk proved to be more of a handful for the Arsenal midfield than Meireles, and might be vying for a starting spot. Volkan Demirel was good, but will be expecting more from his back four, who left him exposed time and again in Turkey.

Granada vs Real Madrid

Granada host Real Madrid on Monday hoping to maintain the momentum that they built in recording three points against Osasuna last weekend.

African duo Youssef El-Arabi and Hassan Yebda both netted in seven first-half minutes to help their side to victory, and both will be eager to make an impression against Real Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti's side were troubled by Real Betis at the Bernabeu last week, before running out 2-1 victors.

The Italian coach is without both Xabi Alonso and Raphael Varane for their trip to the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes, but Isco is expected to retain his place in the starting lineup after scoring the decisive goal against Betis on his debut.

If Gareth Bale signs for Madrid before Monday, he is unlikely to feature due to injury.

Granada’s Inigo Lopez is a minor doubt for Saturday’s visit of Real Madrid after sustaining a muscle injury during training.

Fellow defender Diego Mainz is also struggling with a similar problem, while Roberto, Pape Diakhate, Fran Rico and Hassan Yebda are all out.

With the league title already in the bag, Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is likely to give his fringe players some match experience, and there could be long-awaited recalls to the starting line-up for Nuri Sahin, Raphael Varane and Raul Albiol.

Cronulla Sharks vs Sydney Roosters

The last game on Monday for NRL Round 24 is between Cronulla Sharks and Sydney Roosters. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:00PM with the game to be played at Remondis Stadium. The favourite for the match is away team Sydney Roosters. View our preview and teams for the game between Cronulla Sharks and Sydney Roosters.

The final match of the round sees the Roosters again playing a Monday night fixture but, if they keep producing efforts such as they did last Monday, there’ll be no complaining from club or fans.
They took another step toward the Minor Premiership last week with a comprehensive thrashing of a lacklustre West Tigers side and in the process, registered their seventh straight win.
The impressive feature of their game during this winning sequence has been their defence.
They’ve held two teams scoreless a further three to twelve points or less and only Canberra has been able to score in excess of 20 points since New Zealand did so in their win over the Roosters back in round 14!
The Sharks have been in the headlines this week for all the wrong reasons.
Speculation of salary cap breaches and secret accounts have surrounded the club and as they head into this game, desperate to maintain their sixth spot on the ladder, it was a distraction they could well do without.
When they last met, only as recently as round 19, Sydney thumped Cronulla 40 – 0.
Would expect that their defence would be too strong again and that they’ll be too polished for the Sharks.

Manchester United vs Chelsea

Manchester United manager David Moyes will take charge of his first home Premier League fixture at Old Trafford against Chelsea on Monday.

Moyes saw his side post an excellent 4-1 win on the opening day of the season at Swansea City last weekend, with Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck scoring doubles for the Premier League champions.

But they are likely to face a sterner test against Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, who started their campaign with consecutive home wins against Hull City and Aston Villa.

Since being confirmed as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor, Moyes has had to wait more than 100 days for his first competitive fixture in front of the club's supporters.

And although it is a match United will enter without a significant close-season signing – something they have been pursuing strongly – Moyes is still excited.

He said: "There have been a lot of things I have been looking forward to – like taking the team on tour and leading them out at Wembley.

"But to do it at Old Trafford for the first game against Chelsea is a thrill for me, it really is."

With both sides set to seriously challenge for the Premier League title, the fixture will have plenty riding on it, with neither camp willing to concede early ground to their rivals.

An intriguing sub-plot is the future of want-away Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney.

Rooney has submitted two transfer requests in the last three years and is a transfer target for Chelsea, who have had tfo formal bids turned down by United.

Mourinho claimed Chelsea would not renew their interest until after the match had finished, in the interests of being professional and respectful.

Moyes has repeatedly said Rooney is not for sale and revealed he may start against Mourinho's men.

"Wayne's got a good chance of playing. He has [a] good chance of starting [also]," Moyes said.

