A selection of talent from Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea, Everton, Stoke City, Burnley, Sunderland and Aston Villa who should get more in the way of plaudits.

Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool)

A player who only seems to get his chance when someone is out injured or badly off form.

Many great strikers have scored hat-tricks for Liverpool down the years but which player has achieved the incredible feat of 17 hat-tricks in nine full seasons?
Between 1926 and 1936, South African striker Gordon Hodgson scored an incredible 17 hat-tricks for Liverpool, including a stunning 4 hat-tricks in a single season (1930-1931).

After just one month of the 2009-2010 Premier League season, ESPN2 has generated an average viewing audience of 274,128 according to Nielsen Ratings.

The ratings are impressive thus far given the fact that no two heavyweight teams have faced each other on ESPN2 as of yet. The first massive match-up to be aired on ESPN2 will be the October 31st clash between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

The English Premier League starts back up after a few weeks off due to World Cup Qualifying in Europe. There are several interesting matches this weekend in the EPL, including unbeaten Tottenham Hotspur hosting Manchester United. In the USA, there are several matches that will be broadcasted on Fox Soccer Channel, ESPN2, and Setanta Sports.

The Premier League returns this weekend and that means it is time to bring out the crystal ball again. Last time out I went 7 for 10 and that brought my score for the season up to 20 out of 36 (56%). The weekend after an international week always thoughts up some upsets and this is how I thing that this weeks games will go.

Winter is coming. The evenings are starting to feel a little fresher and the sun no longer affords the heat that it did. After a break for the international matches, the Premier League is back and it is back with a weekend of fixtures that might have been designed by a panel to show up the best that club football has to offer.

It doesn't get much better than Manchester United vs Arsenal, arguably one of the biggest rivalries in the entire world and by far the most prestigious match to the new campaign. Arsenal has gotten off to an exceptional start this year, dominating Celtic, Everton, and Portsmouth with goals galore and from unusual sources, such as William Gallas, their leading goal scorer.

Every club has one. That vital cog that keeps the team wheels turning. With the season in its infancy, supporters up and down the land are still harbouring dreams of glory (or at the very least over achievement, given that short of a billionaire Sheikh turning up on your doorstep, thoughts of the title are confined to a privileged few these days).

As the international break comes to an end this weekend, Liverpool look to get their season back on track - having already lost as many games this season (2 of 4) as they did their entire 2008-2009 Premier League campaign (2 of 38).
The good news for Liverpool fans - the club takes on newly promoted side Burnley at Anfield this coming weekend.

Given the choice between watching a match in high-definition television or watching a game in standard definition, which one would you choose? What if the choice was, like last weekend, Liverpool against Burnley in HD on ESPN2 or Manchester City versus Arsenal in standard definition on Setanta Sports?

12 goals from defense the past two seasons, beat that Vermaelen
Our Funny Feeling Friday selection this week - an unpopular (by fantasy terms), underrated, or out of form player who we think will start producing in the coming weeks is Birmingham's central defensive summer signing Roger Johnson.

Week 3 would bring more outstanding football action to your favorite football league. Chelsea would continue their dominant ways and prove not to go down the same negative path as they did last year in the Carling Cup with a 3-0 victory over Burnley. Chelsea's offense is clicking on all cylinders and looks like it might be the best in the league this season.

Steven Gerrard today reflected on one of his most satisfying nights in an England shirt – after revealing he took inspiration for his heroics from Michael Shields.
Liverpool skipper Gerrard scored twice last night as England thrashed Croatia 5-1 at Wembley to book their place at next summer's World Cup finals in style.

Liverpool team to face Burnley at Anfield today: Reina, Johnson, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Lucas, Gerrard, Riera, Benayoun, Kuyt, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Degen, Dossena, Spearing, Ngog, Voronin, Kyrgiakos.

