Landon Donovan is eligible to play on Wednesday for the encounter between Everton and Bolton at Goodison Park. Whether he'll have a large part to play in that match will be up to David Moyes (and also depending on Donovan's fitness levels). But I would be very surprised if he doesn't see some playing time […]

The Football Association recently banned prized Liverpool striker Luis Suarez for eight matches on the grounds that he made derogatory comments toward Patrice Evra during the club’s fixture against Manchester United. While the Anfield outfit may appeal the ban, the Uruguayan’s lengthy suspension is all but a done deal especially after the FA released the […]

FC Dallas was an up-and-down team last season, getting off to a slow start (remember Brek Shea as a fullback) before surging in the summer then falling off a cliff in the fall. The team ended the season on a whimper with a playoff loss to New York, but it was a particularly traumatic and […]

Swansea City has finally gotten another monkey off its back with its first away win of the season. The first monkey of the season was waiting five games before the Swans got their first goal of the Premier League season (in a 3-0 home against West Bromwich Albion). And now, after convincingly beating Aston Villa 2-0 away […]

So how was your holiday season? I'm betting it has been better than Andre Villas-Boas's December despite Chelsea's late win against Wolves on Monday. Since the holidays have begun, a constant stream of events conspired to turn Chelsea from a team moving along in transition/future 3rd place finisher to a team that has (if you […]

The excitement over the return of Thierry Henry, Arsenal’s all-time top goalscorer, on a two-month loan is understandable, but the realistic impact Henry will have towards Arsenal’s push for Champions League qualification is questionable. He’ll be a great presence in the dressing room, a great tutor for other players and it’ll be great to see […]

“Fact Or Fiction” is a weekly segment on EPL Talk. In today's column, an assertion will be made regarding an impacting topic in the Premier League. EPL Talk writers Matt Hackenmiller and Earl Reed (and sometimes The Gaffer) each offer their views on whether the statement is “Fact or Fiction.” Fact or Fiction: With Manchester […]

No this is not the rundown of a 1989 comedy crime caper featuring Chevy Chase, but a 2011/12 one man rescue mission starring a Scotsman on International exile to earn his side a third consecutive draw. As the final moments of another year ebbed away, the ‘Battle of the Wanderers’ commenced at the Reebok Stadium […]

What a difference a week makes. Since Christmas Day, the teams at the bottom and in the middle of the Premier League have performed spectacularly, picking up much-needed points. Consider that Blackburn beat Manchester United at Old Trafford and tied Liverpool at Anfield. West Brom grabbed a draw against Manchester City. Aston Villa beat Chelsea, […]

EPL Talk would like to wish you, all of our readers and listeners, a very Happy New Year! We hope you enjoy the time off and that you get to spend some quality time with your loved ones. Don't forget that there are two matches on Sunday (West Brom versus Everton, and Sunderland against Manchester […]

In their second surprise result of the campaign, Blackburn Rovers proved opportunistic, spoiling Sir Alex Ferguson's 70th birthday at Old Trafford with a 3-2 shocker over second place Manchester United. The home side started the match with a weakened lineup, not uncommon with the congested holiday fixture list and an opponent as downtrodden as Blackburn. […]

This past season in U.S. soccer was certainly an interesting one. In MLS, two new teams were promoted and the soccer world fell in love with them and their passionate fans. Coaches were hired and fired, players finally fulfilled their potential, and others failed to inspire. One MLS team had a chance to make history […]

The Columbus Crew were certainly a surprise team last season. After cutting ties with a number of veterans and going with a roster that looked lacking on almost every part of the pitch, head coach Robert Warzycha coaxed a great season out of a sometimes combustible team. Robbie Rogers earned his way onto the U.S. men's national […]

Here is what the Premier League clubs are wishing for in 2012: Arsenal: Gunner fans are wishing that scoring machine Robin van Persie continues his torrid streak. Aston Villa: That Alex McLeish has a method to his “managerial tactic” madness. Blackburn: Steve Kean is renting and not buying. Bolton: Club officials are wishing the F.A. […]

After a week with seven draws, winning was clearly off the agenda for many teams who seemed content with playing out a stalemate. No where was this dose of Christmas charity more stark than within the top six where only Spurs and Manchester United could muster victories. Not that Spurs are in danger of catching […]