Americans Abroad: Howard and Friedel both blank their opponents

U.S. No. 1 goalkeeper Tim Howard had little problem shutting down Merseyside rival Liverpool over the weekend, notching his third consecutive clean sheet for Everton.

Stuart Holden picked up where he left off before the international break, turning in another industrious, 90-minute shift in Bolton's midfield in a victory over Stoke City.

Even though his Fulham fell to Tottenham, Clint Dempsey continued his solid run of form with an assist, giving him two goals and an assist in his last four league matches.

For two of the more important U.S. starters, though, getting regular minutes at the club level is still a struggle. Oguchi Onyewu showed flashes of his old self in the Americans' recent friendlies, but he has yet to crack a gameday roster, let alone see playing time, for AC Milan.

Jozy Altidore remains a staple on the bench for Villarreal during La Liga play, although his side's midweek UEFA Europa League fixture should provide him another chance to start and earn some more brownie points with manager Juan Carlos Garrido.

For better or for worse, here is the week in review for the Americans Abroad (season statistics encompass all competitions):

ENGLAND

Premier League

Clint Dempsey, M, Fulham -- Started, played 90 minutes, picked up a yellow card and assisted on a goal in Fulham's 2-1 loss to Tottenham on Saturday. SEASON: 10 games, 7 starts, 3 goals

Brad Friedel, GK, Aston Villa -- Started, played 90 minutes, made four saves and earned the clean sheet in Villa's 0-0 draw with Chelsea on Saturday. SEASON: 8 games, 8 starts, 35 saves, 12 goals allowed, 3 clean sheets

Brad Guzan, GK, Aston Villa -- In the 18-man gameday roster, did not play in Villa's 0-0 draw with Chelsea on Saturday. SEASON: 3 games, 3 starts, 12 saves, 5 goals allowed .

Marcus Hahnemann, GK, Wolverhampton -- Started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Wolves' 1-1 draw with West Ham on Saturday. SEASON: 8 games, 8 starts, 30 saves, 13 goals allowed

Stuart Holden, M, Bolton -- Started, played 90 minutes in Bolton's 2-1 victory over Stoke City on Saturday. This past week, Holden was also recognized as the Premier League's top tackler to date. SEASON: 9 games, 8 starts

Tim Howard, GK, Everton -- Started, played 90 minutes, made six saves and registered his third consecutive clean sheet in Everton's 2-0 victory over Liverpool on Sunday. SEASON: 8 games, 8 starts, 21 saves, 7 goals allowed, 3 clean sheets

Eddie Johnson, F, Fulham -- In the 18, came on as an 84th-minute substitute in Fulham's 2-1 loss to Tottenham on Saturday. With forward Moussa Dembele returning from injury, Johnson figures to see less playing time than he had been recently. SEASON: 6 games, 1 start

Eric Lichaj, D, Aston Villa -- In the 18, did not play in Villa's 0-0 draw with Chelsea on Saturday. SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts

Jonathan Spector, D, West Ham -- Not in the 18 for West Ham's 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton on Saturday. SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts

Championship

Conor Doyle, F, Derby County -- In the 18, did not play in Derby County's 3-0 victory over Preston North End on Saturday. SEASON: 6 games, 2 starts

Zak Whitbread, D, Norwich City -- Not in the 18 for Norwich City's 0-0 draw with Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

League One

Mike Grella, F, Carlisle United -- In the 18, came on as a halftime substitute in Carlisle's 2-1 loss to Exeter City on Saturday. Grella was sent to Carlisle on a one-month loan from Leeds United last week and saw his first game action since Aug. 10 with his latest appearance. SEASON: 3 games

Anton Peterlin, M, Plymouth Argyle -- Not in the 18 for Plymouth Argyle's 2-0 loss to Notts County on Saturday. SEASON: 4 games, 3 starts

Frank Simek, D, Carlisle United -- Started, played 90 minutes in Carlisle's 2-1 loss to Exeter City on Saturday. SEASON: 13 games, 13 starts

