England

This week marks the first time fans have been allowed back in English football stadiums since Covid-19 struck Europe back in March. Arsenal was the first Premier League club to welcome fans back, with 2,000 supporters neatly spaced out for a Europa League match on Thursday in what proved to be a celebratory atmosphere. 

By Saturday, some English fans were proving unworthy of the privilege of watching the beautiful game in person.

It was a massive week in U.S. soccer viewership with everyone taking time off for Thanksgiving and hunkering down to watch to incessant onslaught of the Premier League, the start of the MLS Cup playoffs and the business end of the Liga MX Apertura liguilla. 

In terms of English-language broadcasts, the highest-rated event between Nov. 23 and Nov. 29 was last Sunday’s dire 0-0 draw between Chelsea and Tottenham at Stamford Bridge. An audience of 744,000 tuned in on NBCSN to have their spirits crushed by José Mourinho.

Arsenal cannot figure out how to score in the Premier League. With 10 goals in 10 matches, only the bottom three sides have scored less. Fortunately for the Gunners, things have been a bit different in the lower-quality Europa League, where they average three goals per outing. Thursday was no different, starting with a stunning Alexandre Lacazette goal vs Rapid Vienna.

When Kevin Davies took the field for Bolton Wanderers, the action on the pitch often resembled a barroom brawl rather than a soccer match.

Under manager Sam Allardyce, Davies consistently led the league in both fouls committed and fouls received, setting multiple records along the way.

Chelsea flexed its superiority with a comfortable 4-0 victory against Sevilla on Wednesday in the Champions League to claim Group E’s top spot. Four top-class Olivier Giroud goals vs Sevilla got the job done for the Blues.

The London club came into the fixture on a 14-game unbeaten streak in all competitions and immediately put the pressure on Sevilla after the first whistle. In the eighth minute Kai Havertz found open space to dribble before laying the ball off to Giroud, who finished the chance beautifully.

UEFA Champions League Group H has three teams level on nine points heading into next week’s final matchday after PSG defeated Manchester United 3-1 at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Neymar’s early goal was canceled out in the first half by Marcus Rashford, but PSG captain Marquinhos turned home a nice 69th-minute winner to hugely complicate things for United before Neymar’s late tap-in. 

Jurgen Klopp has spent most of the last two months complaining about the timing of fixtures as Liverpool fights to defend its Premier League title while simultaneously competing for another Champions League crown. With that in mind (and a slew of injuries), the Reds boss started a number of youngsters against Ajax on Tuesday, including two teenagers and a goalkeeper who had just four prior senior appearances, none in the Champions League.

Caoimhin Kelleher has waited patiently for his chance to play first team football. A product of Cork, Ireland, Kelleher joined Liverpool's youth setup from his local club Ringhamon Rangers back in 2015. He slowly made his way through the U-18s to the U-23s while also playing at the international level for the Republic of Ireland underage sides.