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Ilkay Gundogan scores for Manchester City.

Matchweek 12 - Never in doubt

Matchweek 12 - Never in doubt

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 new 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. That’s right. We’re going to discuss all the latest football action from last weekend in the Premier League.
 
Rich: And not only that, we’ve also got lots of interesting words and phrases to help you talk about football in English.

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

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

Jack: Let’s start with this week’s headlines!

Headlines

Rich: Derby Day Delight for City.

Jack: City came out on top in the Manchester Derby. City won 3-1 and the result never looked in doubt from when David Silva gave the home side a first-half lead. Sergio Aguero added a second, Marcus Rashford pulled a goal back from the penalty spot but City finished off United when Ilkay Gundogan scored a wonderful team goal.

Rich: Liverpool keep up the chase.

Jack: Liverpool beat Fulham 2-0 and are still just two points behind City at the top of the table. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring just before half-time and Xherdan Shaqiri put the result beyond doubt in the second half.

Rich: Chelsea and Arsenal held at home.

Jack: Chelsea were held to a goalless draw by Everton and Arsenal needed a late equaliser to earn a point against Wolves. These results must raise doubts about their chances of fighting for the title this season.

Rich: What about that City goal. There were 44 passes before they scored. Brilliant.

Jack: Yes, without a shadow of a doubt one of the best goals this season and definitely the best team goal.

Rich: No doubt we’ll be seeing it replayed many, many times this week.

Vocabulary alert!

Rich: In our vocabulary alert, we look at some football English that we used in this week’s headlines.

Jack: The six words and phrases this week are: doubtful, in doubt, raise doubts, beyond doubt, no doubt and without a shadow of a doubt.

Rich: Let’s start with the word doubtful. The word is usually used in football to mean not sure or uncertain and is usually used to talk about injuries and the chances of playing the next match.

Jack: Before the Manchester Derby, Jose Mourinho said Paul Pogba was doubtful or was a major doubt. This means that it is unlikely he will play because he’s injured and only has a small chance to recover. In the end, he didn’t play.

Rich: The next phrase is in doubt. Again it means to be uncertain. If a football match is in doubt, it means the match is close and we don’t know who is going to win. 

Jack: But we said the result of the Manchester Derby never looked in doubt because we thought the opposite - that the match wasn't close.

Rich: Xherdan Shaqiri put the result beyond doubt.

Jack: Beyond doubt means to make something completely certain.

Rich: Chelsea and Arsenal’s home draws raised doubts about their ability to challenge for the title.

Jack: Here raise doubts means to make you have doubts or make you feel unsure about their chances.

Rich: The next phrase is no doubt. I said ‘No doubt we’ll be seeing that City goal again and again’. 

Jack: We use no doubt here to say that something is sure to happen.

Rich: We can also use without a doubt to give our opinion about something. That’s the best goal I’ve seen - without a doubt.

Jack: Or if you want to give a stronger opinion you can say what I said about the City goal - without a shadow of a doubt one of the best goals this season!

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. Raheem Sterling, Fernandinho and David Silva were all fantastic for City.

Rich: But we’re going to look outside of the City team and go for Newcastle’s Venezuelan striker, Salomon Rondon. He got two goals in Newcastle’s 2-1 win against Bournemouth.

Jack: Did you know that Newcastle used 14 players from 14 different countries in that game. I challenge anyone to get more than 10 without looking at Google!

Rich: Now, Team of the Week. Good wins for Liverpool, Spurs, Newcastle and Cardiff got a last minute winner.

Jack: But we’ve got to go for Manchester City. They were just too good for their city rivals. I reckon there ’ll be a few interesting conversations in the offices in Manchester this morning.

Rich: And finally, our Goal of the Week. It’s an easy one and we’ve already mentioned it but it was a brilliant goal. City’s third against Manchester Utd. It was scored by Ilkay Gundogan but it was all about the build-up - 44 passes.

Jack: United didn’t get near them!

Matchweek Prediction 

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

Rich: Lots of you made predictions last time and quite a few of you got it right.

Jack: And you’re claiming credit for this?

Rich: Yes, because they must have copied my prediction!

Jack: That’s doubtful! Anyway, well done to Lakerwang from China, Milos from Serbia Liubomyr from Ukraine and Elghoul from Algeria who along with Rich predicted a 3-1 win for Manchester City. 