Brazilian defender Rafael [hamstring] is a certainty to miss, as is Darren Fletcher [illness] and Nick Powell [leg] for United.

Ashley Young [ankle], Nani [groin] and Chicharito [hamstring] are unlikely to feature.

Chelsea could consider themselves fortunate to have defeated Villa 2-1 on Wednesday, with defender Branislav Ivanovic – who headed the winner with 17 minutes remaining – only given a yellow card after catching Christian Benteke with an elbow.

The Blues have not lost in their last 10 Premier League fixtures - a run that included a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in May.

While United's home Premier League record is simply outstanding – they have won 51 of their last 59 home matches, losing just five – two of those defeats came against Chelsea.

The two sides played each other five times last term, with Chelsea knocking their rivals out of both the FA Cup and the Capital One Cup.

Mourinho’s only fitness concern is David Luiz, who is a doubt to feature due to a hamstring injury.

Brisbane Lions vs. Western Bulldogs

Brisbane’s final home game of what has been an eventful season is against a rejuvenated Western Bulldogs.
Brisbane is coming off a comfortable 60 points win last week over GWS, their second win in the past month but missing from their side this week will be key-midfielder Simon Black who is serving a one game suspension.
Coupled with Jonathon Brown’s injury, the Lions are missing some key players.
The Bulldogs boast three wins from their past four games including victories over Carlton, West Coast and last week, a 17 point win over Adelaide (131 – 114).
The game was in the balance heading into the final term but the Bulldogs, displaying new belief in themselves, finished strongly and full of running.
It was the highest score registered by the Bulldogs this year, surpassing their previous mark of 127 which coincidentally, was set against Brisbane back in round 1.
Whilst there’s nothing at stake bar pride for these two teams, they’ve both indicated in the past few weeks that they are committed to finishing the season to their best of their ability which will make this clash a good one.

Melbourne Storm vs. Parramatta Eels

Here is one game that will have no effect on the ladder.
Third placed Melbourne take on cellar-dwelling Parramatta and with the Storm having won their past three by 64, 18 and 13 against Canberra (away), Souths (home) and last week, Newcastle (away), there’s every chance another big score-line is on the way here.
Melbourne have been back to their best in these games, displaying attacking brilliance whilst out the same time, being able to tough it out as why the case against Newcastle.
They’ll dominate Parramatta across the park.
Parramatta has won one of their last twelve games, that win happening over West Tigers in round 22.
They were competitive again last week when travelling to Brisbane to take on the Broncos and despite losing 22 – 12, never gave up trying.
Surprisingly, since 2008, Parramatta hold a 4-3 winning record over the Storm and did win the last encounter between the two 16 – 10 in round 20 last year – the same week they announced then coach Steve Kearney, would be axed for Ricky Stuart this year.
It would be, without question, the biggest upset of the year if Parramatta were to win here and whilst the Storm’s biggest win over Parramatta since 2007 has been only by 12 points, they should easily better that mark here.

Canberra Raiders vs Manly Sea Eagles

Manly’s run of wins was brought to an end last week when, in a somewhat controversial manner, when they were beaten by South Sydney 22 – 10.
It was still anyone’s game heading into the final quarter of the match but three late tries to Souths blew the scoreline out.
It continued a worrying trend for Manly who have only recorded four wins from eleven matches against teams inside the top eight.
Luckily this week, they face Canberra who sit in ninth spot.
It has been a big week off the field for the Raiders with coach Dave Furner being stood down effective immediately after a section of the playing group approached officials.
These players and the side, have put themselves into a corner this week that may be hard to get out off, especially with their season on the line.
Should they lose, and the Warriors, North Queensland win, along with the victor of the Brisbane/Penrith game, the Raiders could found themselves as low as twelfth on the ladder.
It’s as big as it gets for the Raiders.
Manly have won the last three encounters between the two sides, the two most recent by a six point margin and in all three – the total match score was under 30 points.
Neither side will leave anything to chance in what should be a fantastic game but, in a tight contest, would have to favour Manly.

