Soccer fans are in for an intense double dose of Chelsea vs Liverpool this week, as the Premier League heavyweights face-off for the FA Cup title on Saturday, May 5 and league standings on Tuesday, May 8.
The rise of Manchester City and Tottenham over the last two seasons, along with the amazing success of perennial underdog Everton, has shaken up the EPL’s Top Four ranks. Chelsea, the 2010 league champions and 2011 runners-up, have fallen to sixth place with 61 points. The table is tight between third and sixth place, so there is a remote chance that the Blues could finish in the top four. Meanwhile, Liverpool have dropped to eighth with 49 points. The best position they can hope for now is seventh.
Both games this week are critical for each team’s chances of playing in Europe next year. The top four teams qualify for Champions League, spots five and six head to the Europa League. Chelsea will play in the 2012 Champions League final against Bayern Munich on May 19. A title win there would guarantee them a spot in the 2012-13 CL tournament. The FA Cup winner automatically qualifies for the 2012-13 Europa League tournament. If the winner of the FA Cup also wins the Champions League, then the EL spot would go to the FA Cup runner-up.
There are only two weeks left in the season, so these games could mean the difference between playing for European glory next year or watching with envy from middle-of-the-table obscurity. And you can bet these two storied teams will fight to the very last second for victory.
• FA Cup 2012 Final: Chelsea vs Liverpool on Saturday, May 5 at 12:00p (Fox Soccer)
• English Premier League: Liverpool vs Chelsea on Tuesday, May 8 at 3:00p (Fox Soccer)
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Where to watch the best soccer games on US television networks. All times Eastern.
FRIDAY, MAY 4
| Time | League or Competition | Teams | Network | Live or Replay? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00a | Italian Serie A | Napoli vs. Palermo | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 3:00a | UEFA Europa League: Semifinal | Valencia vs. Atletico Madrid | GolTV | Replay |
| 1:00p | Italian Serie A | Juventus vs. Lecce | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 1:00p | Spanish Primera Division | Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad | ESPN Deportes | Replay |
| 2:30p | Spanish Primera Division Soccer | Sevilla vs. Real Betis | GolTV | Replay |
| 2:40p | English npower Championship | Blackpool vs. Birmingham City | Fox Soccer Plus | Live |
| 3:00p | English Premier League | Stoke City vs. Everton | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 8:00p | Spanish Primera Division Soccer | Athletic Bilbao vs. Real Madrid | GolTV | Replay |
| 9:00p | English npower Championship | Blackpool vs. Birmingham City | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 11:00p | FA Cup: Semifinal | Tottenham Hotspur vs. Chelsea | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 11:00p | MLS Soccer | Chivas USA vs. Chicago Fire | ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | Live |
SATURDAY, MAY 5
| Time | League or Competition | Teams | Network | Live or Replay? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:30a | Premier League Fan Zone | Tottenham vs. Blackburn | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 7:30a | English Premier League | Arsenal vs. Norwich City | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | Live |
| 7:40a | Scottish Premier League Soccer | Rangers vs. Motherwell | Fox Soccer Plus | Live |
| 9:25a | German Bundesliga | Borussia Dortmund vs. Freiburg | ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | Live |
| 9:30a | German Bundesliga | Cologne vs. Bayern Munich | GolTV | Live |
| 11:30a | German Bundesliga | Mainz 05 vs. Borussia M’gladbach | GolTV | Taped |
| 11:55a | Italian Serie A | Lecce vs. Fiorentina | Fox Soccer Plus | Live |
| 12:00p | FA Cup: Final | Chelsea vs. Liverpool | Fox Soccer | Live |
| 2:30p | Italian Serie A | AS Roma vs. Catania | Fox Soccer, ESPN3 | Live |
| 2:50p | Spanish Primera Division | Barcelona vs. Espanyol | ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | Live |
| 2:55p | Spanish Primera Division | Osasuna vs. Real Sociedad | ESPN3 | Live |
| 2:55p | Spanish Primera Division | Atletico Madrid vs. Malaga | ESPN3 | Live |
| 3:00p | Spanish Primera Division | Granada vs. Real Madrid | GolTV | Live |
