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If someone had asked me close to this time last year which USMNT strikers would go to Qatar I would have had Ricadro Pepi top of mind. Fast forward to present day and the job for the starting striker at the World Cup with the USMNT is there for the taking with several bidders.

Josh Sargent is in the best form of his career, Jordan Pefok has been a menace in front of goal for Union Berlin and Haji Wright is racking up the goals in Turkey. All three USMNT strikers had goal contributions this weekend.

MANCHESTER — Manchester City's Erling Haaland struck a second half hat trick as the Premier League champions came back from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The Norwegian, who averaged almost a goal per game in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund before his move to City in June, has now scored six times in his opening four league matches for Pep Guardiola's side.

The win moves City to the top of the table, level on 10 points with Brighton & Hove Albion. Palace are 13th with four points from their opening four games.

Liverpool earned their first win of the season in stunning fashion after equalling the record for the biggest ever Premier League victory with a 9-0 thrashing of newly promoted Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema was named UEFA Player of the Year and Carlo Ancelotti took the coaching honors after they led the club to a record-extending 14th Champions League title last season.

Benzema was in red-hot form, scoring 15 times in the competition and lifting the trophy for a fifth time in his career after the Spanish side beat Liverpool in the final.

Ancelotti became the first coach to win Europe's most prestigious club trophy four times. He first won the title with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007 before claiming it with Real in 2014.

We experienced our penultimate UEFA Champions League draw Thursday before the 2024-25 competition throws the 'Swiss model' at us, so we've got to enjoy the concept of a Champions League group of death while we still can.

The draw has gifted us some tantalizing matchups like PSG vs. Juventus, Milan vs. Chelsea, Bayern Munich vs. Barcelona, Liverpool vs. Ajax and Real Madrid vs. Celtic, and don't forget the tournament starts earlier this year (Matchday 1 is Sep. 6-7) because of the World Cup. Let's get down to business.

Juventus is the Manchester United of Italian soccer; rich in history but utterly clueless when success is not on its side. After a dominant 3-0 win over Sassuolo in Match Week 1, Juventus traveled to Sampdoria on Monday and slumped back to the dreadful, sleep-inducing tactical performance fans have come to expect from Massimiliano Allegri’s side. As a result, many have taken to Twitter using #AllegriOut to voice their frustration.

In a match where Dortmund looked set to steal a result, on a day it was not at its best, Werder Bremen pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks you will ever see to win 3-2.

Highlights @WerderBremen_en are fast becoming the comeback kings

Josh Sargent is on a hot streak right now for Norwich City in the EFL Championship. After scoring a sensational header on Tuesday he followed that performance up on Friday with a brace for the Canaries to defeat Millwall 2-0. The Sargent goals vs Millwall were the only goals of the game.

Josh Sargent Goals vs Millwall

@joshsargent pic.twitter.com/XEofIOPaI8

With nine successive Serie A titles followed by two campaigns where Champions League qualification seemed a shallow silver lining, Juventus’ fall from grace has been clear to see in recent years. This summer has seen several big names depart Turin, and the Bianconeri will be hard-pressed to find adequate replacements in order to once again fight for the Scudetto.