Matchweek 12: A Thunderbolt
Matchweek 12: A Thunderbolt
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, Rich and Jack talk about the latest action from the Premier League and have lots of football English for you to learn.
Transcript
Introduction
Jack: Hello my name’s Jack and welcome to our weekly round-up section called ‘This Week’ on Premier Skills English.
Rich: Hi there. I’m 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 our round-up of Matchweek twelve with our headlines.
Headlines
Jack: The Reds look unstoppable at the top.
Rich: Liverpool were convincing winners in their top of the table clash against Manchester City. A thunderbolt from Fabinho gave the Reds an early lead and Mohamed Salah’s header made it 2-0 following a quick counter-attack. Sadio Mane scored at the beginning of the second half to make the game safe despite a late Manchester City onslaught and a fine consolation goal from Bernardo Silva.
Jack: Foxes up to second.
Rich: Leicester City moved up to second place in the Premier League after two second-half goals gave them victory at home to Arsenal. Jamie Vardy broke the deadlock after 68 minutes with his 11th of the season. The Premier League’s top scorer turned provider in the 75th minute when he set up James Maddison for goal number two.
Jack: Chelsea make it six out of six.
Rich: Chelsea won for the sixth time in a row for the first time since winning the title in 2016/17. Tammy Abraham made the breakthrough against Crystal Palace with his 10th of the season and Christian Pulisic made it two with a header a few minutes later. Chelsea are up to third and flying under the management of Frank Lampard.
Jack: There were also good wins for Burnley, Newcastle, Everton, Wolves and Manchester United and a big well done to Watford who got their first win of the season and moved off the bottom of the Premier League table.
Rich: What about Liverpool hey? Eight points clear of second, nine points clear of City. Could this be the season they finally win the Premier League?
Jack: It’s looking good but I don’t think they’ll be counting their chickens just yet.
Rich: What a great phrase - counting your chickens. I think you’ll have to explain that one.
Jack: It means to think about something that hasn’t happened yet as certain to happen. So, Liverpool are not celebrating yet because there is still a long way to go in the season.
Rich: The full phrase is actually counted your chickens before they’re hatched. See if you can get that English phrase into a conversation with friends or in our comments section at the bottom of the page!
Vocabulary alert!
Jack: In our vocabulary alert, we look at some football English that we used in the headlines.
Rich: Our six words and phrases this week are: a thunderbolt, a counter-attack, to break the deadlock, to set up, in a row and to make the breakthrough.
Jack: Let’s start with the phrases we used to talk about the Liverpool - Manchester City match. We said that Fabinho scored with a thunderbolt.
Rich: A thunderbolt is a flash of lightning that comes down from the sky and hits something when there is a storm.
Jack: A thunderbolt is very powerful so we use the word to describe a very powerful shot - usually from outside the penalty area.
Rich: The next phrase is a counter-attack. We use this to describe a team that was defending and then attacks very quickly. We can use it as a noun or a verb.
Jack: Liverpool counter-attacked quickly and Mohamed Salah scored or Mohamed scored following a quick counter-attack.
Rich: Our next two phrases come from the Leicester City - Arsenal match. We said Jamie Vardy broke the deadlock. To break the deadlock is used to describe the player or team that scores after two teams have been level for a long time.
Jack: The phrase is often used a lot in politics or business when two groups are trying to agree something that is very difficult to agree to.
Rich: The next phrase is to set up. This is a phrasal verb we use which means to provide an assist. Jamie Vardy set up James Maddison. Vardy passed the ball to Maddison who scored.
Jack: When we use a verb we usually say assist. The player has ten assists this season. We don’t usually use the verb ‘to assist’ when talking about football. We use ‘set up’ Vardy set up the goal for Maddison.
Rich: Our final two phrases come from the Chelsea - Crystal Palace match. The first is to make the breakthrough and this is very similar to break the deadlock which we’ve already looked at.
Jack: I suppose the main difference is that we use break the deadlock when two teams are playing at a similar level but we usually use make the breakthrough when one team has been attacking and the other defending for a long time.
Rich: Chelsea finally made the breakthrough in the second half or Chelsea finally broke through Palace’s defence.
Jack: Our final phrase this week is in a row. Chelsea have won six Premier League matches in a row. This means they have won six consecutive matches.
