Potential speed bump for runaway Premier League leaders

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur ​​– Premier League football ​–​ ​​BT Sport 1 and BT Sport 4KHD (5pm) – kick-off 5.30pm​

There’s no getting away from just how good Manchester City have been in their opening 17 Premier League fixtures this season, and a 2-1 victory against Manchester United on enemy territory has all but sewn up the title for them before Christmas.

However, Tottenham have been something of a bogey side for the Citizens in recent seasons. While their overall record against Spurs in the Premier League era is poor enough – they’ve played each other 40 times, losing 23 and drawing six – City have failed to beat their north London rivals in their past four meetings.

Tottenham visit the Etihad having won two in a row after a barren run that saw them pick up five points from 18 available. However, while they've got their Champions League​ ambitions back on track, given Pep Guardiola’s side is unbeaten this season - having won 15 in a row and only dropped two points all season - it’d be brave to bet against City extending their record breaking run.

Leicester City v Crystal Palace​​ - Premier League football – Sky Sports Main Event (11.30am), Sky Sports Premier League (11.30am), Sky Sports Mix (11.30am) – kick-off 12.30pm​

There are perhaps more glamorous Premier League​ fixtures being broadcast this weekend – see Manchester United and Liverpool travelling to West Brom and Bournemouth respectively in Sunday afternoon’s live games on Sky Sports – however, former champions Leicester City’s home tie against a resurgent Crystal Palace, the league’s specialists in last-minute drama, looks set to be an absorbing contest.

Having set a record for the worst start in Premier League history – succumbing to seven straight defeats on the spin while failing to score – Roy Hodgson’s Eagles are undefeated in their previous six.

Leicester have hit a purple patch of their own under new manager Claude Puel having won four games on the bounce and climbing into the top half of the table.

What’s more, there’s no splitting these two in their head-to-head record in the Premier League era as both sides have won four and drawn two in their 10 top-flight encounters.

Ashes Third Test ​​- cricket​

Against the backdrop of an English batting collapse, an impressive unbeaten knock of 92 from Australia captain Steven Smith on the second day of the third Ashes Test dragged the hosts back into contention in Perth.

Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan had earlier notched centuries for the tourists as England looked to fight back from 2-0 down in this year’s series, however, England proceeded to lose their last six wickets for just 35 runs in a collapse that opens the door for Australia to extend their series lead to 3-0 and regain the Ashes.

While the live coverage itself is an early morning affair, 90-minute highlights will be shown on both Saturday and Sunday. 

Find out more about how to make the most of the Ashes this December with The Morning Advertiser​’s guide.​ 

PDC World Championship Darts​​

The festive staple returns for its 25th year. With afternoon sessions on both Saturday and Sunday, the first weekend of competition from the Alexandra Palace, viewers will have ample opportunity to watch arguably the greatest player to ever throw darts, 16-time world champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, compete in his final World Championships.

The competition, which concludes on 1 January, got under way on Thursday with favourite Michael Van Gerwen ensuring safe passage to the second round - hitting a 180-maximum with the first three darts of his title defence.  

Find out more about how to make the most of the darts this December with The Morning Advertiser​’s quick guide.​