The Champions League is here! Best XI and weekend wrap up

First off -- a breakdown of Saturday and Sunday's premier league action -- and shame on the Toons for losing to cellar-dwellar's Derby - Michael Owen might have injured himself in the embarrassing result.

Here's the Best XI:

TEAM OF THE WEEK

GK: Pepe Reina (Liverpool)

LCB: Stephen Kelly (Birmingham)
CB: Kolo Toure (Arsenal)
RCB: Nemanja Vidic (Man United)

LM: Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham)
CM: Michael Johnson (Man City)
CM: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
RM: Lee Bowyer (West Ham)

ST: Dean Ashton (West Ham)
ST: Kenwyne Jones (Sunderland)
ST: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal)

Manager: Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)

My star of the weekend was Cesc Fabregas, who was absolutley brilliant and is quickly making people forget about Thierry Henry. Here's what the Best XI article has to say about Cesc Fabregas:

Cesc Fabregas has struck an early claim for Player of the Year with his consistently superb performances for Arsenal this season. Five goals in eight games so far from midfield answers those doubts about his scoring abilities, and his thirty-yard screamer in the north London derby was as good as any of those. He also set up two for Adebayor and strolled away with another MOTM award.

Chelski is a broken egg says Jose.

A breakdown of today's beginning stage of the Champion's league:

The UEFA Champions League roars into action on Tuesday as the highly anticipated group stages begin.

Six of Tuesday's games are live on Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports Xtra, whilst you can also now catch the action live on skysports.com on your PC with our brilliant broadband service.

Liverpool, Chelsea and Celtic all get their Champions League campaigns underway on Tuesday with the three sides all dreaming of reaching this season's final in Moscow.

Holders Milan also begin the defence of their trophy with a home clash against Benfica.

Group A is Liverpool's domain and last season's finalists kick-off their assault on a sixth European crown with a tricky trip to Porto.

In the other game in the group under-performing Marseille play host to Besiktas at Stade Velodrome.

Group B sees Chelsea entertain Rosenborg at Stamford Bridge looking to finally go further than the semi-finals.

In the other game in the group Valencia travel to Germany to take on Schalke.

Nine-times winners Real Madrid go in search of a record tenth success in Group C and they get underway with a home clash with Werder Bremen, live on Sky Sports Xtra, while Olympiakos play host to Lazio in the game.

Group D sees champions Milan looking to become the first team to retain the Champions League in its current format and they get the defence of their trophy underway against Benfica.

In the other group game Celtic face a daunting trip to Ukraine to take on Shakhatr Donetsk, live on Sky Sports 2Click below for detailed previews on each game.

Group A:

Marseille v Besiktas: Marseille have never faced a Turkish team in the CL before.

Porto v Liverpool : Porto have never lost a CL home game against English sides.

Group B:

Chelsea v Rosenborg: Chelsea have kept eight clean sheets in the last 11 home CL matches.

Schalke v Valencia: Valencia have lost only once in the last seven CL away games.

Group C:

Real Madrid v Werder Bremen: Real have lost just one match at the Bernabeu in the last 21 in the competition (v Arsenal), drawing four and winning 16.

Olympiakos v Lazio: The Greek team have won just once in the last 13 CL games, against Real Madrid.

Group D:

Milan v Benfica: In the last 20 CL home games at the San Siro, Milan have won 16, drawn two and lost two.

Shakhtar v Celtic: In 13 CL away games, Celtic have lost 12 and shared the points once, against Barcelona.

I got my eyes on the Porto v. Liverpool match-up -- should be a tough challenge for Rafa's boys, while tomorrow features the intriguing match-up of Arsenal v. Sevilla.

Here are some Champions league predictions.

Recap of the weekend; Best XI

David Warner at AOL Sportshouse with another entertaining break down of Saturday and Sunday's fixtures.

The best XI from ESPN:

GK: Robert Green (West Ham)

LCB: Joleon Lescott (Everton)
CB: Zat Knight (Aston Villa)
RCB: David Wheater (Boro)

LM: Matt Etherington (West Ham)
CM: Xabi Alonso (Liverpool)
CM: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
RM: Ashley Young (Aston Villa)

ST: Craig Bellamy (West Ham)
ST: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
ST: Michael Owen (Newcastle)
Manager: Martin O'Neill (Villa)

Don't have too many problems with that line-up but I would have to offer up Clint Dempsey who was all over the pitch over the weekend, contributing 1 goal and 2 assists allowing Fulham to salvage a point. In any event he was certainly the top Yank from the weekend.