Malaga vs Barcelona

Lionel Messi is an injury doubt for Barcelona's trip to Malaga, after being withdrawn at halftime in Wednesday's draw with Atletico Madrid.

The Argentina international could only manage 45 minutes as a Neymar header saw Barcelona come from behind to secure a 1-1 draw at the Vicente Calderon in the first leg of the Supercopa de Espana.

Messi has been plagued with muscular issues at the start of the campaign, and was a doubt for the club's opening fixture against Levante last Sunday, though he recovered in time to score twice as Barcelona stormed to a 7-0 win at Camp Nou.

However, the club confirmed on its official website that he has bruised the femoral biceps tendon in his left thigh, and he now faces a race against time to feature at the Estadio La Rosaleda on Sunday.

If he does not play, Gerardo Martino could be tempted to hand a first start to Neymar, after he rescued a draw on Wednesday, and the former Santos star is confident he has more to offer.

"I hope it will be the first goal of many," the Brazil international told Spanish television station TVE. "I score very few goals with my head so they are even more valuable. I am happy to have got my first goal.

"It's a shame that I haven't been able to play with Messi yet, he is the best in the world and everyone wants to play with him."

Malaga manager Bernd Schuster takes charge of a team against Barcelona for the first time since he led Real Madrid to a 4-1 victory over the Catalan club at the Bernabeu in May 2008.

The German could hand a debut to Bartlomiej Pawlowski, after the forward received international clearance for his transfer. The move was initially delayed following a dispute between two of his former clubs, Widzew Lodz and Jagiellonia Bialystok, over who owned the player.

The Andalusian team is looking to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat away to Valencia on Saturday, and left back Vitorino Antunes says they will go all out to spring a surprise.

"I've got a great respect for them (Barcelona), but then I do for every team," he told the club's official website. "We know that Barcelona are one of the best teams in the world, so playing them is a great motivation for us.

"We want to win our first home game of the season, and we will be doing all we can to earn the three points."

Cardiff City vs Manchester City

Cardiff will host their first ever Premier League fixture when Manchester City visit the Welsh capital on Sunday. There are no easy fixtures in the Premier League, let alone for newly promoted clubs, but it’ll be important for Malky Mackay and his team to develop a fortress mentality at the Cardiff City Stadium if they are to avoid the drop. Danish striker Andres Cornelius is fit enough to make his Premier League debut and Andrew Taylor returns from suspension, meaning Cardiff have the luxury of a complete squad to choose from.

Manchester City started the Manuel Pellegrini era with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over a poor Newcastle side, but injury to Vincent Kompany leaves the Chilean with only one first choice centre-half to choose from. Joleon Lescott is likely to start alongside Javi Garcia in defence – a player who will want to prove his worth to City’s new manager due to increased competition in the midfield.

Andreas Cornelius could make his Barclays Premier League debut when Cardiff host Manchester City.
The Danish striker missed last weekend's defeat at West Ham due to an ankle injury, but is fighting fit for the visit of Manuel Pellegrini's men.
Andrew Taylor is set to slot in at left-back in place of Declan John having been suspended last week, while Malky Mackay must weigh up whether to give John Brayford a debut on the other side of defence in place of Matthew Connolly.
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany (groin) misses the trip to Cardiff and could be sidelined for a month.
Matija Nastasic will replace him in central defence if he can prove his fitness after an ankle injury.
Fellow defender Micah Richards (hamstring) is likely to be out for another week while striker Stevan Jovetic (hamstring) hopes to be available to make his debut.

Cardiff (4-3-3, probable): Marshall; Connolly, Caulker, Turner, Taylor; Gunnarsson, Medel, Bo-Kyung; Bellamy, Cornelius, Whittingham.
Test: Cornelius (ankle).

Manchester City (4-3-3, probable): Hart; Zabaleta, Nastasic, Lescott, Clichy; Toure, Fernandinho, Silva; Navas, Dzeko, Aguero.
Out:Kompany (groin), Jovetic (knock), Richards (hamstring)
Test:Nastasic (ankle).