Rich: There is an international break this weekend so my matchweek thirteen prediction will be played on the 25th of November.

Jack: And the match is …

Rich: Tottenham against Chelsea. A big London derby. It’s fourth against third and I think Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the season is under threat. Chelsea, of course, have had a great start under Maurizio Sarri, but Spurs are only one place and one point behind them. This is despite Spurs not playing that well. I think this might change in this game. Unlike previous matches between the two, I think this will be an open game with a lot of goals. I’m going to go for a 3-2 win to Spurs.

Jack; For once, Rich, I’m going to agree with you, but I don’t think they’ll be so many goals. 1-0 to Tottenham for me.

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 12:

Cardiff City 2-1 Brighton

Huddersfield 1-1 West Ham

Leicester City 0-0 Burnley

Newcastle 2-1 Bournemouth

Southampton 1-1 Watford

Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham

Liverpool 2-0 Fulham

Chelsea 0-0 Everton

Arsenal 1-1 Wolves

Manchester City 3-1 Manchester Utd

Mohamed Salah scored for Liverpool as the Reds stayed within two points of Manchester CIty.

Vocabulary Alert

Football English

We looked at phrases connected to the word doubt in this episode. Take a look at the words in bold. Do you undertand what they mean?

The result never looked in doubt from when David Silva gave the home side a first half lead.

Xherdan Shaqiri put the result beyond doubt in the second half.

Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best goals this season.

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.

Jordan Pickford and Everton kept out Eden Hazard and Chelsea at the weekend.

Matchweek Awards

Do you agree with our choices?

Player of the Week: Salomon Rondon (Newcastle United)

Salomon Rondon scored twice for Newcastle as they beat Bournemouth 2-1.

Team of the Week: Manchester City

Sergio Aguero was on target again as City beat their city rivals 3-1.

Goal of the Week: İlkay Gündoğan (Manchester City)

İlkay Gündoğan scored the third goal for City which came at the end of 44 passes for the City team. The most passes before a goal in the Premier League for over three years.

The Big Match

Tottenham v Chelsea

Rich's prediction for Matchweek thirteen is the London derby between Spurs and Chelsea. Rich has predicted a 3-2 win for Spurs while Jack has also gone for a Spurs 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: Tottenham v Chelsea

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

Four Questions

What do you think?

Jack and Rich have spoken about Matchweek 10 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 Salomon Rondon of Newcastle Utd as Player of the Week. Do you agree? 
  2. Jack and Rich chose Manchester City as their Team of the Week. Do you agree?
  3. Rich chose İlkay Gündoğan's goal for Manchester City as Goal of the Week? Did you see it? Do you agree?
  4. Use this week's vocabulary: Tell us something that is going to happen this season without a shadow of a doubt.

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

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

Leave a comment

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Comments

hsn's picture
hsn
16/12/2020
TR
5558
points

• It’s doubtful that the government could reach low level inflation target this year.
• This tennis competition is in doubt because each player have equal chance.
• It’s beyond doubt that transferring a very popular football star with a high cost of fee most of time causes conflicts among the players.
• Managers should take more responsibilites on arguments between staffs to prevent raising of doubts.
• No doubt, if I write more comments then I can improve my English skill. Without a doubt practise make perfect. Without a shadow of doubt learning a foreign language needs effort and being dedicated.


hsn's picture
hsn
16/12/2020 15:02
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5558

• It’s doubtful that the government could reach low level inflation target this year.
• This tennis competition is in doubt because each player have equal chance.
• It’s beyond doubt that transferring a very popular football star with a high cost of fee most of time causes conflicts among the players.
• Managers should take more responsibilites on arguments between staffs to prevent raising of doubts.
• No doubt, if I write more comments then I can improve my English skill. Without a doubt practise make perfect. Without a shadow of doubt learning a foreign language needs effort and being dedicated.

Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
23/11/2018
UA
4417
points

It seems that Matchweek 12 has not been taken into account in the results table of prediction competition. Please check.


Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
23/11/2018 12:50
Ukraine
Watford
4417

It seems that Matchweek 12 has not been taken into account in the results table of prediction competition. Please check.

admin's picture
admin
23/11/2018
GB
560
points

Wow - you are really observant. I'll update the results.

Thanks

Jack


admin's picture
admin
23/11/2018 14:15
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

Wow - you are really observant. I'll update the results.