Rich: They haven’t lost or drawn in their last six matches - only won. Chelsea are doing very well at the moment.
Jack: OK, so there are our six words and phrases. Listen to this part of the podcast again if you are not sure how to use them.
Rich: The words and phrases are: a thunderbolt, a counter-attack, to break the deadlock, to set up, in a row and to make the breakthrough.
Football Awards
Jack: Right, every week, we give out three Matchweek awards.
Rich: The awards are Player of the Week, Team of the Week and Goal of the Week.
Jack: In the comments section, you need to tell us if you agree with our choices.
Rich: Let’s start with Player of the Week. Jamie Vardy got another goal and an assist for Leicester, Marcus Rashford was superb for Manchester United and Mateo Kovacic was brilliant for Chelsea.
Jack: But our Player of the Week is Liverpool’s Fabinho. The award is not just for his thunderbolt in the sixth minute but his all-round midfield display.
Rich: Now Team of the Week. Manchester United had their best win of the season according to Ole Gunnar SOlskjaer, Chelsea have won six, Liverpool were brilliant and Burnley has the biggest win of the weekend.
Jack: But our Team of the Week is Watford who finally got their first win of the season at the twelfth time of asking.
Rich: Finally, our Goal of the Week. We’re going to leave this one to you. We’re going to give you three options and you need to tell us which you think was best.
Jack: Goal number one: Fabinho for Liverpool against Manchester City. A thunderbolt from outside the box to set Liverpool on their way.
Rich: Goal number two: Mohamed Salah for Liverpool v Manchester City. A fast counter-attack, a great cross from Robertson and a nice header from Salah.
Jack: Goal number three: Ruben Neves for Wolves versus Aston Villa. A clever free-kick from Joao Moutinho allowed Neves to hit a sweet strike into the bottom corner and help Wolves win the West Midlands Derby.
Rich: OK. Those are our three options. Did you see them? Which do you think was the best? Let us know your choice and if you agree with our other weekly awards in our comments section on the Premier Skills English website.
Matchweek Prediction
Jack: Every week, Rich predicts the result of one Premier League match and we want you to make your prediction, too.
Rich: Last week I went for a draw between Liverpool and City but I’m not too unhappy.
Jack: I bet you’re not. There is an international break this weekend so your next prediction for Matchweek 13, is in two weeks’ time.
Rich: That’s right. Matchweek thirteen’s big match is Manchester City against Chelsea. City have fallen down to fourth place after defeat against Liverpool and Chelsea are up to third after winning six matches in a row. A trip to the Etihad, however, is a true test of this Chelsea team and Frank Lampard’s managerial credentials. Chelsea will be adventurous as they have been all season so I see goals in this one but I think City will be hurt after losing to Liverpool and will win this one. Final score: Manchester City 3-2 Chelsea.
Jack: Should be a good game this one. I’d like to see a four-all draw.
Rich: Let us know in the comments section what you think the score will be.
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 on the Premier Skills English website.
Rich: If you listen to us on Apple Podcasts, don’t forget to leave us a review. We’d love to hear from you.
Jack: Bye for now and enjoy your football.
Results
Matchweek 12:
Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace
Newcastle Utd 2-1 Bournemouth
Burnley 3-0 West Ham
Norwich City 0-2 Watford
Southampton 1-2 Everton
Wolves 2-1 Aston Villa
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Sheffield Utd
Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City
Leicester City 2-0 Arsenal
Manchester Utd 3-1 Brighton
Headlines
Fab Reds look unstoppable at the top
Liverpool were convincing winners in their top of the table clash against Manchester City. A thunderbolt from Fabinho gave the Reds an early lead and Mohamed Salah’s header made it 2-0 following a quick counter-attack. Sadio Mane scored at the beginning of the second half to make the game safe despite a late Manchester City onslaught and a fine consolation goal from Bernardo Silva.
Headlines
Foxes up to second
Leicester City moved up to second place in the Premier League after two second-half goals gave them victory at home to Arsenal. Jamie Vardy broke the deadlock after 68 minutes with his 11th of the season. The Premier League’s top scorer turned provider in the 75th minute when he set up James Maddison for goal number two.