Tottenham Hotspur vs Swansea City

When Spurs and Swansea take to the field on Sunday it could officially be the start of life without Gareth Bale for the hosts, as the Welshman’s move to Real Madrid appears imminent. Despite the saga, Spurs have won both of their competitive fixtures so far this season: record signing Roberto Soldado scored the only goal away at Crystal Palace, and scored a brace as Andros Townsend impressed in the 5-0 thrashing of Tbilisi. Jan Vertonghen and Aaaron Lennon are likely to return to Andre Villas-Boas’ starting XI having missed the game in Georgia.


Swansea, too, put five past their midweek Europa League opponents, Petrolul Ploiesti, but had the unfortunate task of facing an inspired Robin van Persie performance last weekend. Marquee signing Wilfried Bony scored the Swans’ only goal in a 4-1 home defeat to the Champions, but is again unlikely to make his full Premier League debut this Sunday. Swansea’s only major injury doubt is Nathan Dyer, meaning Pablo Hernandez could take his place.

Tottenham (4-4-1-1, probable): Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Rose; Lennon, Paulinho, Dembele, Chadli; Sigurdsson; Soldado.
Out: Bale (ankle/foot), Holtby (hip/thigh).
Test: Lennon (ankle).

Swansea (4-4-1-1, probable): Vorm; Rangel, Williams, Chico, Davies: Routledge, Britton, Shelvey, Hernandez; Michu, Bony.
Test: Dyer (hamstring)

North Queensland Cowboys vs. Newcastle Knights

It’s a funny game, rugby league. Four weeks ago all and sundry, including yours truly, had written off North Queensland’s finals hopes after their narrow loss to Brisbane. But three successive wins later, along with several other results falling their way, and the Cowboys are only two points outside the top eight. If North Queensland continue on their winning way on Saturday – and Brisbane, Canberra and the Titans all lose – Neil Henry’s men will be sitting in eighth spot with only two rounds remaining. What a turnaround that would be. Newcastle, of course, will be no pushover – they thrashed the Cowboys 34-6 in round three and have won their past three away matches. But the Cowboys have momentum – and one J.Thurston – on their side.

Apart from wondering where he might end up next season, North Queensland coach Neil Henry must be asking himself one question - why couldn’t the Cowboys produce this kind of form earlier? Most teams bounce back a week after their coach is sacked. Few put together a string of wins that put them back in the finals hunt when their dumped coach opts to see out the season. Henry has done his best impersonation of his rival coach Wayne Bennett since getting the axe, proving an ice-cool foil for a team that has won three straight to keep alive their faint finals hopes. But seventh-placed Newcastle - armed to the teeth with backline firepower - loom as the Cowboys’ toughest hurdle yet on the finals path.

Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen. The veteran has shown glimpses of his old brilliance but must will his deteriorating knees to lift another gear in what looms as his final year if North Queensland are to have a finals sniff.
COWBOYS: Matthew Bowen, Kyle Feldt, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Robert Lui, Matthew Scott (capt), Ray Thompson, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Glenn Hall, Joel Riethmuller. Interchange: Rory Kostjasyn, Tariq Sims, Scott Bolton, Ricky Thorby, Ethan Lowe (one to be omitted).
KNIGHTS: Darius Boyd, James McManus, Dane Gagai, Joey Leilua, Akuila Uate, Jarrod Mullen (capt), Tyrone Roberts, Kade Snowden, Danny Buderus, Zane Tetevano, Robbie Rochow, Beau Scott, Alex McKinnon. Interchange: Kurt Gidley, Chris Houston, Neville Costigan, David Fa’alogo.