Yossi Benayoun may have scored a hat-trick and set up another goal in today's 4-0 drubbing of Burnley but manager Rafael Benitez attributes another player as Liverpool's show-stealer. Brazilian youngster Lucas Leiva - heavily criticised by the Anfield faithful for an as-yet mediocre two years in England - has his manager purring.

There have only been 46 games so far this season but already there are some notable - or perhaps anomolous - statistics. Courtesy of Football365, here are the most salient in a club-by-club format...

Arsenal
*Tomas Rosicky's first outing in 20 months also included a goal.

At kick-off on Saturday afternoon, Liverpool and Burnley lined up as equals according to the Barclays Premier League table. Within a couple of hours, any ideas that such an unlikely equality could last had been ruthlessly dismissed.
Liverpool scored four times but, such was their dominance as the game wore on, could have underlined their superiority with several more goals.

This is by no means a gimme!

Liverpool welcome back Javier Mascherano after he missed the win over Burnley with a pelvic injury suffered on international duty.

Manager Rafael Benitez does not have any other injury problems apart from long term absentees Daniel Agger and Alberto Aquilani.

The English Premier League is starting to heat up with some crucial matches this weekend including Manchester United v Manchester City. Other matches of interest are Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United v Liverpool. It should be an exciting and busy week in the Premiership. Can Man City and Chelsea remain perfect or will either of them lose?

Premier League fans in the United States will once again get the chance to see Burnley take on their new Premiership opposition. This week it comes in the form of Sunderland at Turf Moor.

When the schedule was initially released before the season started, I doubt that many people were circling this date on their calendars.

There is no denying that Liverpool F.C. is the form team in the Barclays Premier League at the moment. Rafa's Reds have defied all odds to overcome a frustrating start to the campaign and surprisingly, the Steven Gerrard - Fernando Torres pairing isn't exclusively responsible for leading the revival.

Carling Cup Third Round Draw: Manchester United Away To Leeds - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Chelsea host Fulham in one of several all-Premier League ties in the third round of the Carling Cup. Manchester United are away to Leeds while Liverpool, who seem to be taking the Carling Cup very seriously this season, are away to Brighton.

Looking for bargain players below the top price in each position? There are some great valued players to be had if you're looking to free up some cash for that "big" signing. Kevin picks out two from each position and tells you why you should be investing in these great valued players.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is delighted with the progress that his injured players have made in order to regain full fitness.
The Reds boss began by explaining that Fabio Aurelio will be back by the time the club host Burnley at Anfield on September 12.
"Fabio is back training and playing football," Benitez is quoted by The Liverpool Daily Post as saying.

Walking into my room on a chilly Sunday morning, I sighed heavily, yet I was happy. I had correctly tipped Burnley to beat United. Who knew. I didn't get it all right; I had a few problems especially my A-League tipping. Mariners and Jets drew, so I only had 2 points from this round. Forgetting about that, I walked over to my desk, before clomping down on to my seat.

England beat Croatia 5-1 at Wembley Stadium to qualify for the World Cup Finals in South Africa next year, with two games to spare.
Congratulations to England, but commiserations to Scotland who are out after losing to Holland to end their World Cup dreams.
Wales and Northern Ireland also lost tonight to make it difficult to get out of their groups.

The Premier League returns this weekend and that means it is time to bring out the crystal ball again. Last time out I went 7 for 10 and that brought my score for the season up to 20 out of 36 (56%). The weekend after an international week always thoughts up some upsets and this is how I thing that this weeks games will go.

10am, live in the US on espn2
Last 4 head-to-head:
0-1 Burnley (a; FA Cup) 01.18.05
1-0 Liverpool (h; FA Cup) 01.04.97
1-0 Liverpool (h; League Cup) 02.07.95
0-0 (a; League Cup) 01.28.95
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 3-2 Bolton (a); 1-3 Villa (h); 4-0 Stoke (h)
Burnley: 0-3 Chelsea (a); 2-1 aet Hartlepool (a); 1-0 Everton (h)
Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Torres 3; Gerrard, Johnson 2; Kuyt, Ngog 1
Burnley: Blake, Elliott 1
Referee: Lee Mason
Guess at a squad:
Reina
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Insua
Benayoun Gerrard Lucas Riera
Kuyt Torres
I'd love to write ‘Same as against Stoke please,' because there's a good chance the game could play out similarly, but I doubt the international break will allow it.

