AMSTERDAM – Most Americans playing in Europe will lay out the welcome mat this weekend, with Everton's Tim Howard trying to halt a personal eight-game derby win drought when rivals Liverpool invade Goodison Park.
All times listed in ET.
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Brad Guzan – Aston Villa vs. Geoff Cameron – Stoke City (Saturday, 10 am on Premier League Extra Time)
Cameron missed both of last year's clashes, but he will start this meeting hoping to pick up where he left off with a goal and an assist in Stoke's 2013-14 season sweep. Guzan split the two games last term, keeping his record against the Potters even at 2-2-3. However, he has yet to defeat them in four home tries. It's not just him; Stoke have dropped just one of their last seven at Villa Park.
Tim Howard – Everton vs. Liverpool (Sunday, 8:30 am on NBCSN)
The Toffees could climb as high as second place with a win, but they have not beaten the neighboring Reds since Howard dealt them a 2-0 loss at Goodison Park nearly five years ago. In all, the US netminder is 3-4-2 at home to Liverpool since joining Everton. However, the archrivals will enter this time averaging just a goal a game for the campaign and looking quite pedestrian on the road.
DeAndre Yedlin – Sunderland vs. West Ham United (Saturday, 10 am on USA)
The clamor is growing for Black Cats manager Dick Advocaat to give the speedster a chance. Yedlin could slot in at either fullback spot, taking the spot of Billy Jones or Patrcik van Aanholt. West Ham arrives as the hottest road team in the EPL, having already stolen the points at Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City. This fixture has been a toss-up for a few decades now, with the last 21 Stadium of Light meetings evenly split at 7-7-7.
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
Fabian Johnson – Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Wolfsburg (Saturday, 9:30 am on Fox Sports 1)
The Foals winger, who will certainly be looking to forget his fatal late penalty foul in midweek Champions League play, is 3-1-2 lifetime against his former employers. Johnson set up a home winner to beat the Wolves last season. Now fully recovered from a nightmare start to the season, 'Gladbach will wager a five-game home unbeaten streak in this series a bit more confidently with Luis Gustavo out for the visitors.
NORWEGIAN TIPPELIGAEN
Rhett Bernstein, Erik Hurtado – Mjøndalen vs. Coach Bob Bradley, Cole Grossman – Stabæk (Saturday, noon)
Bradley and his charges will do their best to keep their title hopes alive. If they can run their win streak to three, the deficit could drop as low as five points. Meanwhile, the hosts are 1-9-2 in their last 12 league games and two points shy of safety. Hurtado enjoyed perhaps his best loan shift the last time out, so he could return to the lineup.
BEST OF THE REST
Germany:
Aron Jóhannsson (doubtful) – Werder Bremen at Hannover 96, Sat. 9:30 am on Fox Soccer 2GO
Alfredo Morales – Ingolstadt vs. Eintracht Frankfurt, Sat. 9:30 am on Fox Soccer Plus
France:
Alejandro Bedoya – Nantes at Nice, Sat. 2 pm
Netherlands:
Rubio Rubin – FC Utrecht at Excelsior, Sat. 2:45 pm on NGSN
Norway:
Alex DeJohn – IK Start vs. Rosenborg, Sun. 2 pm
Ethan Horvath – Molde FK vs. Tromsø, Sun. noon
A.J. Soares – Viking vs. Lillestrøm, Sun. noon
Bulgaria:
Bjørn Maars Johnsen – Litex Lovech vs. Levski Sofia, Sun. 1 pm