| 3:25p | Portuguese Liga | FC Porto vs. Sporting Lisbon | ESPN3 | Live |
| 4:00p | MLS Soccer | Seattle Sounders vs. Philadelphia Union | NBC Sports Network | Live |
| 5:00p | Argentine Soccer | River Plate vs. Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy | GolTV | Live |
| 7:00p | Mexican Primera Division | America vs. Pachuca | Telefutura | Live |
| 8:00p | FA Cup: Final | Chelsea vs. Liverpool | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 8:00p | MLS Soccer | LA Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | Live |
| 11:00p | Italian Serie A | AS Roma vs. Catania | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 11:00p | Argentine Soccer | River Plate vs. Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy | GolTV | Replay |
SUNDAY, MAY 6
| Time | League or Competition | Teams | Network | Live or Replay? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00a | Scottish Premier League Soccer | Rangers vs. Motherwell | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 4:00a | Italian Serie A | Lecce vs. Fiorentina | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 6:25a | Italian Serie A | Siena vs. Parma | Fox Soccer Plus, ESPN3 | Live |
| 8:25a | Dutch Eredivisie | Heerenveen vs. Feyenoord | ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | Live |
| 8:30a | English Premier League | Newcastle United vs. Manchester City | Fox Soccer | Live |
| 8:53a | English Premier League | Queens Park Rangers vs. Stoke City | Fox Soccer Plus | Live |
| 8:55a | English Premier League | Aston Villa FC vs. Tottenham Hotsur | ESPN3 | Live |
| 8:55a | Italian Serie A | Atalante vs. Lazio | ESPN3 | Live |
| 8:55a | Italian Serie A | Bologna vs. Napoli | ESPN3 | Live |
| 10:30a | English Premier League | Manchester United vs. Swansea City | Fox Soccer | Live |
| 11:00a | English Premier League | Fulham vs. Sunderland | Fox Soccer Plus | Taped |
| 11:00a | Spanish Primera Division | Athletic Bilbao vs. Getafe | GolTV | Taped |
| 1:00p | Scottish Premier League Soccer | Dundee United vs. Celtic | Fox Soccer Plus | Taped |
| 1:00p | Spanish Primera Division | Valencia vs. Villarreal | GolTV | Taped |
| 2:30p | Italian Serie A | Inter Milan vs. AC Milan | Fox Soccer, ESPN3 | Live |
| 2:40p | Italian Serie A | Cagliari vs. Juventus | ESPN3 | Live |
| 2:55p | Brazilian Paulista Championship | Guarani FC vs. Santos | ESPN Deportes | Live |
| 3:00p | Uruguayan Soccer | Penarol vs. Liverpool | GolTV | Live |
| 3:10p | French Ligue 1 | Valenciennes FC vs. Paris Saint-Germain | Fox Soccer Plus | Live |
| 5:00p | Italian Serie A | Cagliari vs. Juventus | Fox Soccer | Taped |
| 5:30p | English Premier League | Bolton Wanderers vs. West Bromwich Albion | Fox Soccer Plus | Taped |
| 6:00p | Argentine Soccer | Atletico Rafaela vs. Boca Juniors | GolTV | Live |
| 7:00p | MLS Soccer | FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids | Galavision | Live |
| 11:00p | English Premier League | Manchester United vs. Swansea City | Fox Soccer | Replay |
MONDAY, MAY 7
| Time | League or Competition | Teams | Network | Live or Replay? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00a | English Premier League | Queens Park Rangers vs. Stoke City | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 12:00a | Argentine Soccer | Atletico Rafaela vs. Boca Juniors | GolTV | Replay |
| 3:00a | Italian Serie A | Cagliari vs. Juventus | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 3:00a | Uruguayan Soccer | Penarol vs. Liverpool | GolTV | Replay |
| 4:00a | Italian Serie A | Siena vs. Parma | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 1:00p | Italian Serie A | Cagliari vs. Juventus | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 1:00p | Argentine Soccer | River Plate vs. Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy | GolTV | Replay |
| 2:40p | Scottish Premier League Soccer | Hibernian vs. Dunfermline | Fox Soccer Plus | Live |
| 2:55p | English Premier League | Blackburn Rovers FC vs. Wigan Athletic | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | Live |
| 3:00p | French Ligue 1 | Stade Rennais FC vs. Montpellier Herault | Fox Soccer | Live |
| 5:00p | English Premier League | Newcastle United vs. Manchester City | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 8:00p | French Ligue 1 | Stade Rennais FC vs. Montpellier Herault | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 11:00p | FA Cup: Final | Chelsea vs. Liverpool | Fox Soccer | Replay |
