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Tom Davies hits the post for Everton against Liverpool.

This Week: Back in Action

This Week: Back in Action

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, Laura, Rich and Jack talk about the latest action from the Premier League 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

Laura: Hello my name’s Laura 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: And I’m Jack and we hope you are all staying well whether you are staying home or still going to work.

Laura: The Premier League is back and we’re back with more football English for you to learn.

Rich: We take a look at three headlines about the Premier League action from the past seven days 

Jack: Our main reason for choosing these headlines is so we can focus on some useful bits of vocabulary. 

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

Rich: And a little later we’ll also have a Premier League prediction for you. We want you to make your predictions, too.

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

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

Rich: Don’t forget that we also have our weekly Premier Skills English podcast that is released every Friday. Every week we help you with some different vocabulary or an aspect of grammar.

Jack: Our latest podcast is called Learning Vocabulary: Similarities and Differences.

Rich: There are three roleplays. Jack takes us to the seaside, Rowan goes back to her old school and I talk about the Premier League kickoff.

Laura: We look at lots of different words and phrases you can use to talk about similarities and differences. You can find the lesson on the homepage on the Premier Skills English website. 

Jack: You’re now going to hear our three headlines. After each headline, we’ll have a little discussion and look at some vocabulary. 

Rich: The words and phrases we are looking at this week are: stalemate, to edge closer, the stroke of half-time, a long-term injury, a reverse and hard to stomach.

Laura: After the headlines, we want you to make a Premier League prediction and we have a language challenge for you to have a go at.

Headline 1

Rich: Reds edge closer to Premier League title.

Jack: Everton and Liverpool played out a goalless draw in the 234th Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park. Everton’s Tom Davies came closest to ending the stalemate when his second-half strike came back off the post. The point earned edges Liverpool closer to the title; they need five more to be crowned Champions.

Laura: Goalless draws aren’t the most exciting of games but Liverpool are one point closer to the title.

Rich: Yes, it could be all over this week if Manchester City don’t win against Chelsea and Liverpool beat Palace.

Jack: Liverpool are one point closer; they are edging closer to the Premier League title. That’s what we said in the headline.

Laura: To edge means to move slowly and carefully in one direction. You might edge closer to the TV screen when you are watching something exciting 

Rich: Liverpool are edging towards the Premier League title.

Jack: We said that the Merseyside Derby finished in stalemate. 

Laura: The word stalemate comes from the game of chess. Stalemate is when a match finishes in a draw because neither player can win.

Rich: It is used more generally to describe a situation in a competition or negotiations where no side can win or neither side can make any progress. Let’s move on to our next headline.

Headline 2

Jack: Chelsea have Champions League places in sight.

Laura: Chelsea got off to winning restart with a 2-1 away at Aston Villa. The Blues fell behind on the stroke of half-time when Kortney Hause scored for the home team. However, goals from Christian Pulisic, back from a long-term injury, and Olivier Giroud gave Chelsea all three points. Chelsea are now five points clear of Manchester United in fifth. 

Rich: Good win that for Chelsea. It’s always good to come from behind to win. Villa are still in trouble near the bottom of the table.

Jack: It didn’t look bad for ViIla when they scored on the stroke of half-time. 

Laura: That’s a phrase we hear quite often when a goal is scored just before the half-time whistle maybe in the 44th or 45th minutes.

Rich: On the stroke of something means at an exact time. On New Year’s Eve, cities often set off fireworks on the stroke of midnight.

Jack: In football, we’re not so exact and we use the phrase to describe something happening just before half-time or full-time.

Laura: Christian Pulisic scored an excellent goal - good to see him back on the pitch.

Rich: Yes, he’s back from a long-term injury. It was a muscle tear of some kind I think.

Jack: Long-term means something that happens for a long period of time. Muscle injuries can often be long-term injuries which mean a player is out of action for a long time. Let’s move on to our next headline.

Headline 3

Laura: Arsenal defeated twice on Premier League return.

Rich: Arsenal have lost their first two matches after the restart, first going down 3-0 to Manchester City and then suffering a 2-1 reverse at Brighton. The Brighton defeat will be hard to stomach as they took the lead through a superb goal by Nicolas Pepe but Brighton came back first through Lewis Dunk and then an injury-time winner by Neil Maupay.

