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Liverpool beat Manchester United 3-1.

Matchweek 17 - A stroke of luck

Matchweek 17 - A stroke of luck

Welcome to This Week from Premier Skills English, a weekly review of football action for learners of English from across the globe. In This Week, Jack and Rich talk about the latest action from the Premier League. They keep you up to date with our prediction competition and have lots of football English for you to learn.

Transcript

If the listening is a bit difficult, try listening and reading at the same time.
Read the transcript and listen at the same time.

Introduction  

Rich: Hello my name’s Rich and welcome to our weekly round-up section called ‘This Week’ on Premier Skills English.  

Jack: Hi there. I’m Jack. This week there was an extra round of Premier League matches in midweek so we’re back with an extra episode of football and English.
 
Rich: We’ve got lots of interesting words and phrases to help you talk about football in English.

Jack: We want you to use and practise these phrases by interacting with Premier League fans from around the world in our comments section.

Rich: If you listen to us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, you can leave your comments in the review section. We do read all the reviews and would love to hear from you.

Jack: You can find all our latest content on the Premier Skills English homepage or the Premier Skills-British Council Facebook page. 

Rich: Let’s start with our midweek headlines!

Headlines

Rich: Liverpool beat lacklustre United to go back to the top. 

Jack: A dominant Liverpool team beat Manchester United 3-1 at Anfield to go back to the top of the Premier League table. Sadio Mane gave the hosts the lead but Jesse Lingard equalised against the run of play for United. Liverpool needed a bit of luck and it arrived when Xherdan Shaqiri twice tried his luck and scored two deflected goals. The first came off Ashley Young and the second stroke of luck arrived when the ball came off Eric Bailly. Despite these pieces of good luck, it was a deserved win for the league leaders.

Rich: City brush Everton aside.

Jack: Manchester City are just one point behind Liverpool after beating Everton 3-1. Gabriel Jesus scored twice before Everton got a goal back through Dominic Calvert Lewin. But, City sent on Raheem Sterling and the England player scored with his first touch to make the game safe.

Rich: Spurs leave it late to beat unlucky Burnley.

Jack: Tottenham Hotspur scored an injury-time winner against an out of luck Burnley team. It was tough luck on Burnley who worked very hard in defence. Christian Eriksen got the winner to keep Spurs in the title chase.

Rich: A good week for Liverpool and Spurs. 

Jack: Yes, good wins in the Premier League and through to the knockout rounds of the Champions League, too.

Vocabulary alert!

Rich: In our vocabulary alert, we look at some football English that we used in the headlines.

Jack: All of our six phrases use the word luck and they are: a piece of luck, a stroke of luck, a bit of luck, to try your luck, to be out of luck and tough luck.

Rich: Let’s start with the noun phrases. A piece of luck or a stroke of luck is used to describe something that happens by chance and that you benefit from it.

Jack: Liverpool scored two deflected goals so they had two pieces of luck or two strokes of luck.

Rich: A deflected goal or a deflection is when a shot hits a defender and goes into the net.

Jack: Yes, you could say they were lucky goals but if a team is going to win the Premier League they need to have a bit of luck sometimes.

Rich: Yes, we were a bit luck but Liverpool attacked a lot so I sometimes think you create your own luck.

Jack: That’s true. Another phrase is to try your luck which in football English means to have a shot when you are not certain to score. 

Rich: Xherdan Shaqiri tried his luck twice and got two goals.

Jack: Burnley were the opposite of Liverpool - they were unlucky. They were out of luck - they had no luck.

Rich: Yes, to concede an injury-time goal is definitely unlucky. Jack said it was tough luck on Burnley.

Jack: Tough luck is a very interesting idiom. It can be used to express sympathy. We used it like this. I said it was tough luck on Burnley. I was sorry for Burnley. I had sympathy for them conceding an injury-time goal.

Rich: But, it can be used in the exact opposite way to show no sympathy or a lack of sympathy. 

Jack: You don’t have enough money to buy that Ferrari? Tough luck! My heart bleeds for you.

Rich: Some people have no sympathy.

Jack: Have a think about these phrases which use ‘luck’ and see if you can use any of them in the comments section.

