Every week we will be reviewing the top games, events, and stories of the weekend, making sure you don't miss a beat. Come here every Tuesday to catch up on what you might have missed around the football world!
Liverpool Flexes Their Muscles...Twice
The Reds faced two difficult challenges following the international break, both domestically and in European competition. First came a battle with Tottenham at Wembley, which Liverpool grasped firmly by the horns.
Constant pressing, along with a resolute defense led by Van Dijk, stunted the Spurs attack, resulting in poor giveaways in the midfield. Gini Wijnaldum and Bobby Firmino stuck goals past Spurs keeper Vorm, and if not for sloppiness in front of goal Liverpool could have added on even more. With this win, Liverpool keeps pace with Chelsea at the top of the table, winning all of their first five games.
Meanwhile in the Champions League, Liverpool began their attempt to reach the final again with a group stage bout against PSG. Much like the Spurs match during the weekend, Liverpool took a 2-0 lead from a Daniel Sturridge header and a penalty kick from James Milner. However, the French heavyweights were not leaving without a fight, and evened the score with only a few minutes remaining. Forced to start on the bench due to an ugly eye injury, Firmino fired a shot past Paris keeper Areloa to send Anfield into a frenzy and the Reds to the top of the table.
These results are huge considering Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures within the next month, including Napoli, Manchester City, and two matches with Chelsea.
Messi Magic
Life, death, and Lionel Messi scoring a Champions League hat-trick. This week's victim was PSV Eindhoven, who Messi's Barcelona made quick work of Tuesday evening. Messi had three of Barca's four goals, showing off his unparalleled finishing abilities - especially in the first two goals. With Messi's counterpart Ronaldo no longer in Spain, the Argentinian is unquestionably the best player in the league, and 2018 is poised to be a critical year for the 31 year old. We should expect this hat-trick to be the first of many.
Tae-Kwon-Zlatan
Goodness. As soccer viewers, we have learned to repress our surprise when Zlatan Ibrahimovic performs another jaw-dropping feat on the pitch. Although, the goal he scored on Saturday versus Toronto - this goal right here - is something else.
Being dubbed as the "taekwando golazo", this goal was the 500th of Ibra's career, and is one we will surely never forget. Nearly doing a roundhouse kick to send the ball to the back of the net is something that only Zlatan would think of doing, and a move few could be able to pull off at full-speed. To top off the occasion, Zlatan got into a minor argument with Toronto captain Michael Bradley, which resulted in two classic Zlatan quotes. He said "(Bradley) thinks he is the philosopher of football," and also "I have more goals than he has games." We truly do not deserve this man.
Scoring and Spitting in Turin
Juventus fans can finally exhale. Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goals for the Old Lady this weekend, leading the club past Sassuolo. His first goal is as easy as they come, tapping in a loose ball off of a mistake by a defender, just inches away from the net. He added another in the 65th minute, slamming the ball low with his left foot across the keeper and in the net - a vintage Ronaldo goal.
However, Ronaldo's class was drowned out by Douglas Costa's lack of it, illustrated by his actions late in the game. Costa completed a hat-trick of poor actions, starting off by elbowing Sassuolo winger Federico Di Francesco in the face. He proceeded to headbutt Di Francesco, and to top it all off he spit in his face, which is viewed as one of the worst acts you can do in soccer. With the help of VAR Costa was promptly ushered off the field with a red card, putting a damper on what should have been a squeaky-clean win for Juventus.
Americans Impact Champions League
USMNT supporters had reason to be worried about two of their brightest rising stars following an international break that one was inactive for and the other left injured. Tuesday night, Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie earned points for their respective teams, with Pulsic getting the winning goal for Dortmund and McKennie supplying an assist for Schalke's goal.
Pulisic missed out on the USMNT games against Brazil and Mexico, and his goal indicates that he nearing full-fitness. Meanwhile, McKennie left the Mexico clash with a bruised knee and was going through a period of poor form before Tuesday night. The German clubs will need each American to tap into their high potential to compete with behemoths Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and get through the CL group stage.
Thorn(s) in Seattle's Side
In the NWSL, the Portland Thorns defeated the Seattle Reign to reach the NWSL Final, and the usual stars had a significant impact on the result. Megan Rapinoe wipped in a free-kick just outside the box that hit the bar, entering the path of Jasmyne Spencer, who finished the ball to give the Reign an early first-half lead. Without a handful of impressive goalkeeping heroics by Adrianna Franch, Portland would have been in a much deeper hole.
USWNT star Tobin Heath and Lindsey Horan scored for the Thorns to give Portland the win, giving the club their second win against rivals Seattle within the same week.
You're all caught up! Here are a few marquee games to keep an eye on this upcoming week and weekend:
North Carolina Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars - 9/18, 9pm
Valencia vs. Juventus - 9/19, 3pm
Read Madrid vs. Roma - 9/19, 3pm
Wigan vs. Bristol City - 9/21, 2:45pm
Fulham vs. Watford - 9/22, 7:30am
Hoffenheim vs. Dortmund - 9/22, 9:30am
Schalke vs. Bayern - 9/22, 12:30pm
NY Red Bulls vs. Toronto - 9/22, 5pm
Arsenal vs. Everton - 9/23, 11am
Real Betis vs. Athletic Bilbao - 9/23, 12:30pm
Lyon vs. Marseille - 9/23, 3pm