Gold Coast Titans vs. NZ Warriors

With it all on the line for these two clubs and, both coming off losses last week, we should see a great clash here and a physical one at that.
Titans hold on to eighth spot courtesy of a better for and against over Canberra with the Warriors, one of three teams only one win behind.
Titans, after a string of very poor performances, were able to straighten up their form with wins over West Tigers and in round 22, Canterbury at ANZ Stadium.
They travelled to North Queensland last week where they found a rejuvenated Cowboys side too good (22 – 10) and the remaining weeks of the competition hold nothing but bad news for the Titans if they wish to hold onto their current position.
After the Warriors this week, whom they haven’t beaten in their past five clashes, the Titans have to face Roosters and Storm in rounds 25 and 26.
The Warriors, who were among the leading chances of securing a finals berth only several weeks ago, slumped to their third straight loss last week when failing to run down the Panthers 28 – 24.
Unlike the Titans, they have a more favourable run home with Raiders and St. George their final two games but, to make these games relevant, a win here is a must.
When they last met, only one point separated them 25 – 24 and we’ll see another close encounter here.
On their best days, both sides can produce the goods but it’s hard to tip one with confidence given the respective records this season.

Geelong FC vs. Sydney Swans

The highlight of round 22 will be Geelong hosting Sydney – 2nd v 3rd.
After two unexpected losses in three weeks to Adelaide and North, Geelong appear to be back to near their best with comfortable wins over both Western Australian teams in the past fortnight.
They recorded a 25 point win over Fremantle and last week, won by 11 goals over the Eagles.
These wins have the Geelong ship back on course and this should be a test they meet with great enthusiasm as they prepare for the finals.
There have been some great struggles between these two clubs in recent times with Geelong gaining the upper-hand slightly in recent times, winning the past two clashes by 34 and in round 4 this year at the SCG, 21 points.
After a cushy run in terms of the draw, Sydney suffered their first lost in seven weeks when losing to Collingwood in round 20 before bouncing back immediately with a good win over St. Kilda last week, scoring by 59 points.
The Collingwood loss was Sydney’s fourth to a team in the top eight and they are yet to register a win over the other top four teams – Hawthorn, Geelong or Fremantle.
They’ve been caught slightly short when having to take on the top tier teams thus far this year and need to step up to the plate here to verify their finals chances.
Geelong are giving the Swans 18.5 here in early markets. Given the past two results and that Geelong are at home, this is well within the Cats’ reach.

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers knows that his side will face a tough task against Christian Benteke and Aston Villa on Saturday.

The Reds travel to Villa Park on the back of an impressive 1-0 win against Stoke City in their Premier League opener but the manager feels that they will have their hands full trying to stop a young Villa side who have also started well.

Paul Lambert's men won 3-1 at Arsenal on the opening day and were unlucky to suffer a narrow 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Wednesday.

Benteke scored three goals in those two matches and was a thorn in the side of Liverpool last term. The Belgium international - who handed in a transfer request during the close-season before revoking it - scored three times in the two Premier League fixtures against the Anfield outfit in 2012-13.

And Rodgers has warned his defence to be wary of the threat posed by the 22-year-old, as well as his team-mates, this time around.

"There's no doubt Benteke is the reference point for the team - the ball goes up to him and he holds it up well. He's a big, powerful boy," the Northern Irishman told the press on Thursday. "I very much expect for them to have a very good season.

They are very much a counterattacking team that set up to defend half a pitch and then break out with the pace of Benteke, [Gabriel] Agbonlahor in particular and young Andreas Weimann on the side but our focus is really on our own game. We know the form we're in and, with the mentality and confidence of the players, it should be a really good game."

Liverpool were excellent in their win against Stoke and should have scored more goals but were denied by the woodwork twice and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic on several occasions.

Daniel Sturridge scored his side's goal from 20 yards and was particularly impressive, as were Philippe Coutinho and Iago Aspas in the continued absence of the suspended Luis Suarez, who is sidelined for a further five matches.

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League fixtures and are only missing defender Sebastian Coates (knee) due to injury.

Villa felt unfortunate not to have won at least a point at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, with Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic - who headed the winner with 17 minutes left - only given a yellow card after catching Benteke with a flailing arm.