Headlines
Chelsea make it six out of six
Chelsea won for the sixth time in a row for the first time since winning the title in 2016/17. Tammy Abraham made the breakthrough against Crystal Palace with his 10th of the season and Christian Pulisic made it two with a header a few minutes later. Chelsea are up to third and flying under the management of Frank Lampard.
Vocabulary Alert
Football English
We looked at six pieces of football English that you can learn to improve your English. Take a look at the phrases in bold. Do you understand what they mean?
A thunderbolt from Fabinho gave the Reds an early lead. A thunderbolt is a flash of lightning and is very powerful so we use the word to describe a very powerful shot
Mohamed Salah’s header made it 2-0 following a quick counter-attack. We use counter-attack to describe the action of a team that was defending and then attacks very quickly.
Jamie Vardy broke the deadlock after 68 minutes. To break the deadlock is used to describe a goal after two teams have been level for a long time.
Vardy set up James Maddison for goal number two. This is a phrasal verb we use which means to provide an assist.
Chelsea won for the sixth time in a row. This means they have won six consecutive matches.
Tammy Abraham made the breakthrough against Crystal Palace. This phrase means to score after trying to score for a long time.
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.
Matchweek Awards
Do you agree with our choices?
Player of the Week: Fabinho (Liverpool)
Team of the Week: Watford
Goal of the Week: Look at the three options from Matchweek 12 and let us know which goal was best in the comments section!
Goal 1
Fabinho for Liverpool against Manchester City.
Goal 2
Mohamed Salah for Liverpool against Manchester City.
Goal 3
Ruben Neves for Wolves v Aston Villa.
The Big Match
Manchester City v Chelsea
The big match this weekend is Manchester City v Chelsea. Will Chelsea carry on winning? Will City bounce back from defeat at Anfield?
What are your predictions? Have a listen to what Rich says and then make your prediction and talk about any of next weekend's matches below.
Football Chat
What do you think?
Jack and Rich have spoken about Matchweek 12 in the Premier League. Now it's your turn! Have a look at the questions and write your answers in the comments section below.
- Rich and Jack chose Liverpool's Fabinho as Player of the Week. Do you agree?
- Jack and Rich selected Watford as their Team of the Week. Do you agree?
- Rich and Jack picked three goals for the Goal of the Week award? Did you see them? Which do you think was best?
- Use this week's vocabulary: Do you prefer to watch teams who play on the counter-attack or teams who play for possession?
- Can you use 'a thunderbolt', 'to break the deadlock' or 'in a row' in a sentence?
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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Comments
14/12/2021
points
What do you think?
4. I prefer to watch the game included lots of counter-attack positions. Spectacular.
5.
• The synonym word of deadlock is Gordian knot.
• The company broke through trade barriers by exporting goods via third party countries.
Phrase
• Because of possible explosion, after an accident it's better immediately to move off from the dangerous zone.
Note
• In my language, love at first sight is called thunderbold love-:)
14/12/2021 17:13
Tottenham Hotspur
5558
What do you think?
4. I prefer to watch the game included lots of counter-attack positions. Spectacular.
5.
• The synonym word of deadlock is Gordian knot.
• The company broke through trade barriers by exporting goods via third party countries.
Phrase
• Because of possible explosion, after an accident it's better immediately to move off from the dangerous zone.
Note
• In my language, love at first sight is called thunderbold love-:)
22/11/2019
points
1-I agree withe you, Fabinho scored such a beautiful goal this weekend.
2-I do not agree with you saying that Wolves are Team of the Week because I believe Liverpool had a successful victory against Manchester City.
3-I think Fabinho's thunderbolt is the best goal of the week.
4-Well, I prefer teams like Ppe Guardiola who have the possession of the match because that means that you have the ball, and you have it, you can lead the match.
5- Chelsea has won six victorys in a row. Wow! What a thunderbolt from Fbinho! That's amazing from the Brazilian player!
The result was 0-0 but Delle Alli broke the deadlock.
22/11/2019 18:32
Arsenal
32
1-I agree withe you, Fabinho scored such a beautiful goal this weekend.
2-I do not agree with you saying that Wolves are Team of the Week because I believe Liverpool had a successful victory against Manchester City.
3-I think Fabinho's thunderbolt is the best goal of the week.