League Two

Jemal Johnson, F, Port Vale -- In the 18, came on as a 25th-minute substitute in Port Vale's 0-0 draw with Gillingham on Saturday. SEASON: 8 games, 2 starts

SPAIN

La Liga

Jozy Altidore, F, Villarreal -- In the 18, did not play in Villarreal's 2-2 draw with Hercules on Monday. SEASON: 4 games, 3 starts

ITALY

Serie A

Oguchi Onyewu, D, AC Milan -- Not in the 18 for Milan's 3-1 victory over Chievo Verona on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

GERMANY

Bundesliga

DaMarcus Beasley, M, Hannover 96 -- In the 18, did not play in Hannover's 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich on Saturday. SEASON: 1 game

Michael Bradley, M, Borussia Monchengladbach -- Started, played 90 minutes in Monchengladbach's 3-2 loss to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Sunday. SEASON: 9 games, 9 starts, 2 goals

Steve Cherundolo, D, Hannover 96 -- Started, played 90 minutes in Hannover's 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich on Saturday. SEASON: 9 games, 9 starts

Ricardo Clark, M, Eintracht Frankfurt -- Not in the 18 for Frankfurt's 3-0 victory over Kaiserslautern on Sunday. SEASON: 2 games

Jermaine Jones, M, FC Schalke 04 -- Not in the 18 for Schalke's 2-2 draw with VfB Stuttgart on Saturday. Jones was suspended for the game after being sent off in Schalke's previous match. SEASON: 9 games, 8 starts, 1 goal

Daniel Williams, D, SC Freiburg -- In the 18, did not play in Freiburg's 2-1 loss to Werder Bremen on Saturday. SEASON: 2 games

2. Bundesliga

Luis Robles, GK, Karlsruhe SC -- Started, played 90 minutes and made five saves in Karlsruhe's 2-0 loss to VfL Bochum on Saturday. SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts, 10 saves, 3 goals allowed

Dave Yelldell, GK, MSV Duisburg -- Started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Duisburg's 3-1 victory over Arminia Bielefeld on Monday. SEASON: 9 games, 9 starts, 23 saves, 7 goals allowed, 3 clean sheets

3. Liga

Matt Taylor, F, Rot Weiss Ahlen -- Started, played 90 minutes in Rot Weiss Ahlen's 1-1 draw with Sandhausen on Saturday. SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts, 2 goals

FRANCE

Ligue 1

Carlos Bocanegra, D, St. Etienne -- Started, played 90 minutes in St. Etienne's 2-1 loss to Nice on Sunday. SEASON: 8 games, 8 starts

Charlie Davies, F, FC Sochaux -- Not in the 18 for Sochaux's 2-0 loss to Montpellier on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

BELGIUM

Eerste Klasse

Sacha Kljestan, M, RSC Anderlecht -- In the 18, did not play in Anderlecht's 1-0 loss to Cercle Brugge on Sunday. SEASON: 5 games, 4 starts, 2 goals

PORTUGAL

Liga de Honra

Bryan Arguez, M, G.D. Estoril Praia -- Not in the 18 for Estoril's 2-1 loss to Sporting Lisbon in the third round of the Taca de Portugal on Saturday. SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

Greg Garza, D, G.D. Estoril Praia -- Not in the 18 for Estoril's 2-1 loss to Sporting Lisbon in the third round of the Taca de Portugal on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

Tony Taylor, F, G.D. Estoril Praia -- In the 18, came on as an 85th-minute substitute in Estoril's 2-1 loss to Sporting Lisbon in the third round of the Taca de Portugal on Saturday. SEASON: 7 games, 1 start, 2 goals

SCOTLAND

Premier League

Dominic Cervi, GK, Celtic FC -- Not in the 18 for Celtic's 2-1 victory over Dundee United on Sunday. SEASON: 0 games