Jack: Not a good start for Arsenal. I half expected the reverse at Manchester City but not the reverse at Brighton. Very disappointing.

Laura: Yes, not a good restart for Arsenal. We spoke about the reverse at City and the reverse at Brighton.  A reverse is another way of saying defeat or loss.

Rich: Jack expected the reverse at Manchester City but said the reverse at Brighton was hard to stomach.

Jack: To stomach something means to be able to accept or watch something that is unpleasant or not very nice or something you don’t agree with.

Laura: We often hear the phrase hard to stomach from fans or football managers when something has happened on the pitch we disagree or more often when an opponent scores near the end of the game.

Rich: You think you are going to get a point - you’ve played quite well and then the other team score with the last kick of the game. It’s hard to stomach.

Jack: OK. We’ve looked at three stories and six bits of vocabulary in our headlines. The words and phrases we’ve looked at are: stalemate, to edge closer, the stroke of half-time, a long-term injury, a reverse and hard to stomach.

Laura: Have a listen to the headlines again and see if you understand the vocabulary we’ve looked at. 

Prediction

Rich: It’s time for our Premier League prediction.

Laura: You didn’t do so well last week.

Jack: Do you think you were too optimistic going for a Liverpool win?

Rich: Not really, we have only dropped seven points all season but I can wait a few days more.

Jack: We said we’re going to share the predictions so do you want to have a go Laura?

Laura: Sure. I’m going to predict the result of the Chelsea - Manchester City match on Thursday. Both teams have won their first games after the restart so not an easy one to predict. City looked very good when they beat Arsenal but this will be their first away match. City look certain to finish in the top four and Chelsea probably need the points more. There have not been many high-scoring games so far but I’m going to go for a 3-2 win for Chelsea.

Rich: That match is on Thursday and there are Premier League games most days and this weekend there are also the FA Cup quarter-finals so feel free to write your predictions for any of these matches in the comments section on the Premier Skills English website.

Language Challenge

Jack: To finish up the show we’ve got a quick language challenge connected to this week’s vocabulary.

Rich: We looked at the phrase hard to stomach. We said that the defeat against Brighton must have been hard to stomach for Arsenal fans.

Laura: We’ve got three more phrases or idioms that use the word stomach. Can you complete the sentences with the right word?

Jack: He’s never going to eat all that. His _______ are bigger than his stomach.

Rich:  I’m sure players get ________ in their stomach before a penalty shootout.

Laura: You need a ______ stomach to work as a nurse.

Jack: We want you to write the correct answers on the Premier Skills English website where we have some more questions and activities connected to this week’s show for you.

Rich: Or write your answer on Apple Podcasts if that’s where you listen to us. Just write the answers in the review section and say hi.

Laura: Before we finish we just wanted to say that we hope you found this lesson useful and we hope that all of you stay fit and healthy and enjoy the Premier League restart.

Jack: Bye for now and enjoy your football.

Headlines

Reds edge closer to Premier League title

There was a minute's silence at all Premier League matches for the victims of Covid-19.

Everton and Liverpool played out a goalless draw in the 234th Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park. Everton’s Tom Davies came closest to ending the stalemate when his second-half strike came back off the post. The point earned edges Liverpool closer to the title; they need five more to be crowned Champions.

Headlines

Chelsea have Champions League places in sight

Christian Pulisic scores for Chelsea against Aston Villa.

Chelsea got off to winning restart with a 2-1 away at Aston Villa. The Blues fell behind on the stroke of half-time when Kortney Hause scored for the home team. However, goals from Christian Pulisic, back from a long-term injury, and Olivier Giroud gave Chelsea all three points. Chelsea are now five points clear of Manchester United in fifth. 

Headlines

Arsenal disappoint on return to action

Neil Maupay gets the winner for Brighton against Arsenal.

Arsenal have lost their first two matches after the restart, first going down 3-0 to Manchester City and then suffering a 2-1 reverse at Brighton. The Brighton defeat will be hard to stomach as they took the lead through a superb goal by Nicolas Pepe but Brighton came back first through Lewis Dunk and then an injury-time winner by Neil Maupay.

