Matchweek 2 is here! The first weekend of games saw a total of 24 goals scored, including an absolute screamer from Richarlison. Now, all eyes turn to Newcastle vs. Liverpool. It’s not just a battle for points, but for Isak’s affections (and signature).

Who will he give his rose to?

Thanks for reading,
Gabe

In this edition

• Fixtures

• Check Out

• Extra Slice

Matchweek 2 Fixtures 

Friday, August 22, 2025
⚒️ West Ham vs 🦁 Chelsea – 12:00 PM PT – USA Network
Blah blah London Derby blah blah, Chelsea surprises us by either blowing out their opponents or underperforming drastically. We get it.

Saturday, August 23, 2025
🦈 Manchester City vs 🐓 Tottenham Hotspur – 11:30 AM PT – USA Network
This could be good… Spurs head coach Thomas Frank said he’d be using a “horses for courses” strategy for this season (yes, I had to google what that means) so expect a new looking Spurs team each weekend. Also have you seen both teams’ epic black kits? 🔥🔥

🍒 Bournemouth vs 🐺 Wolverhampton Wanderers – 7:00 AM PT – Peacock

🐝 Brentford vs 🦁 Aston Villa – 7:00 AM PT – USA Network

🍷 Burnley vs ⚪ Sunderland – 7:00 AM PT – Peacock

🔴 Arsenal vs 🦚 Leeds United – 9:30 AM PT – NBC & Peacock
Leeds’ first real test of their new campaign, they haven’t lost their Bielsa like energy of playing. I’m expecting a fast paced back and forth high scoring affair. (High scoring by Arsenal that is).

Sunday, August 24, 2025
🦅 Crystal Palace vs 🌲 Forest – 7:00 AM PT – Peacock

🔵 Everton vs 🐧 Brighton – 7:00 AM PT – USA Network

⚪ Fulham vs 🔴 Manchester United – 9:30 AM PT – USA Network

Monday, August 25, 2025
⚫ Newcastle vs 🔴 Liverpool – 12:00 PM PT – USA Network
This match is being overshadowed by the Isak transfer saga. He’s benched himself, pushing for a Liverpool move, but Newcastle won’t budge without a replacement…and good luck finding one. Sometimes being irreplaceable isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

This Week’s Rabbit Holes

• 🐈‍⬛ TV show: Sunderland Till I Die (Gabe’s currently watching)

• 🧵X Thread: 1 goal for every 55 shots. Savinho’s Broken Form and how to fix it

Extra Slice

For our readers who feel like they haven’t accomplished much in their lives… maybe skip this next part.

While most Premier League owners are known for being older (see: Sir Jim Ratcliffe) and treating club ownership as a way to spend the fortune they spent decades building, one man decided to skip the “started from the bottom” part and go straight to “now we here.” Enter Frenchman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus. At the ripe old age of 23, he became chairman and now majority owner of Sunderland A.F.C.

Of course, Kyril didn’t exactly roll up from nothing. He’s the heir to the multibillion-dollar Louis-Dreyfus Group, his Father is the former CEO of Adidas, oh and he’s a distant cousin of actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus. But unlike some absentee owners, Kyril is deeply involved. His vision? To bring economic stability back to the region by rebuilding the club into a sustainable success story powered not by megastar signings, but by young, hungry talent and a long-term plan.

In a football world dominated by aging billionaires, Kyril’s youth, ambition, and grounded leadership make him a fascinating outlier and fun to watch.

Read more of Kyril’s story here

See you next week!