Maurice Edu, M, Rangers FC -- Started, played 87 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Rangers' 4-1 victory over Motherwell on Saturday. SEASON: 10 games, 8 starts

GREECE

Super League

Freddy Adu, F, Aris Salonika -- Not in the 18 for Aris' 4-0 loss to AEK Athens on Sunday. SEASON: 0 games

MEXICO

Primera Division

Edgar Castillo, D, San Luis -- In the 18, came on as a 75th-minute substitute in San Luis' 3-2 victory over Queretaro on Saturday. SEASON: 6 games, 1 goal

Herculez Gomez, F, Pachuca -- In the 18, came on as a 63rd-minute substitute in Pachuca's 1-1 draw with Morelia on Saturday. SEASON: 10 games, 1 goal

Sammy Ochoa, F, Estudiantes Tecos -- In the 18, came on as a 78th-minute substitute and scored the game-winning goal two minutes later in Tecos' 2-1 victory over Atlas on Friday. Ochoa connected on a header in the 80th minute to help his side break a four-match winless streak. SEASON: 11 games, 5 starts, 2 goals

Jose Francisco Torres, M, Pachuca -- In the 18, came on as a 55th-minute substitute in Pachuca's 1-1 draw with Morelia on Saturday. SEASON: 9 games, 5 starts

Marco Vidal, M, Pachuca -- Started, played 90 minutes in Pachuca's 1-1 draw with Morelia on Saturday. SEASON: 7 games, 6 starts

ARGENTINA

Primera Division

Michael Hoyos, M, Estudiantes La Plata -- In the 18, came on as a 65th-minute substitute in Estudiantes' 1-1 draw with Colon de Santa Fe on Saturday. SEASON: 6 games, 3 starts

IRELAND

Premier Division

Ryan Guy, F, St. Patrick's Athletic FC -- Started, played 90 minutes in St. Patrick's Athletic's 2-2 draw with Shamrock Rovers in the semifinals of the FAI Cup on Sunday. The draw forced a semifinal replay to be held on Tuesday, and the winner will face Sligo Rovers in the final on Nov. 14. SEASON: 34 games, 32 starts, 7 goals

DENMARK

Superliga

Michael Parkhurst, D, FC Nordsjaelland -- Started, played 90 minutes in Nordsjaelland's 1-1 draw with Brøndby on Sunday. SEASON: 10 games, 10 starts

Chris Rolfe, F, Aalborg BK -- Not in the 18 for Aalborg's 1-0 loss to Sonderjyske on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

Marcus Tracy, F, Aalborg BK -- Not in the 18 for Aalborg's 1-0 loss to Sonderjyske on Saturday. On Monday, Danish outlet Nordjyske reported that Tracy returned to the United States for knee surgery. Tracy, who has been plagued by chronic tendinitis, has been ruled out until 2011. The report also said he would return to the club in two weeks to begin another rehabilitation stint. Tracy won't start training again with Aalborg until January at the earliest. SEASON: 0 games

Danish First Division

Benny Feilhaber, M, AGF Aarhus -- Started, played 90 minutes in Aarhus' 3-0 victory over Hjørring on Sunday. SEASON: 12 games, 11 starts, 5 goals

SWEDEN

Allsvenskanliga

Alejandro Bedoya, M, Orebro SK -- Orebro did not play over the last week and resumes its season on Wednesday against GAIS. SEASON: 22 games, 22 starts, 2 goals

NORWAY

Tippeligaen

Mikkel Diskerud, M, Stabaek IF -- Started, played 90 minutes in Stabaek's 2-1 loss to Haugesund on Sunday. SEASON: 27 games, 26 starts, 4 goals

Hunter Freeman, D, IK Start -- Not in the 18 for Start's 3-3 draw with Kongsvinger on Sunday. SEASON: 24 games, 24 starts, 1 goal

Clarence Goodson, D, IK Start -- Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Start's 3-3 draw with Kongsvinger on Sunday. SEASON: 23 games, 23 starts, 3 goals