Pirate Galaxy » . I know anything down, Im goi

Sometimes in the Premier League, a difficult stretch of matches to open the season can derail a promising campaign.But Liverpool have passed that opening test with flying colours, emerging with 17 points and sitting comfortably in fourth place with a stretch of winnable games ahead, starting with Saturdays tilt against West Bromwich Albion at Anfield.The fixture computer can be incredibly cruel at times, as it seemingly was to Liverpool (5-2-1) when the schedule was released. The Reds were handed trips to Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea over the first eight league matches.Throw in the reality that of those eight, the first three were away from home due to the redevelopment of Anfields Main Stand. They also faced Manchester United and defending champions Leicester City at home. It was definitely a daunting task that had a potential bleak start written all over it.However, Jürgen Klopps high-pressing style has fit well on Merseyside. The club has been able to produce some breathtaking attacking passages thanks to the brilliant quartet of Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.Coming into the weekend, only Manchester City and Arsenal (19) have scored more goals than Liverpools 18, but theyll have to remain focused with the distraction of European football if they are to truly challenge for the top four or even the title.Mondays scoreless draw with Man U produced little in the way of attacking chances as United goalkeeper David De Gea was only really tested once. Emre Cans second half effort was denied by De Gea while Firmino looked sure to score after getting in behind, only to be repelled by an excellent sliding challenge from Antonio Valencia.Despite not collecting three points on a night when perhaps they should have, at least one former Red believes good things are in store for Klopps charges.Jürgen is looking good for the club, I think hes doing well, former defender Daniel Agger said prior to Mondays clash. He has some great ideas and the way he talks with the media, everything, I like.With the club set to take the pitch at Anfield for only the third time on the campaign, Klopp commented on what its like to play in the redeveloped venue.Its great, its great -- its not easy to describe because we all loved the old Anfield, the manager said. When I first came here for the friendly with Borussia Dortmund, I dont think theyd already started to do the work on the new Main Stand, but it already was a really nice and historical stadium.West Bromwich Albion (2-4-2), meanwhile, are riding a decent wave of form, unbeaten in four straight including three consecutive draws. The Baggies enter the weekend in 12th place, but are certain to be challenged by the Merseysiders slew of attacking prowess.If there is another manager -- aside from Jose Mouinho -- who can come up with a tactical plan to stifle Liverpools attack, its probably West Broms Tony Pulis. He has garnered a reputation for building defensively strong teams.West Broms current four-match unbeaten run in league play will have them brimming with confidence, but it may have taken a small hit after last weeks 1-1 stalemate with Tottenham. West Brom allowed the equaliser in the 89th minute to end the day in frustrating fashion.Still, midfielder James McClean is impressed with his sides form over the last month.We are four unbeaten now so its all good signs, the Ireland international said. Im delighted with the way I am playing at the moment and the team is also doing well so I am happy.Saturday was a tough game against a quality side and, if I am honest, we were outplayed by Spurs in the first half. But in the second 45 we gave it a right good go and we were unfortunate not to hold on to the lead.The sides drew both Premier League meetings last season.Liverpool won the first nine Premier League contests between these sides, outscoring West Brom 25-0. Since then, West Brom have gone 4-4-3 in the series.The last three top-flight matchups between the sides have been drawn.Roger Maris . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Mark McGwire . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/custom-junior-fernandez-jersey-large-851q.html . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Daniel Ponce de Leon . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. Michael Wacha . