We’re back with the 2nd installment of this weekly feature, and once again we use as a starting point WaPo SoccerInsider’s post listing of all the matches that are televised this weekend–approx 50 matches!  From that list, here are a handful that we’ll try to watch, and why:

Saturday, Sept 18

Sunderland-Arsenal 12:30 p.m. FSC (Why? To see if Arsenal can keep their hot streak going, after putting away Bolton Wanderers 4-1 last Saturday and then demolishing Portuguese side Braga 6-0 on the Champions League Matchday 1 mid-week.  To see if Cesc Fabregas has in fact escaped the space-time continuum.  And going the other way, to see Baby Jet running up front all by himself, as he did quite effectively in South Africa–and perhaps to see him do his dance.)

Sunday, Sept 19

Manchester United-Liverpool 8:30 a.m. FSP (Why?  To see if Liverpool can make a case that they belong among the top tier of the Premier League–or to see if Pepe Reina (who was spectacular last week, after a couple spectacular fails in the preceding weeks) right?  To see if Man U can do better than draw against a team they really should beat (as they did last week against Everton, and again mid-week against Rangers).  To see if Wayne Rooney get back on track.)

Atletico Madrid-Barcelona 1 p.m. ESPN Deportes (Why?  To see if La Liga table-toppers Atletico Madrid, led by Diego Forlan and his golden locks, can shrug off a surprising Europa League loss .  To see which Barcelona side shows up–the one that lost at home to Hercules last week, or the one that tapped circles around Braga mid-week.)

If those three aren’t enough for you, here are 2 bonus matches, both on Sunday:

Hercules-Valencia 11 a.m. ESPN Deportes (Why? To see if can Hercules can shock the world two weeks in a row. To see Valencia, who is playing as well as anybody: 2-0 in 2 La Liga matches, and an easy Champions League win Tuesday over Turkish club Bursaspor.)

Feyenoord-Ajax 3 p.m. ESPN Deportes: (Why?  Just to see an Eredivisie match, featuring two of the top clubs in Dutch football.  Here’s a bit of history on their rivalry–hat tip to Coach Larry for that link–and another account of their rivalry here, from where we borrowed that charming photo above.)