Football Awards

Rich: Right, every week, we give out three Matchweek awards. 

Jack: The awards are Player of the Week, Team of the Week and Goal of the Week.

Rich: In the comments section, you need to tell us if you agree with our choices.

Jack: Let’s start with Player of the Week. There were some good performances in the Premier League last weekend. Xherdan Shaqiri for Liverpool, Gabriel Jesus for City, Gerard Deulofeu for Watford …

Rich: But, our Player of the Week is Southampton's Danny Ings. The on loan-Liverpool striker scored twice to help Southampton end Arsenal’s 22-match unbeaten run and give Southampton their first home win of the season.

Jack: What about our Team of the Week? There were good wins for Manchester City, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Southampton and Tottenham, Watford< Wolves and West Ham …

Rich: But our Team of the Week is Liverpool. It was Liverpool’s first Premier League win against Manchester United since 2014.

Jack: Finally, our Goal of the Week. Luke Milivojivic scored a cracker for Crystal Palace but Watford’s Vicarage Road Stadium was the place for great goals last weekend.

Rich: All three of Watford’s goals were stunners but we think the pick of the bunch was Domingos Quina’s curler. The Portuguese midfielder also became Watford’s youngest ever Premier League scorer at the same time. He’s just nineteen.

Matchweek Prediction 

Jack: Every week, Rich predicts the result of one Premier League match and we want you to make your prediction, too.

Rich: Most of you made predicted a Liverpool win against Manchester United which was good to see. 

Jack: Let’s see how you all do this week. What match are you looking at, Rich?

Rich: I’m going to predict the match between Everton and Tottenham. It’s a match that Spurs have to win if they want to stay in the race for the title. Everton are in eighth place the and having a good season so it’s a difficult place to go to. However, Tottenham are in good form and if they can go to Barcelona and get a good result they can get a good result at Everton, too. I think Spurs will win. Final score: Everton 2-1 Tottenham.

Jack: I think we might see a surprise here. I’m going for a 1-0 win to the blue side of Liverpool.

Rich: We will see. Make your predictions on the page below. You get one point if you predict the right result and three points if you predict the right score.

Jack: Right, that’s all we have time for. I hope you have enjoyed this football round-up. Join the discussion at the bottom of the page. 

Rich: Bye for now and enjoy your football.

Results

Matchweek 17:

Manchester City 3-1 Everton

Crystal Palace 1-0 Leicester City

Huddersfield Town 0-1 Newcastle Utd

Tottenham 1-0 Burnley

Watford 3-2 Cardiff City 

Wolves 2-0 Bournemouth

Fulham 0-2 West Ham

Southampton 3-2 Arsenal

Brighton 1-2 Chelsea

Liverpool 3-1 Manchester Utd

Gabriel Jesus scored twice in Manchester City's 3-1 win against Everton.

Vocabulary Alert

Football English

We looked at six phrases which use the word luck in this episode. Take a look at the phrases in bold. Do you undertand what they mean?

Liverpool needed a bit of luck and it arrived when Xherdan Shaqiri twice tried his luck and scored two deflected goals.

The first goal came off Ashley Young and the second stroke of luck arrived when the ball came off Eric Bailly.

Despite these pieces of good luck, it was a deserved win for the league leaders.

Tottenham Hotspur scored an injury-time winner against an out of luck Burnley team.

It was tough luck on Burnley who worked very hard in defence. 

Can you use the words in bold in a different sentence? Write a sentence at the bottom of the page. If you're not sure, listen to the audio for more explanations and examples.

Xherdan Shaqiri's first goal CAME OFF Manchester Utd defender, Ashley Young. It was a DEFLECTION or a DEFLECTED goal.

Matchweek Awards

Do you agree with our choices?

Player of the Week: Danny Ings (Southampton)

Danny Ings scored twice as Southampton ended Arsenal's 22-match unbeaten run.

Team of the Week: Liverpool

Liverpool beat Manchester United in the Premier League for the first time since 2014.

Goal of the Week: Domingos Quina (Watford)

Watford scored three great goals in their 3-2 win against Cardiff and we thought Domingos Quina's strike was the pick of the bunch.