Javier Mascherano is a major doubt for Liverpool's Premier League clash with Burnley at Anfield today.
The 25-year-old midfielder picked up a knock in Argentina's 1-0 defeat to Paraguay on Wednesday night.
Mascherano is having treatment but after playing two full 90 minutes for his country over the past week he is unlikely to be risked against the Clarets.

International breaks are a source of great frustration at Melwood.
Just when you are building up a head of steam your top stars depart and jet off around the world.
Even if they come back fit, fatigue is a major concern and there is little time to prepare for your next assignment.

After an extremely successful international break for our Red heroes, Premiership action returns for Liverpool as we face Burnley tomorrow in a clash that will surely raise some eyebrows... hopefully for the correct reasons! Over the past two weeks, Kuyt and Babel helped Holland automatically progress to the World Cup, Gerrard and Johnson were key [.

Reina
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Insua
Gerrard Lucas
Benayoun Kuyt Riera
Torres
Goals:
Benayoun 27' 61' 82'
Kuyt 41'
Perfect. No complaints. I had hoped it'd be similar to Stoke, and it's the exact same result. Four goals (and Liverpool should have had more), a clean sheet (with no frights from set plays), a Benayoun hat-trick, and the ability to rest players like Johnson, Kuyt, and Torres (plus a Degen sighting!

Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun believes his three-goal performance against Burnley on Saturday was the best of his career for the Reds thus far.
The Israeli scored a superb hat-trick to help the Anfield club to a 4-0 victory over Owen Coyle's Burnley, with Dutch international Dirk Kuyt grabbing the other goal.

Great result for the club. It's games like this we had trouble with last season so it's nice to see that we haven't stumbled yet on lower table teams. Now, if we can beat those pesky ones in the top half of the table we will be doing great.

Even when we stomp a team by scoring four goals and keep a clean sheet, Rafa manages to say something to annoy the crap out of me.

Rafa Benitez asked his players to do their talking on the pitch and Yossi Benayoun responded brilliantly at Anfield on Saturday.
The Israeli was excellent against Burnley and fully deserved his hat-trick.
Ryan Babel could learn a lot from Benayoun.
Rather than moan about not being in the side every week, Benayoun knuckled down and was determined to take his chance.

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has been declared fit for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Debrecen.
Mascherano missed Saturday's 4-0 win over Burnley after picking up a pelvic injury while on international duty with Argentina, and he did not return from South America until Sunday following tests on the problem.

Despite being one of the most promising strikers to have been produced in England for some time Wayne Rooney has never really had the starring role at Old Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo was always the focal point in that particular United side but now the Portuguese wizard has moved to Real Madrid the door has opened for Wayne to really prove himself.

.We might be little more than a month into the new Premier League season, but the teams likely to be battling the drop have already become apparent. All three of the promoted clubs are in the bottom half of the table, although each has started well enough to suggest none will become detached and relegated [.

Editor's Note: Geoff Reid appears on WVHooligan each week. Today he returns with his weekly series on the life of a Liverpool fan in America. Feel free to leave Geoff a note below.

After four weeks of the English season gone so far, we're already seeing some trends set in with Chelsea topping the league being unbeaten this far, Manchester City setting an interesting tone in their new spending power and with the club not competing in European competition at all it should be interesting in how Mark Hughes can balance the squad and keep everyone happy with rotating.

The lunchtime kickoff match was as good as advertised. Both teams came into the match with something to prove. Burnley had won eight straight matches at Turf Moor dating back to last season. Sunderland, meanwhile, had only scored two goals in their last nine away matches in the Premier League.