They also had a late appeal for a penalty turned down despite John Terry appearing to handle the ball.

It was another impressive performance from Lambert's side, though, with Fabian Delph and Ashley Westwood catching the eye in midfield and Benteke's superb form in front of goal continuing.

Midfielder Charles N'Zogbia (Achilles) remains on the sidelines for Villa, who are also sweating on the fitness of Ciaran Clark (head), Nathan Baker (ankle) and Chris Herd (calf).

Recent history between the two sides is mixed, with both winning once against each other last term. Villa stunned Liverpool at Anfield with a 3-1 win in December but Rodgers's men responded with a 2-1 away win of their own in March.  

Fremantle vs Port Adelaide FC

Fremantle host Port this weekend with the Dockers having won six of their past seven and they boast a similar stat over their opponents this weekend, winning the last five matches in succession.
The Dockers average winning margin in those five games has been over 40 points and they’ll be giving Port 32.5 here.
Add to the mix that the Dockers have yet to taste defeat at home this year and the line looks within their reach.
Port has worked hard to secure three victories in the past month and in turn, hold on to eighth spot on the ladder however, in their last three matches against sides in the top eight, Hawthorn, Essendon and Geelong, they’ve finished on the wrong side of the ledger.
Port sit two wins ahead of Carlton – who take on the struggling Bombers this weekend – and the two sides meet in the final round of the season in a game that could possibly decide the last finals berth.
A win here will ensure that Port participates in September but against an in-form Dockers outfit, their season will go right down to the wire.

Fulham vs Arsenal

Arsenal is confident that it can bounce back from a shock home loss to Aston Villa when it visits London rival Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger's men made a dreadful start to their league campaign, suffering a 3-1 home defeat to a Villa side that only just avoided relegation last season, but the Gunners recovered strongly on Wednesday, posting a terrific 3-0 win at Fenerbahce in the first leg of their Champions League playoff.

Theo Walcott starred for Arsenal, creating two of the goals, and he feels that his side can beat anyone when playing at its best

"If everyone works hard for each other, we can get the results," Walcott told the club's official website. "I think at the weekend that probably wasn't the case, and we knew how disappointing it was. You don't want to start a season like that.

"We've forgotten about that and we're concentrating on Fulham. And if we perform like [Wednesday], with that intensity, we can beat anyone."

Defender Laurent Koscielny suffered a deep cut to the head against Fenerbahce but was suspended for the trip to Craven Cottage anyway, while Wenger is also without club captain Thomas Vermaelen as he recovers from a back injury. Bacary Sagna is expected to fill in as an emergency center back.

Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) is sidelined for up to three months, leaving Wenger short of midfield options with Abou Diaby (knee) and Mikel Arteta (thigh) not expected back any time soon as well.

Left back Nacho Monreal has recovered from a back problem, though, and featured against Fenerbahce.

Fulham enjoyed a far better opening day to the season as it claimed a 1-0 win at Sunderland thanks to Pajtim Kasami's second-half strike.

New signings Scott Parker and Darren Bent could make their debuts on Saturday. Parker joined from Tottenham for an undisclosed fee on Monday, while Bent, on a season's loan from Villa, did not feature from the bench at Sunderland.

Fulham will be without goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg (shoulder) and Kieran Richardson (hamstring), who both limped off at the Stadium of Light, but attacker Alexander Kacaniklic has a chance of returning from a hamstring problem of his own. David Stockdale is likely to deputize in goal for Martin Jol's side after coming off the bench for Stekelenburg.

Fulham has enjoyed a good record against Arsenal in recent times, losing just one of the teams' last five fixtures, but Arsenal did win the most recent meeting as Per Mertesacker scored the only goal in a 1-0 away win in April that saw both sides end the match with 10 men.

Fulham (4-4-1-1, probable): Stockdale; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Briggs; Duff, Sidwell, Boateng, Taarabt; Ruiz, Berbatov.
Out: Stekelenburg (shoulder), Richardson (hamstring)
Test: Amorebieta (knock).

