The Week in Soccer

7:45 a.m. Saturday (NBCSN, mun2)

The holiday season is truly the most wonderful time of the year for fans of English soccer. NBCSN will air 15 Premier League games between Saturday and New Year's Day. It starts with Liverpool, led by red-hot forward Luis Suárez, the season's top scorer (17 goals in 11 games). The red-clad Bluebirds' hopes of an upset lie with former Liverpool star Craig Bellamy, in his 14th season as a pro.

10 a.m. Saturday (NBCSN)

City are undefeated in eight home games, but have won just two of their eight road games. They'll look to stalwart midfielder Yaya Touré for leadership as they head to London. Fulham is stuck in next-to-last place, but Costa Rican playmaker Bryan Ruiz is an underrated attacking talent.

1:30 p.m. Saturday (NBC10)

It can be hard to keep track of so many games on a Saturday in the Premier League. NBC has a special edition of the famed BBC highlights show (a.k.a. "MotD"), which comes to American network TV for the first time.

2:45 p.m. Sunday (beIN Sport)

The Derby Della Madonnina between the Serie A teams that share Milan's San Siro stadium is one of the best rivalries in the world. Milan is led by mercurial forward Mario Balotelli, whose off-field antics are spectacular as his soccer skills. Inter is led by Rodrigo Palacio, whose nine goals are third-best on the Italian scoring charts this season.

3 p.m. Monday (NBCSN)

This London derby carries huge stakes for both teams, as Chelsea could take over first place in the Premier League from Arsenal with a win. Gunners manager Arsène Wenger has never beaten his Blues counterpart, José Mourinho. Ending that streak would help as the Gunners seek their first trophy since 2005.

12:30 p.m. Thursday (NBCSN)

The day after Christmas, Boxing Day, is jam-packed full of big games. This Premier League clash caps off a tripleheader on NBCSN. Manchester City will be without injured striker Sergio Agüero, but the deep squad can call on Álvaro Negredo.

- Jonathan Tannenwald