In one of the more intriguing contests of the weekend, Arsenal are looking to rebound from a lackluster start to the season. The Gunners struggled to defeat West Brom by a single goal in their opening match and then lost to Fulham at Craven Cottage last week.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are enjoying a fine start to the 2008-09 campaign.

Champions League Group Stage Draw
Group A: CHELSEA, AS Roma, Bordeaux, Cluj
Group B: Inter, Werder, Panathinaikos, Anorthosis
Group C: Barcelona, Sporting, FC Basel, Shakhtar
Group D: LIVERPOOL, PSV, Marseille, Atletico
Group E: MAN UTD, Villarreal, CELTIC, Aalborg
Group F: Lyon, Bayern, Steaua, Fiorentina
Group G: ARSENAL, FC Porto, Fenerbahce, Dinamo Kiev
Group H: Real Madrid, Juventus, Zenit, Bate

Soccerword's Premiership Team of the Week - 02

Goolkeeper: Shay Given (Newcastle)

Defenders: Brede Hangeland (Fulham), Patrice Evra (Man United), John Pantsil (Fulham), Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea)

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Deco (Chelsea), Elano (Man City), Liam Lawrence (Sunderland)

Forwards: Djibril Cisse (Sunderland), Yakubu (Everton)

After two matches, there are only two clubs in the Premiership with 100% records: Chelsea and Liverpool. Chelsea did not match their dominant display of week 1, a 4-0 thrashing of Portsmouth, but thanks to a brilliant free kick from Deco, the Blues continued their winning ways with a 1-0 win over a scrappy Wigan side.

Soccerword's Premiership Team of the Week - 01

Goalkeeper: Shay Given, Newcastle

Defenders: Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea), Vedran Corlucka (Man City), Andre Ooijer (Blackburn), David Wheater (Middlesbrough)

Midfielders: Mikel Arteta (Everton), Deco (Chelsea), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Samir Nasri (Arsenal)

Strikers: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Dean Ashton (West Ham)

Honorable Mention: Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), David Dunn (Blackburn), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Julian Faubert (West Ham), Darren Fletcher (Man United), Obafemi Martins (Newcastle), Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

Premier League football is back, and the goals were flying into the net this opening weekend. Where to start?

Chelsea 4 - 0 Portsmouth
How about with Scolari's Blues as Chelsea thrashed Portsmouth 4-0. Joe Cole, Nicolas Anelka, Frank Lampard, and Deco all scored as Chelsea soared to the top of the table on goal difference.

After a brief managerial spell in Spain's second division, Chris Coleman is back in England, this time with Championship club Coventry City. And the club is off to a flying start, winners of their first two matches and in first place in the league.

Coleman enjoyed success at Fulham, guiding the Cottagers to their best ever finish in the top flight, 9th place in 2004.

Football is here again, and the beginning of the season is always a time of hope as clubs start over with a clean slate. At least, that's usually how it works. But not in League Two. Not this year. Because of point deductions, Luton Town begin the 2008-09 campaign on -30 points. That's minus 30. Just a few years ago Luton Town was in the top half of the Championship League, England's second division, with the Premiership nearly in sight.

Standings sorted by overall points
Pts - 3rd Leg - Team Name (golfers earning points this week)

111.7 - 51.0 - The Hackers
097.0 - 34.5 - Choke Stroke (Mickelson-7)
097.0 - 33.0 - The Drack (Rose-1.5)
095.0 - 08.5 - Jimmy's Boy
090.5 - 23.

Soccerword's Premier League Predictions
1. Manchester United
2. Chelsea
3. Liverpool
4. Arsenal
5. Portsmouth
6. Tottenham
7. Everton
8. Aston Villa
9. Newcastle
10. Manchester City
11. Sunderland
12. Blackburn
13.

Soccerword's Championship Predictions
1. Birmingham
2. Reading
3. Sheffield United
4. Crystal Palace
5. Queens Park Rangers
6. Ipswich
7. Bristol City
8. Watford
9. Coventry City
10. Nottingham Forest
11. Charlton
12.

Soccerword's League One Predictions
1. Leeds
2. Huddersfield
3. Leicester City
4. Brighton & Hove Albion
5. Colchester
6. Scunthorpe
7. Oldham
8. Carlisle
9. Peterborough
10. Northampton
11. MK Dons
12. Southend
13.

Soccerword's League Two Predictions
1. Darlington
2. Bradford
3. Rochdale
4. Wycombe
5. Shrewsbury
6. Chesterfield
7. Brentford
8. Notts County
9. Port Vale
10. Grimsby Town
11. Gillingham
12. Lincoln City
13.

Standings sorted by overall points
Pts - 3rd Leg - Team Name (golfers earning points this week)

111.7 - 51.0 - The Hackers (Singh-15, Appleby-9)
095.5 - 31.5 - The Drack
095.0 - 08.5 - Jimmy's Boy (Goosen-6.5)
090.0 - 27.5 - Choke Stroke (Singh-15, Mickelson-6.

For the clubs that weren't quite good enough to get into the Champions League, there is the UEFA Cup, a consolation tournament of sorts that is analagous to the NIT Basketball tournament for American college teams. But for clubs who are not among the elite of European football, the UEFA Cup provides them with a chance to compete for silverware against other second tier clubs.