Arsenal (4-2-3-1, probable): Szczesny; Jenkinson, Sagna, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Ramsey, Wilshere: Walcott, Rosicky, Carzola; Giroud.
Out: Koscielny (suspended), Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee), Arteta (hip/thigh), Miyaichi (rib), Vermaelen (back), Diaby (knee).

New Zealand vs Australia

Australia's Wallabies will be hoping for a vastly improved performance this weekend in the Rugby Championship after New Zealand's All Blacks beat them 29-47 in Sydney last weekend.

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has named an unchanged team apart from one injury enforced change after Hugh McMeniman aggravated an old injury and has been replaced by Brumbies flanker Scott Fardy.

The All Blacks have also been forced into change as Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett are both injured. Coach Steve Hansen has brought in Tom Taylor ahead of the more experienced Colin Slade.

In other changes Brodie Retallick comes into the starting line up for Luke Romano.

Taylor's selection is the most notable of the clash as he will be making his debut and starting in the most influential position. Taylor has however shown for the Crusaders that he can handle pressure.

Last week's 29-47 victory for the All Blacks was their 100th Test victory over the Wallabies and they have now won 68% of their 147 matches between the teams.

In the 147 clashes there have been six draws so the Wallabies have won just 28% of their matches against New Zealand.

The average score when New Zealand play Australia across all venues is New Zealand 20 Australia 14.

The All Blacks have played the Wallabies 67 times in New Zealand and they have won 51 of those clashes - there was one draw.

That record gives New Zealand a record of winning 76% of their home matches against the Wallabies. The average score when the All Blacks play the Wallabies in New Zealand is New Zealand 20 Australia 12.

The All Blacks will go into this match as huge favourites as Australia have lost their last 14 matches in New Zealand against the World Champions.

The last Test victory for the Wallabies in New Zealand was 12 years ago when Australia won 15-23 in Dunedin.

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has identified who he thinks the future of Australian Rugby belongs to and last week's loss shows that they have some way to go.

Last five results
17 Aug 2013 NZL v AUS 47-29 Stadium Australia, Sydney
20 Oct 2012 NZL v AUS 18-18 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
25 Aug 2012 NZL v AUS 22-0 Eden Park, Auckland
18 Aug 2012 NZL v AUS 27-19 Stadium Australia, Sydney
16 Oct 2011 RWC Semi NZL v AUS 20-6 Eden Park, Auckland




Teams
New Zealand
Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Tom Taylor, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Steven Luatua, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Jeremy Thrush, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Colin Slade, Charles Piutau.
Australia
Jesse Mogg; Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Lealiifano, James O'Connor; Matt Toomua, Will Genia; Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy; James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons; Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper.

St George Dragons vs. West Tigers

St. George and West Tigers take this game, as they do every year, to the SCG.
Given the respective form and placings (14th and 15th) on the ladder of the two sides, the match will not live up to the venue though.
Whilst St. George have lost their last four games straight, three of them have been by margins of four points or less, including last week’s spirited effort against Cronulla.
They’ve only been that one vital play away from winning the above games and they’ll be too strong for a woeful Tigers side.
It keeps getting worse each week for the Tigers who on Monday night, slumped to their sixth consecutive loss when thumped by Sydney Roosters 56 – 14.
They only have four days to turn that performance around and that will not be enough time to address the current state of the club.
Historically, there have been some very tight clashes between these two clubs but the West Tigers head into this clash in very poor form and those results are best ignored.