The Big Match

Everton v Tottenham Hotspur

Rich's prediction for Matchweek eighteen is the match between Everton and Spurs. Rich has predicted a 2-1 win for Tottenham while Jack thinks Everton will win 1-0.

What is your prediction? Have a listen to what Rich and Jack say and then enter our prediction competition below. You get one point for the correct result and three points for predicting the exact score.

Where are you in our prediction league?

Who will be our Premier League Prediction Champion?

Form

Premier League Prediction: Everton v Tottenham

Use this form to make your prediction. You can only make one prediction so take care! When you have made your predictions, the form will vanish.

You need to be logged in to make your prediction!

Check out the league table for our prediction competition. What position are you in?

See results table

Burnley were OUT OF LUCK against Tottenham as Christian Eriksen scored an injury-time winner.

Four Questions

What do you think?

Jack and Rich have spoken about Matchweek 17 in the Premier League. Now it's your turn! Have a look at the questions and write your answers in the comments section below.

  1. Rich and Jack chose Danny Ings of Southampton as Player of the Week. Do you agree? 
  2. Jack and Rich selected Liverpool as their Team of the Week. Do you agree?
  3. Rich picked Domingos Quina's goal for Watford as Goal of the Week? Did you see it? Do you agree?
  4. Use this week's vocabulary: What's the luckiest goal that you can remember? Do you think some teams get more pieces of luck than others? 

Don't forget to make your prediction for this week's Big Match!

Let's get the conversation started and create a community!

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Komentar

hsn's picture
hsn
13/02/2022
TR
5525
points

Phrases
• The exporters have sent on samples to search possibility of new buyers.
• I'm always out of luck, I've missed out discount of the electronics. But campaign's been extended for two days and I bought a notebook. I have a piece of luck.
• Why do not try your luck! You should attend job interview.
• We should have sympathy for the people who suffer from oppression, persecution,immigration, discrimination and poverty.
• Voters have right to know what is happening behind closed doors. Therefore all the info should be given out to the public by politicians.


hsn's picture
hsn
13/02/2022 17:30
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5525

Phrases
• The exporters have sent on samples to search possibility of new buyers.
• I'm always out of luck, I've missed out discount of the electronics. But campaign's been extended for two days and I bought a notebook. I have a piece of luck.
• Why do not try your luck! You should attend job interview.
• We should have sympathy for the people who suffer from oppression, persecution,immigration, discrimination and poverty.
• Voters have right to know what is happening behind closed doors. Therefore all the info should be given out to the public by politicians.

Toha_23's picture
Toha_23
21/12/2018
UA
298
points

My team of the week is Tottenham. Firstly, they had an overarching challenge – an away game against Barcelona. But what a tough luck on Son Heung-min that night! Anyway, «spurs» demonstrated its nature, Lucas Moura tried his luck a few times and has been rewarded in 85 min. Secondly, in a 3 days The Lilywhites hosted Burnley, and btw, it was a third game during 7 days! This game showed us a Pochettino’s talent of substitutions. Lorente was able to get a header in struggle with two defenders… and in a Fergie Time Eriksen scored so important goal. I don't want the repetition last year's situation, when the winner of PL title had been already defined in autumn. So Spurs in title race!
Definitely, best goals this tour were scored on Vicarage Road. But I prefer Hoilett’s.
Big Shaq aka Xherdan Shaqiri is a player of the week because, firstly, his goals keep the intrigue in battle for the championship, and secondly…

P.S.
And secondly… his goals brought the guidance of Man.Utd out of a coma. Being a fan of Leicester City, I’m proud the courage of «red devils» chairman. He dared on the complicated decision. Despite the loss of big sum of money, he stopped mockery over the team. Hope this example inspire the guidance of the «foxes».