4-Well, I prefer teams like Ppe Guardiola who have the possession of the match because that means that you have the ball, and you have it, you can lead the match.
5- Chelsea has won six victorys in a row. Wow! What a thunderbolt from Fbinho! That's amazing from the Brazilian player!
The result was 0-0 but Delle Alli broke the deadlock.
12/11/2019
points
1- I think that selecting Watford as a team of the week is not appropreate because Liverpool was more than convincing this Weekend, Urgen Klop's players delivered a wonderful game, and the goal of their midelfield Fabinho was the best in this week.
2- Predictions.
Manchester City 3 - 0 Chelsea.
12/11/2019 19:33
Liverpool
325
1- I think that selecting Watford as a team of the week is not appropreate because Liverpool was more than convincing this Weekend, Urgen Klop's players delivered a wonderful game, and the goal of their midelfield Fabinho was the best in this week.
2- Predictions.
Manchester City 3 - 0 Chelsea.
12/11/2019
points
Prediction City 2 Chelsea 2
12/11/2019 13:33
Manchester City
3988
Prediction City 2 Chelsea 2
12/11/2019
points
1. Fabinho best player this twelfthweek , I agree completely noticing his happy spirit after his thunderbolt and his run from his own defence to the adverse box. It was definitely not the sick spirited Guardiola.
2. I'll also go for Watford as team of the week.
3. Neves's goal was the best of course from what I have seen on highlights.
4. I am now really convinced that Mahrez is better with teams that play counter-attacks like Leicester than with teams that play possession in a very static rythm like Guadiola's City which keeps Mahrez receving ball in static position back to the goal keeper and in the extrem wing.
5. We can't say that there was a deadlock to break when Fabinho
kept the ball out of the box from one City center back mistaken clearoff and fires a thunderbolt. Reds were already in their twelfth win in a row.
12/11/2019 13:32
Manchester City
3988
1. Fabinho best player this twelfthweek , I agree completely noticing his happy spirit after his thunderbolt and his run from his own defence to the adverse box. It was definitely not the sick spirited Guardiola.
2. I'll also go for Watford as team of the week.
3. Neves's goal was the best of course from what I have seen on highlights.
4. I am now really convinced that Mahrez is better with teams that play counter-attacks like Leicester than with teams that play possession in a very static rythm like Guadiola's City which keeps Mahrez receving ball in static position back to the goal keeper and in the extrem wing.
5. We can't say that there was a deadlock to break when Fabinho
kept the ball out of the box from one City center back mistaken clearoff and fires a thunderbolt. Reds were already in their twelfth win in a row.
12/11/2019
points
Matchweek 12 Predication
The high profile fixture between Man City and Chelsea won't be an easy walk in the park for both teams. Chelsea want to keep swimming and remain in top three while wounded City want to turn tables.
This match is highly likely to produce a stalemate, possibly a 2-all draw.
12/11/2019 08:36
Chelsea
1749
Matchweek 12 Predication
The high profile fixture between Man City and Chelsea won't be an easy walk in the park for both teams. Chelsea want to keep swimming and remain in top three while wounded City want to turn tables.
This match is highly likely to produce a stalemate, possibly a 2-all draw.
11/11/2019
points
Manchester City 2 : 2 Chelsea
11/11/2019 22:22
Liverpool
6578
Manchester City 2 : 2 Chelsea
11/11/2019
points
Player of the Week is, of course, Fabinho from Liverpool.
11/11/2019 22:19
Liverpool
6578
Player of the Week is, of course, Fabinho from Liverpool.
11/11/2019
points
A fantastic, fabulous and most important Goal of the Week is definitely the stunner "constructed" by Henderson (he made a perfect long cross) and Mane (he performed a precise and timely bullet header). This Liverpool pair made five ! ManCity players fools in just a moment. Just look at the video of the goal. It was a wonderful clockwork.
11/11/2019 22:18
Liverpool
6578
A fantastic, fabulous and most important Goal of the Week is definitely the stunner "constructed" by Henderson (he made a perfect long cross) and Mane (he performed a precise and timely bullet header). This Liverpool pair made five ! ManCity players fools in just a moment. Just look at the video of the goal. It was a wonderful clockwork.