Thanks

Jack

Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
29/11/2018
UA
4417
points

I'm sorry for being annoying, but it seems that nothing has changed.


Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
29/11/2018 14:10
Ukraine
Watford
4417

I'm sorry for being annoying, but it seems that nothing has changed.

admin's picture
admin
30/11/2018
GB
560
points

Ha Ha - I'm sorry

The tables are a little complicated. I have updated them now and you are in 2nd place with 9 points. 

Thanks

Jack


admin's picture
admin
30/11/2018 13:11
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

Ha Ha - I'm sorry

The tables are a little complicated. I have updated them now and you are in 2nd place with 9 points. 

Thanks

Jack

shin
21/11/2018
KR
1
points

Without a shadow of doubt, Manchester city is one of the best club in premier league. However, Liverpool has shown wonderful perfomance. So, Liverpool will win the premier league in this season


shin
21/11/2018 14:50
South Korea
Liverpool
1

Without a shadow of doubt, Manchester city is one of the best club in premier league. However, Liverpool has shown wonderful perfomance. So, Liverpool will win the premier league in this season

김재헌
21/11/2018
KR
1
points

I understand my test score without a shadow of doubt

He must be murder without a shadow of doubt

I love Patrick's class without a shadow of doubt

Without a shadow of doubt ManchesterCity will win the Champion's League


김재헌
21/11/2018 13:19
South Korea
Manchester City
1

I understand my test score without a shadow of doubt

He must be murder without a shadow of doubt

I love Patrick's class without a shadow of doubt

Without a shadow of doubt ManchesterCity will win the Champion's League

SuperGIGI
21/11/2018
KR
1
points

City is one of the powerful clubs in the world...without a doubt.


SuperGIGI
21/11/2018 10:05
South Korea
Chelsea
1

City is one of the powerful clubs in the world...without a doubt.

Khaldoun83's picture
Khaldoun83
20/11/2018
DZ
325
points

Without a shadow of a doubt the title of the premier league this sesason will go either to Manchester City or Liverpool, the two teams have delivered a wonderful performance so far. I'm a pretty doubtful about the ability of other teams to chase the leader in his rival.


Khaldoun83's picture
Khaldoun83
20/11/2018 14:14
Algeria
Liverpool
325

Without a shadow of a doubt the title of the premier league this sesason will go either to Manchester City or Liverpool, the two teams have delivered a wonderful performance so far. I'm a pretty doubtful about the ability of other teams to chase the leader in his rival.

Rafael Robson's picture
Rafael Robson
14/11/2018
BR
615
points

I agree with all your choices this week, but I have to admit that, before listening to the podcast, I would've chosen Everton's goalkeeper Pickford as the player of the week.

Without a shadow of a doubt, City is one of the contenders to win the Champions League this season!


Rafael Robson's picture
Rafael Robson
14/11/2018 11:16
Brazil
Tottenham Hotspur
615

I agree with all your choices this week, but I have to admit that, before listening to the podcast, I would've chosen Everton's goalkeeper Pickford as the player of the week.

Without a shadow of a doubt, City is one of the contenders to win the Champions League this season!

elghoul's picture
elghoul
13/11/2018
DZ
3988
points

Without a shadow of a doubt I agree on Salomon Rondon choice as the best player of the week.

I don't think anyone would ever put in doubt that City was the best team.

I saw all three City goals onlive. The substitute Gardogan finished this team goal brillantly.

Without a shadow of a doubt City will win the PL title this year.


elghoul's picture
elghoul
13/11/2018 12:14
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

Without a shadow of a doubt I agree on Salomon Rondon choice as the best player of the week.

I don't think anyone would ever put in doubt that City was the best team.

I saw all three City goals onlive. The substitute Gardogan finished this team goal brillantly.

Without a shadow of a doubt City will win the PL title this year.

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1Alex_from_Ukraine6578
2mobeckham6539
3hsn5558
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4779
6Liubomyr4417
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia74676
2Ukraine33870
3Spain29492
4Serbia27426
5Brazil23475
6Albania20578
7Vietnam20455
8Turkey20109
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United146932
2Liverpool111418
3Chelsea90252
4Arsenal86253
5Manchester City58861
6Tottenham Hotspur19474
7Newcastle United10626
8West Ham United7671
9AFC Bournemouth4915
10Crystal Palace4539

Level

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Goals

Improve your football English.

Practise your listening skills.

Make your prediction for next week's big Premier League match.