Toha_23's picture
Toha_23
21/12/2018 21:57
Ukraine
Leicester City
298

My team of the week is Tottenham. Firstly, they had an overarching challenge – an away game against Barcelona. But what a tough luck on Son Heung-min that night! Anyway, «spurs» demonstrated its nature, Lucas Moura tried his luck a few times and has been rewarded in 85 min. Secondly, in a 3 days The Lilywhites hosted Burnley, and btw, it was a third game during 7 days! This game showed us a Pochettino’s talent of substitutions. Lorente was able to get a header in struggle with two defenders… and in a Fergie Time Eriksen scored so important goal. I don't want the repetition last year's situation, when the winner of PL title had been already defined in autumn. So Spurs in title race!
Definitely, best goals this tour were scored on Vicarage Road. But I prefer Hoilett’s.
Big Shaq aka Xherdan Shaqiri is a player of the week because, firstly, his goals keep the intrigue in battle for the championship, and secondly…

P.S.
And secondly… his goals brought the guidance of Man.Utd out of a coma. Being a fan of Leicester City, I’m proud the courage of «red devils» chairman. He dared on the complicated decision. Despite the loss of big sum of money, he stopped mockery over the team. Hope this example inspire the guidance of the «foxes».

elghoul's picture
elghoul
21/12/2018
DZ
3988
points

Danny Ings as a classic striker was brilliant against the gunners, two goals and a win for Southampton.

Liverpool were good, they put Mourinho in a hot sit.

Happy to know that a young striker had his piece of luck this week so congratulations to Domingos Quina.

 


elghoul's picture
elghoul
21/12/2018 17:14
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

Danny Ings as a classic striker was brilliant against the gunners, two goals and a win for Southampton.

Liverpool were good, they put Mourinho in a hot sit.

Happy to know that a young striker had his piece of luck this week so congratulations to Domingos Quina.

 

Toha_23's picture
Toha_23
22/12/2018
UA
298
points

Interesting phrase "put ... in a hot sit"! Mr Elghoul, what does it mean?


Toha_23's picture
Toha_23
22/12/2018 06:37
Ukraine
Leicester City
298

Interesting phrase "put ... in a hot sit"! Mr Elghoul, what does it mean?

elghoul's picture
elghoul
25/12/2018
DZ
3988
points

What I wanted to say is that Morenho would not stay as Man United manager for too long.


elghoul's picture
elghoul
25/12/2018 14:26
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

What I wanted to say is that Morenho would not stay as Man United manager for too long.

Rafael Robson's picture
Rafael Robson
21/12/2018
BR
615
points

Your choices are really good, but I would've chosen Gabriel Jesus as Player of the Week and the Watford second goal, scored by Cholevas, as the Goal of the Week.

Indeed Liverpool is having several pieces of luck this season. The luckiest goal was that scored by Origi, when he scored an injury-time winner against Everton. Anyway, champions are used to be very lucky.


Rafael Robson's picture
Rafael Robson
21/12/2018 02:11
Brazil
Tottenham Hotspur
615

Your choices are really good, but I would've chosen Gabriel Jesus as Player of the Week and the Watford second goal, scored by Cholevas, as the Goal of the Week.

Indeed Liverpool is having several pieces of luck this season. The luckiest goal was that scored by Origi, when he scored an injury-time winner against Everton. Anyway, champions are used to be very lucky.

Khaldoun83's picture
Khaldoun83
19/12/2018
DZ
325
points

-I totally agree with your choices.

- I believe that the luck will not stand in your side if you don't work hard. However, Manchester United's equilazer and wining goals against Bayer Muchen in the final of Champions league in 1999 was a stroke of luck.


Khaldoun83's picture
Khaldoun83
19/12/2018 14:17
Algeria
Liverpool
325

-I totally agree with your choices.

- I believe that the luck will not stand in your side if you don't work hard. However, Manchester United's equilazer and wining goals against Bayer Muchen in the final of Champions league in 1999 was a stroke of luck.

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1mobeckham6510
2Alex_from_Ukraine6278
3hsn5525
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4768
6Liubomyr4408
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia71478
2Ukraine33300
3Spain28277
4Serbia27289
5Brazil23896
6Albania20578
7Vietnam19939
8Turkey19810
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United141846
2Liverpool110282
3Chelsea88559
4Arsenal85669
5Manchester City56951
6Tottenham Hotspur19169
7Newcastle United10457
8West Ham United7454
9AFC Bournemouth4454
10Crystal Palace4240

Level

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Goals

Improve your football English.

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