After another crazy week of World Cup Qualifying insanity, normality was finally restored to football as Europe's top leagues kicked back off again. If you can call a world in which Arsenal fell late to Watford and Crystal Palace snapped their losing run against Chelsea, that is. Here are all the stories that mattered from the week that was in football. (In 140 characters or less)
___
As World Cup Qualifying wrapped up for the week, the list of confirmed nations in the Russia tournament grew longer, with USA, Netherlands, and Chile being the notable absentees that now cannot qualify.
23
RUS
BRA
IRN
JPN
MEX
BEL
KOR
KSA
GER
ENG
ESP
NGA
CRC
POL
EGY
ISL
SRB
FRA
POR
ARG
COL
URU
PAN
— #WCQ (@FIFAWorldCup) October 11, 2017
___
After the madness that was during the qualifiers, the top leagues in Europe finally returned.
#Pundesliga time, it is!
E̶p̶i̶s̶o̶d̶e̶ Matchday VIII is around the corner...
Let's hear your #Bundesliga-themed #StarWars puns pic.twitter.com/MdCpIPcimu
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) October 11, 2017
The restart of the Premier League saw a huge Manchester United v Liverpool match, that came and went with not much fanfare.
me_irl pic.twitter.com/4aBFBp5Syz
— HUGE_HOG (@HUGE_HOG) October 11, 2017
___
Crap game . Take a point and forget about it... enjoy your weekend..
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) October 14, 2017
___
Klopp: "Manchester United came here for a point and got it. You could not play this way at Liverpool, but it's okay for Manchester United."
— Anfield HQ (@AnfieldHQ) October 14, 2017
___
The league's other Manchester side had a little more luck in front of goal.
FULL-TIME: Aaaaand breathe! What a win for City! 7-2 it's finished at the Etihad! #mancitypic.twitter.com/mohAKgAd67
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 14, 2017
___
Can't wait for my next games! What a team performance... pic.twitter.com/5QzwKdCNMj
— Kevin De Bruyne (@DeBruyneKev) October 14, 2017
Not the most exciting of games for the Manchester City men, but things fared quite differently between Arsenal and Watford.
Absolutely brilliant job from The Rookery & @The1881_wfc#Watfordfcpic.twitter.com/2z2bVK196A
— Lee Partridge (@LeePartridge6) October 14, 2017
___
This angle makes it even worse. Xhaka was picking his nose as Watford scored the winner. LOL pic.twitter.com/8jvDeS4Z4U
— Farhan (@lacomelette) October 15, 2017
_
And for Chelsea fans you'll be glad to know that those were the only games that happened this week, and you definitely did not lose to Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace celebrate their first league goal of the season.
Finally. ⌛️ pic.twitter.com/qYCACLIs8w
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) October 14, 2017
__
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES.
[2-1] #CRYCHEpic.twitter.com/Xmbo9lWFVC
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) October 14, 2017
---
pic.twitter.com/z2wD5LjS3W
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) October 14, 2017
Oh. Well, how about we take a look at what else was happening around the globe. In Italy the much anticipated clash between Inter and AC Milan certainly delievered, with hat trick hero Icardi saving the day.
Mauro Icardi for @Inter in Serie A:
Games: 133
Goals: 80
Milan Derby Hattrick
Captain Fantatic pic.twitter.com/EYtpXmOsDs
— SPORF (@Sporf) October 15, 2017
And Real Madrid prepared themselves for the biggest task in football. Tottenham Hotspur.
Next up... pic.twitter.com/blgOE25jLM
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 15, 2017
In a week full of upsets and surprises, I couldn't blame a Tottenham fan for daring to dream.
And that was your last 7 days of football! (In 140 characters or less)