Vocabulary Alert

Language in the headlines

Tottenham and Manchester United drew one all in their first game back.

We looked at six words and phrases in our headlines that you can learn to improve your English. Take a look at the phrases in bold. Do you understand what they mean?

Everton’s Tom Davies came closest to ending the stalemate.

The point earned edges Liverpool closer to the title.

The Blues fell behind on the stroke of half-time.

Goals from Christian Pulisic, back from a long-term injury, and Olivier Giroud gave Chelsea all three points.

Arsenal suffered a 2-1 reverse at Brighton.

The Brighton defeat will be hard to stomach as they took the lead through a superb goal by Nicolas Pepe.

Prediction

Premier League Prediction

Chelsea are in action against Manchester City on Thursday.

Laura has our Premier League Prediction this week. She spoke about Chelsea v Manchester City on Thursday.

Laura thinks Chelsea will win. Who do you think will win? 

Vocabulary

Language Challenge

All Premier League players and officials took a knee to support the Black Lives Matter movement before kick off.

Jack, Rich and Laura set you a language challenge. Arsenal fans might have found the reverse at Brighton difficult to stomach Can you complete the phrases using stomach with the correct word?

He’s never going to eat all that. His _______ are bigger than his stomach.

I’m sure players get ________ in their stomach before a penalty shootout.

You need a ______ stomach to work as a nurse.

Write the correct answer in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Discuss

Talk about the headlines

Did you watch any Premier League football last week?

Jack, Laura and Rich looked at three stories in the news and some vocabulary that might be new to you. Now it's your turn! Have a look at the questions and write your answers in the comments section below.

  1. When is a reverse particularly hard to stomach?
  2. Is it difficult to come back from a long-term injury?
  3. Did you watch any football last week? Which matches did you watch?
  4. Laura has predicted a final score of Chelsea 3-2 Manchester City. What's your prediction?
  5. Can you do our language challenge?

Write your comments and answers in the section below.

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Comments

hsn's picture
hsn
29/04/2021
TR
5560
points

DISCUSS;
1. When a reverse happened at a match with an underdog team.
2. Of course. To be adapted to the game again is main issue.
3. ----
4. ----
5. Can you do our language challenge?

He’s never going to eat all that. His EYES are bigger than his stomach. (We have a proverb like this, it says; “Before stomach, fill your eyes”

I’m sure players get BUTTERFLIES in their stomach before a penalty shootout.

You need a STRONG stomach to work as a nurse.

PHRASES;

• The negotiations were edging closer to a good solution but as a result of one party's attitude it came to be stalemate.

• On the stroke of midday, suddenly everywhere became dark due to sandstorm.


hsn's picture
hsn
29/04/2021 12:15
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5560

DISCUSS;
1. When a reverse happened at a match with an underdog team.
2. Of course. To be adapted to the game again is main issue.
3. ----
4. ----
5. Can you do our language challenge?

He’s never going to eat all that. His EYES are bigger than his stomach. (We have a proverb like this, it says; “Before stomach, fill your eyes”

I’m sure players get BUTTERFLIES in their stomach before a penalty shootout.

You need a STRONG stomach to work as a nurse.

PHRASES;

• The negotiations were edging closer to a good solution but as a result of one party's attitude it came to be stalemate.

• On the stroke of midday, suddenly everywhere became dark due to sandstorm.

Gulmira Kenzhik's picture
Gulmira Kenzhik
29/06/2020
KZ
63
points

Greetings from Kazakhstan!
There are answers for this week's language challenge:
He’s never going to eat all that. His **** are bigger than his stomach.
I’m sure players get *********** in their stomachs before a penalty shootout.
You need a ****** stomach to work as a nurse.


Gulmira Kenzhik's picture
Gulmira Kenzhik
29/06/2020 11:31
Kazakhstan
Arsenal
63

Greetings from Kazakhstan!
There are answers for this week's language challenge:
He’s never going to eat all that. His **** are bigger than his stomach.
I’m sure players get *********** in their stomachs before a penalty shootout.
You need a ****** stomach to work as a nurse.

MAYU's picture
MAYU
28/06/2020
JP
37
points

Hi,everyone! This is my first comment!
My answer to the language challenge is this.