Another worth noting - the FA chief is concerned about the recent influx of foreign players into the Premier League.

Oh yea -- Chelski lost to Villa thanks to Zat Knight, narrowing the lead they enjoyed over ManYoo.

Since the PL seems to be blocking anyone from showing their highlights - I would have love to have show Kamara's equalizer for Fulham - here are some brilliant goals from their competition instead:

Wesley Sneijder's unstoppable free kick
Ditto from Ron
Alberto Aquilani with a nice free kick
Apologies in advance for the foreign languages.

Week 3 Best XI...

From ESPN:

GK: Craig Gordon (Sunderland)
LB: Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham)
CB: Sol Campbell (Portsmouth)
RB: Micah Richards (Man City)
LM: Mohamed Sissoko (Liverpool)
RM: Nani (Man Utd)
CM: Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham)
CM: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
ST: Cameron Jerome (Birmingham)
ST: El Hadji Diouf (Bolton)
ST: Ashley Young (Aston Villa)

Eyebrows were raised when Roy Keane splashed nine million pounds on Craig Gordon but they will have been lowered after his performance against Liverpool on Saturday. The Scotland number one was busy all afternoon and kept the score-line respectable for the home side. He is going to have ample opportunity to show his pedigree in what is shaping up to be a long season for the Black Cats.

Pascal Chimbonda gave a great all-round full-back's display at Old Trafford showing off both his defensive capabilities and attacking instincts. He shepherded the United trio of Carlos Tevez, Nani and Ryan Giggs when called upon and won the battle against his opposite number Patrice Evra with his dangerous marauding runs down the right flank.

Sol Campbell, possibly enlivened by his recall to the recent England squad, was a rock in the Portsmouth defence as Pompey gave Chelsea a fright at the Bridge with a confident, assured display. Campbell made a couple of important tackles, racing back and using his strength to deny the home team.

Micah Richards personally capped another great week in a season of great weeks so far with another outstanding performance for Manchester City. He faced Emanuel Adebayor and the lanky Gunner was second best against England's rising star (so much so he was subbed later on). Richards also gave a mature performance in midweek for the national team.

Tom Huddlestone gave an elegant display in the Spurs midfield and his repertoire of passing was on full display as he helped carve out several chances for Martin Jol's side at Old Trafford. He showed up ex-Spurs man Michael Carrick (who was substituted after an hour) and was always involved in the hub of the action for the visitors.

Cesc Fabregas again shouldered the burden of delivering the goods for Arsenal as they grabbed a single goal victory against a resurgent Manchester City at the Emirates. It was from the youthful foot Fabregas that the points were secured. The Spaniard darted in to the penalty area before firing past the otherwise impressive Caspar Schmeichel late on.

Mohammed Sissoko slipped in to the notin-any-way-daunting-at-all boots of Steven Gerrard at the Stadium of Light and was a more than able deputy. He scored a great goal too, a pile-driver from twenty-five yards. Close your eyes, and you could have sworn it was Stevie G who hit it. Except you wouldn't have seen it (but if you had the commentary on the TV you would have known who scored).

Ashley Young was man of the match for Aston Villa against Fulham and was a constant threat with his searing pace. He went close with a couple of efforts, then received a bit of help when his shot deflected in off Zat Knight for the first Villa goal. There was nothing remotely fortunate about Young's role in the winner though as he provided a wonderfully executed slide rule pass for Maloney to slot home.

Steve Bruce got some valuable return on the £3 million he spent on Cameron Jerome when the striker bagged a brace to win the game for the Blues at Derby. Jerome struck the first after just thirty seconds, latching on to a fine Mikael Fossael pass to beat Stephen Bywater. The winner was a volley from fifteen yards after Sebastian Larsson's flick to give Birmingham a valuable three points against one of their fellow promoted sides.