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break.This story appears in ESPN The Magazines Sept. 19 NFL Preview II Issue. Subscribe today!FORGET JACKIE BRADLEY JR.S breakout, Xander Bogaerts hitting streak or David Ortizs yearlong lovefest: Mookie Betts, the Red Soxs 23-year-old outfielder, is the teams most indispensable player, and a legitimate MVP candidate.Betts is among the AL leaders in runs, hits and RBIs, but you could argue that his biggest strength has been coming through in the clutch. Betts has five of the Soxs top 16 games in win probability added (WPA), a measure of how much one player affects his teams chances to win. Here are the stories behind some of his best games.1 DOWN WITH THE BIRDS AUG. 16 AT BALTIMORE RED SOX 5, ORIOLES 3 BETTS WPA: 0.505THE SCENE Let it be said, with little hyperbole, that Betts defeated the Orioles single-handedly. Batting cleanup, he broke a scoreless stalemate in the fifth inning with a two-out, three-run homer off Baltimore starter Yovani Gallardo. And after the Orioles rallied to tie the score in the bottom of the seventh, Betts bashed a two-run homer in the next inning against setup man Brad Brach, against whom right-handed hitters had been 8-for-102 (.078). Betts drove in all five Red Sox runs. About the only thing he didnt do was pitch.BETTS TAKE I knew it was going to be tough [facing Brach]. I tried to swing early and be aggressive, because I know hes going to be in the zone. Once you get two strikes, its pretty much over at that point with him. ... Batting cleanup can be tough, but I was just trying to put a good swing on a good pitch, trying to drive the ball like I always do, with my same approach. [Being a power hitter] is definitely weird. Ive never been that in my life. Im just going to try to enjoy it while its here.2 HOUSTON HAS A PROBLEM MAY 15 AT BOSTON RED SOX 10, ASTROS 9 BETTS WPA: 0.330THE SCENE By the time Betts stepped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, this game had seen three lead changes. The Red Sox had just watched an 8-6 edge disappear after the Astros three-run rally in the top of the sixth. After Ryan Hanigan tied the score with a two-out single off Houston right-hander Scott Feldman, Betts fell behind in the count 0-2. No worries. He laid off two pitches, then lined a sinker to the gap in right-center field for a go-ahead triple.BETTS TAKE From the outside, [games like these, when the entire offense clicks] look ridiculous, but from the inside, theyre just the product of us grinding out at-bats and grinding through games. It was a tough day, man. The wind blowing, the sun there, it made it that much tougher. Fortunately, we were able to get an extra out [on Hanigans hit] and take advantage of it.3 RANGE FACTOR JUNE 24 AT TEXAS RED SOX 8, RANGERS 7 BETTS WPA: 0.dddddddddddd29THE SCENE Good luck finding a more improbable Red Sox victory. Trailing 7-4 in the top of the ninth, the Sox got two quick outs, then proceeded to score four runs. After Sandy Leon worked an 11-pitch at-bat for an RBI double, the Rangers called on hard-throwing righty Matt Bush. Betts passed on a couple of sliders in anticipation of high heat. Sure enough, he got a belt-high 97 mph fastball and crushed it to the center-field berm. Three batters later, Dustin Pedroia scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.BETTS TAKE There are three righties behind Sandy, so I know [Bush] is coming in, and I kind of prepared for that. Seeing velocity doesnt change anything. Its all got to come across the plate at some point. Thats my mindset. In the AL East, you see it every day. A lot of times, you see it from the starter for the whole game. That ball was one of the ones I figured was going to go out. If it didnt, I would have probably cried.4 BRINGING THE RAIN AUG. 1 AT SEATTLE RED SOX 2, MARINERS 1 BETTS WPA: 0.328 THE SCENE It doesnt get much more clutch than a leadoff homer in the ninth inning of a tie game. Betts longball was off a hanging sinker from Mariners reliever Steve Cishek, all the way into the left-field bullpen. It was also one of the hardest balls Betts hit all season, with an exit velocity of 103.54 mph, according to Statcast.BETTS TAKE I was just going up there knowing [Cishek] is a tough at-bat. Any sidearm guy is going to be tough. I was just trying to get a fastball up so I could at least put it in play. I know anything down, Im going to beat into the ground, so just got something elevated and put a good swing on it.5?TWO BIRDS, THREE HOMERS MAY 31 AT BALTIMORE RED SOX 6, ORIOLES 2 BETTS WPA: 0.325THE SCENE Talk about doing it all. Betts led off the game with a homer to straightaway center field, then added a three-run shot to left in the second inning. In the seventh, just for good measure, Betts capped his first three-homer game by going to right field for a solo shot against reliever Dylan Bundy. (His diving catch to steal a hit from Paul Janish in the bottom of that inning was just a bonus.)BETTS TAKE I think I surprised myself, definitely, with the center-field and the right-field ones. [Pulling the ball to] left field is my forte. First time Ive ever done that, three home runs. I was able to make a play behind [pitcher] Robbie Ross, too, so, you know, put the whole game together. Thats why, I think, it ranks among my best games.Stats courtesy Baseball-Reference.com; through Sept. 6. ' ' '