He’s never going to eat all that. His **** are bigger than his stomach.
I’m sure players get ********** in their stomach before a penalty shootout.
You need a ****** stomach to work as a nurse.

Thank you for all the fun podcasts!


MAYU's picture
MAYU
28/06/2020 03:40
Japan
Liverpool
37

Hi,everyone! This is my first comment!
My answer to the language challenge is this.

He’s never going to eat all that. His **** are bigger than his stomach.
I’m sure players get ********** in their stomach before a penalty shootout.
You need a ****** stomach to work as a nurse.

Thank you for all the fun podcasts!

Rich's picture
Rich
28/06/2020
ES
594
points

A great start, Mayu! All your answers are correct!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
28/06/2020 11:30
Spain
Liverpool
594

A great start, Mayu! All your answers are correct!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

elghoul's picture
elghoul
25/06/2020
DZ
3988
points

1. A reverse is particularly hard to stomach when you are defeated at home against your derby rivals.

2. It is very hard to come back from a long-term injury as a professional player and sometimes it happens than the hard injuryed  is never in fact back at his best prrforming level.

3. I watched City of course and also the Reds in their goaless drawing against Everton.

4. My prediction is a 3.2 win for City.


elghoul's picture
elghoul
25/06/2020 16:45
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

1. A reverse is particularly hard to stomach when you are defeated at home against your derby rivals.

2. It is very hard to come back from a long-term injury as a professional player and sometimes it happens than the hard injuryed  is never in fact back at his best prrforming level.

3. I watched City of course and also the Reds in their goaless drawing against Everton.

4. My prediction is a 3.2 win for City.

elghoul's picture
elghoul
25/06/2020
DZ
3988
points

He’s never going to eat all that. His **** are bigger than his stomach.

I’m sure players get ************ in their stomach before a penalty shootout.

You need a ****** stomach to work as a nurse.


elghoul's picture
elghoul
25/06/2020 16:31
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

He’s never going to eat all that. His **** are bigger than his stomach.

I’m sure players get ************ in their stomach before a penalty shootout.

You need a ****** stomach to work as a nurse.

Vic
24/06/2020
MX
817
points

He’s never going to eat all that. His mouth are bigger than his stomach.
I’m sure players get strong in their stomach before a penalty shootout.
You need a hard stomach to work as a nurse.

When is a reverse particularly hard to stomach?
Easy, when Machester City or United defeat Liverpool, especially the United.

Is it difficult to come back from a long-term injury?

In my experience, is too dificult, not for the injurie itself, its about less confidence in your muscles and your body.

Did you watch any football last week? Which matches did you watch?

Yes I did, Liverpool vs Everton, the final result was disappointed.

Laura has predicted a final score of Chelsea 3-2 Manchester City. What's your prediction?

Well is hard to predict a result, but I think the result will a stalemate.


Vic
24/06/2020 16:40
Mexico
Liverpool
817

He’s never going to eat all that. His mouth are bigger than his stomach.
I’m sure players get strong in their stomach before a penalty shootout.
You need a hard stomach to work as a nurse.

When is a reverse particularly hard to stomach?
Easy, when Machester City or United defeat Liverpool, especially the United.

Is it difficult to come back from a long-term injury?

In my experience, is too dificult, not for the injurie itself, its about less confidence in your muscles and your body.

Did you watch any football last week? Which matches did you watch?

Yes I did, Liverpool vs Everton, the final result was disappointed.

Laura has predicted a final score of Chelsea 3-2 Manchester City. What's your prediction?

Well is hard to predict a result, but I think the result will a stalemate.

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
24/06/2020
TR
6539
points

My prediction
Chelsea 0 - 3 Manchester City


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
24/06/2020 15:41
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

My prediction
Chelsea 0 - 3 Manchester City

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
24/06/2020
TR
6539
points

Language Challenge
He’s never going to eat all that. His ( **** ) are bigger than his stomach.
I’m sure players get ( *********** ) in their stomach before a penalty shootout.
You need a ( ***** ) stomach to work as a nurse.