Nani made his home debut for Manchester United and crowned the day with a stunning goal to give his side their first win of the season against Spurs. Alex Ferguson envisaged a marginal role for the 20 year old this season. If this is so, then they have themselves one hell of a substitute. Nani, turned and hit an unstoppable shot from thirty yards past England's number one (whatever connotations that title confers on its owner these days).

Mr Popularity El-Hadji Diouf rolled up his sleeves and showed his fight for the battle by masterminding Bolton's first win of the season against Reading. Well, perhaps. Or, Mr Popularity El Hadji Diouf realizes the transfer window looms large and if it slams shut on Friday he will remain plying his trade at the Reebok for at least another half season, so decided to remind would be suitors he is a decent player. Anyroad, whichever it is, he played well. And for that his manager Sammy Lee will be more than grateful. To say Lee has a difficult job following Sam Allardyce in to the Bolton hotseat goes without saying. A diabolical start has made him bookies favorite for the axe but if he can hold on to Messrs Anelka and Diouf and his side continue to put in performances like the one which brought a 3-0 win against in-form Reading, then things may swing in his favour.

Week 2 Best XI...

From Sanford's Soccer Net via ESPN:

What a fickle mistress footballing form is. So if Tony Warner, superb in Fulham's opener at Arsenal seven days ago, would kindly shuffle along taking his recent calamitous errors with him, and make way for Steve Harper in TOTW. Harper kept a clean sheet against Aston Villa and proved himself an able deputy once more for the injured Shay Given.

GK: Steve Harper (Newcastle)
CB: Micah Richards (Man City)
CB: Richard Dunne (Man City)
CB: Andre Bikey (Reading)
RM: Steed Malbranque (Spurs)
CM: Jermaine Jenas (Spurs)
CM: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
CM: Mark Noble (West Ham)
LM: Steven Hunt (Reading)
ST: Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth)
ST: Emile Heskey (Wigan)

Manager: Sven Goran-Eriksson (Man City)

Week 1: Best XI

From Goal.com (paraphrased):

Premier League Best Eleven Of The Week: Week 1 Who were the best performers in the Premiership at the weekend?

Goalkeeper

Tony Warner (Fulham): Kept Fulham from getting blown out after getting word he would play 10 minutes before kickoff.

Defenders

Nicky Shorey (Reading): Marked Cristiano Ronaldo effectively.

Paul McShane (Sunderland): Nullified what has been hyped as the most vaunted strike-force in the Premier League. The fact that the largely anonymous Berbatov was withdrawn underlined McShane's effectiveness.

Jamie Carragher (Liverpool): Solid in the back

Ross Wallace (Sunderland): Fed Chopra for the lone goal

Midfielders

Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea): Finally living up to his potential?

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool): Two words: Free kick

Elano (Manchester City): Sven is a genius

Olivier Kapo (Birmingham City): Class goal against Cech had Chelsea fans biting nails

Strikers

Obafemi Martins (Newcastle United): Heroic performance.

Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers): scored within two minutes of being subbed in.

Honourable Mentions:

Stuart Taylor was heroic in goal for Aston Villa, and Marcus Hahnemann produced a number of second-half saves to preserve Reading's clean sheet at Old Trafford, while on Teesside Brad Friedel was a typically formidable barrier for Blackburn.

Micah Richards underlined his quality in the Manchester City, Nyron Nosworthy showed why Sunderland fans love him and Zat Knight made a couple of crucial blocks for Fulham against Arsenal. Newcastle's David Rozehnal had a good debut and Andy Todd capped a fine display for Derby with a spectacular diving header to earn the Rams a first-day point.

Midfielders who caught the eye included Manchester City's Michael Johnson and Martin Petrov. Dickson Etuhu showed Premier League potential for Sunderland while Mikel Arteta shone for Everton and Matt Oakley produced a csptain's goal-scoring performance for Derby County.

Claudio Pizarro and Florent Malouda looked ominously classy for Chelsea, both getting on the scoresheet, Dirk Kuyt worked tirelessly across the front line for Liverpool and Derby's Steve Howard was a handful.

Not too many stick points here, but I would here's where I would differ on the Best XI, GK has to be Marcus Hahnemann who made so many nice saves that the cult of the bald Yank amongst Reading supporters grows daily.