Teams:
St George Illawarra Dragons:
Jason Nightingale, Brett Morris, Chase Stanley, Charly Runciman, Daniel Vidot, Adam Quinlan, Nathan Fien, Jack Stockwell, Mitch Rein, Ben Creagh, Tyson Frizell, Leeson Ah Mau, Jack de Belin. Interchange: Matt Prior, Michael Weyman, Will Matthews, Bronson Harrison, Craig Garvey

Wests Tigers:
James Tedesco, David Nofoaluma, Bodene Thompson, Tim Simona, Lote Tuqiri, Benji Marshall, Braith Anasta, Kieth Galloway, Joel Luani, Adam Blair, Liam Fulton, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Suaso Sue. Interchange: Ava Seumanufagai, Jack Buchanan, Matthew Bell, Curtis Sironen, Masada Iosefa, Shaun Spence

Carlton Blues vs. Essendon Bombers

Carlton’s season hangs by a thread and nothing short of a win here will suffice.
They kept their season alive for a further week with a win over Richmond by 10 points last week and remain two wins off eighth placed Port Adelaide who this week, have the unenviable task of travelling to WA to take on Fremantle.
Port and Carlton then face off in the final round of the season in what could determine which of the two sides goes through to the finals.
They afforded a genuine opportunity to reach the final round still alive, as they take on a struggling Essendon whose club is embroiled in controversy.
This off-field drama which has been persistent all year has finally caught up with the Bombers who have lost their last four games by an average margin of 58.5 points.
In each of those four games, Essendon has fallen further behind the longer the games went.
The poor form has seen them slip to seventh on the ladder and in likelihood, facing Hawthorn or Geelong in the first week of the finals.
Essendon appear tired and frustrated and with Carlton having it all to play for, they’ll be too good for the Bombers.

Souths Rabbitohs vs Canterbury Bulldogs

The second game on Friday for NRL Round 24 is between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canterbury Bulldogs. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:35PM with the game to be played at ANZ Stadium. The favourite for the match is home team South Sydney Rabbitohs. View our preview and teams for the game between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canterbury Bulldogs.

A bumper crowd should gather at ANZ Stadium to see South Sydney, who were back to their past last week with a win over Manly, take on a Canterbury side pushing for a top four spot.
The return of John Sutton and Greg Inglis saw the Rabbitohs was enough to spark the Bunnies last week after a month of indifferent performance.
South trailed Manly with 20 minutes to go but in pleasing signs for their supporters, Souths displayed the composure and belief that has been a trait of their side this year and posted three late tries.
With that winning feeling back and a record of 8-1 at ANZ Stadium, a ground they return to for the first time in five weeks after a series of tough road trips, Souths should prove hard to beat.
Canterbury has been in the news this week with confirmation that fullback Ben Barba has requested an earlier release from his current contract.
Not the ideal scenario for the Bulldogs on the eve of the finals but one that, given the run of dramas at the club this year, they’ll be able to handle.
They travelled to Canberra last week and were able to register a win when most visiting teams have struggled, 28 – 16. It was the Dogs’ fourth win from the past five weeks.
James Graham was outstanding for the Dogs in that match but will need more support from fellow forwards this week as they shape up against a strong Rabbitohs back who, should be able to lay the foundation for the win.

Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos

Penrith snapped a four game losing streak with a tough win over the Warriors in New Zealand last week (28 – 24).
The Panthers produced the form that saw them win six from eight earlier in the year, including a win over a full-strength Melbourne side.
The victory places the Panthers on 22 competition points and twelfth spot on the ladder, they are one of seven teams that are still vying for a finals berth but with Canterbury and Manly scheduled for their remaining two games, they’re backs are up against the wall.
It is a similar scenario for the opponents in Brisbane who are on 23 points and tenth spot on the ladder. They too can also not afford to lose here if they hold hopes of claiming a finals spot.
The Broncos have kept their season afloat in the past month with three tough wins and draw.
Their chances of making the finals were dealt a severe blow in round 22 however with centre Justin Hodges damaging his Achilles and whilst last week against the struggling Parramatta his absence was not missed, it may be a different case here.
Honours have been split 2-2 since 2010 with two of the last three matches resulting in total match score of less than 30 points. With so much on the line for both sides, we should see a hard fought encounter and with neither side giving an inch.
The market can’t split them and rightly so. Brisbane has been in solid form whilst a repeat of Panther’s win last week would be enough to get them across the line – but can they do it two weeks in a row?