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
24/06/2020 15:40
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

Language Challenge
He’s never going to eat all that. His ( **** ) are bigger than his stomach.
I’m sure players get ( *********** ) in their stomach before a penalty shootout.
You need a ( ***** ) stomach to work as a nurse.

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
24/06/2020
TR
6539
points

1. The reverse is hard to stomach when it comes in the stroke of full-time or when it comes from an underdog.

2. It’s always difficult to come back from long-term injuries because you need to be back to match fit quickly and you need to regain your confidence.

3. I watched almost all the matches except for Bournemouth vs. Crystal Palace.

4. With all the respect to Laura and her prediction , I’m quite sure that City will blow Chelsea away as they are on top form.


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
24/06/2020 15:33
Turkey
Manchester United
6539

1. The reverse is hard to stomach when it comes in the stroke of full-time or when it comes from an underdog.

2. It’s always difficult to come back from long-term injuries because you need to be back to match fit quickly and you need to regain your confidence.

3. I watched almost all the matches except for Bournemouth vs. Crystal Palace.

4. With all the respect to Laura and her prediction , I’m quite sure that City will blow Chelsea away as they are on top form.

Gergő Nagy
24/06/2020
HU
3396
points

Final score: Chelsea - Manchester City 1-1


Gergő Nagy
24/06/2020 13:46
Hungary
Chelsea
3396

Final score: Chelsea - Manchester City 1-1

Izabela
24/06/2020
BR
1505
points

1- He’s never going to eat all that. His ____ are bigger than his stomach.

2- I’m sure players get _________ in their stomach before a penalty shootout.

3- You need a ______ stomach to work as a nurse.


Izabela
24/06/2020 04:29
Brazil
Newcastle United
1505

1- He’s never going to eat all that. His ____ are bigger than his stomach.

2- I’m sure players get _________ in their stomach before a penalty shootout.

3- You need a ______ stomach to work as a nurse.

Izabela
24/06/2020
BR
1505
points

I'm sorry, I didn't understand. The answer that I sent is correct or not ?


Izabela
24/06/2020 16:16
Brazil
Newcastle United
1505

I'm sorry, I didn't understand. The answer that I sent is correct or not ?

Rich's picture
Rich
24/06/2020
ES
594
points

Hi Izabela,

All your answers are correct. Well done! We blank out (___) the answers or put asterisks (*) when you are correct so other listeners can make guesses, too.

Hope that helps.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
24/06/2020 21:13
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi Izabela,

All your answers are correct. Well done! We blank out (___) the answers or put asterisks (*) when you are correct so other listeners can make guesses, too.

Hope that helps.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

Izabela
24/06/2020
BR
1505
points

Thanks Rich!


Izabela
24/06/2020 21:55
Brazil
Newcastle United
1505

Thanks Rich!

Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
23/06/2020
UA
6578
points

I’m sure players get *********** in their stomachs before a penalty shootout.

You need a ****** stomach to work as a surgeon.


Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
23/06/2020 12:16
Ukraine
Liverpool
6578

I’m sure players get *********** in their stomachs before a penalty shootout.

You need a ****** stomach to work as a surgeon.

Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
23/06/2020
UA
6578
points

He’s never going to eat all that. His **** are bigger than his stomach.


Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
23/06/2020 12:09
Ukraine
Liverpool
6578

He’s never going to eat all that. His **** are bigger than his stomach.

Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
23/06/2020
UA
6578
points

Chelsea 2 : 2 Manchester City


Alex_from_Ukraine's picture
Alex_from_Ukraine
23/06/2020 00:50
Ukraine
Liverpool
6578

Chelsea 2 : 2 Manchester City

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1Alex_from_Ukraine6578
2mobeckham6539
3hsn5560
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4779
6Liubomyr4417
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia74679
2Ukraine33892
3Spain29525
4Serbia27426
5Brazil23661
6Albania20578
7Vietnam20460
8Turkey20111
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United147000
2Liverpool111527
3Chelsea90265
4Arsenal86299
5Manchester City58968
6Tottenham Hotspur19506
7Newcastle United10626
8West Ham United7701
9AFC Bournemouth4915
10Crystal Palace4568

Level

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Goals

Improve your vocabulary.

Practise your listening skills.

Complete our language challenge and make a Premier League prediction.