Red Devils look to divert Blues
The Big Four are not the Premier League's only football teams taking on some of Europe's best in recent weeks. Everton and Tottenham Hotspur both play host today as the first round of the UEFA Cup picks up pace.
Striker James McFadden will be keen to start for Everton after his historic heroics in Scotland's recent victory over France in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, but David Moyes will also be keen to get his money's worth out of £11.25m signing Aiyegbeni Yakubu as the Toffees line up opposite Ukrainian side Metalist (five, 7.30pm).
White Hart Lane is the venue for another UEFA Cup clash on ITV4 at 8.00pm. The Cypriot side Anorthosis features a face familiar to Saints' fans: former Southampton forward Marian Pahars. Another former St Mary's player, Welsh teenager Gareth Bale may make an appearance for Martin Jol's Spurs.
The loyalties of Liverpool-born Steve Coppell will be in no doubt as his Reading side takes on the Merseysiders in Tuesday's Carling Cup clash (SS2, 7.30pm). The Royals' second Premier League season sees them nudging the relegation zone, while the Reds' early season is the best since 1994.
Chelsea travel to the KC Stadium on Wednesday for the Carling Cup third-round match against Hull (SS2, 7.00pm).
England's rugby union side hit rock bottom in their literally pointless World Cup defeat by South Africa. One glimmer of hope for Brian Ashton's beleaguered side is Jonny Wilkinson's promise to return for their last-ditch attempt to make progress in Pool A on Saturday (ITV1, 2.45pm). It's small comfort for a side who will take on Samoa minus captain Phil Vickery, still serving a two-match ban, and without injured Jason Robinson and Jamie Noon.
England's cricketers produced poor results in the group stages of the Twenty20 World Cup and it remains to be seen whether they will be in the final on Monday (SS1, 12.30pm).