TUESDAY, MAY 8
| Time | League or Competition | Teams | Network | Live or Replay? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00a | Scottish Premier League Soccer | Hibernian vs. Dunfermline | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 3:00a | English Premier League | Manchester United vs. Swansea City | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 3:00a | Argentine Soccer | River Plate vs. Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy | GolTV | Replay |
| 4:00a | Scottish Premier League Soccer | Hibernian vs. Dunfermline | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 11:00a | Italian Serie A | Inter Milan vs. AC Milan | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 11:00a | French Ligue 1 | Valenciennes FC vs. Paris Saint-Germain | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 2:00p | The FA Classic Collection: 2005/06 | Chelsea vs. Liverpool | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 3:00p | English Premier League | Liverpool vs. Chelsea | Fox Soccer | Live |
| 5:00p | UEFA Champions League: 2009/10 | FC Bayern Munich vs. Manchester United FC | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 5:00p | Scottish Premier League Soccer | Dundee United vs. Celtic | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 8:00p | English Premier League | Liverpool vs. Chelsea | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 9:00p | English Premier League | Fulham vs. Sunderland | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 11:00p | UEFA Champions League: 2009/10 | Chelsea vs. FC Porto | Fox Soccer | Replay |
WEDNESDAY, MAY 9
| Time | League or Competition | Teams | Network | Live or Replay? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00a | Italian Serie A | Inter Milan vs. AC Milan | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 4:00a | English Premier League | Bolton Wanderers vs. West Bromwich Albion | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 11:00a | English Premier League | Bolton Wanderers vs. West Bromwich Albion | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 1:00p | FA Cup: Final | Chelsea vs. Liverpool | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 2:40p | English npower Championship | Birmingham City vs. Blackpool | Fox Soccer Plus | Live |
| 3:00p | English Premier League | Newcastle United vs. Manchester City | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 3:00p | Argentine Soccer | Atletico Rafaela vs. Boca Juniors | GolTV | Replay |
| 5:00p | UEFA Champions League: 2009/10 | Chelsea FC vs. Club Atletico de Madrid | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 5:00p | FA Cup: Final | Chelsea vs. Liverpool | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 8:00p | FA Cup: Final | Chelsea vs. Liverpool | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 8:00p | UEFA Europa League: Final | Atletico Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao | GolTV | Taped |
| 11:00p | UEFA Champions League: 2009/10 | Lyonnais vs. Bayern Munich | Fox Soccer | Replay |
THURSDAY, MAY 10
| Time | League or Competition | Teams | Network | Live or Replay? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00a | Italian Serie A | AS Roma vs. Catania | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 3:00a | UEFA Europa League: Final | Atletico Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao | GolTV | Replay |
| 4:00a | Italian Serie A | Siena vs. Parma | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 11:00a | Italian Serie A | Lecce vs. Fiorentina | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 1:00p | English Premier League | Liverpool vs. Chelsea | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 3:00p | Italian Serie A | AS Roma vs. Catania | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 5:00p | UEFA Champions League: 2009/10 | Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 5:00p | English Premier League | Fulham vs. Sunderland | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 5:00p | UEFA Europa League: Final | Atletico Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao | GolTV | Replay |
| 8:00p | English Premier League | Manchester United vs. Swansea City | Fox Soccer | Replay |
| 9:00p | Scottish Premier League Soccer | Hibernian vs. Dunfermline | Fox Soccer Plus | Replay |
| 11:00p | UEFA Champions League: 2009/10 | Chelsea FC vs. Club Atletico de Madrid | Fox Soccer | Replay |
