Old rivalries renewed this weekend as football delivers red hot matches
Manchester United v Liverpool – Premier League football – Saturday 10 March - Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League from 11.30am (Kick-off 12.30pm)
In the words of BBC commentator Steve Wilson: "It may only be the battle for second place, but Manchester United and Liverpool would happily battle each other if the prize were only the last charred chorizo from Pep Guardiola's summer barbecue.” So fans can expect to be treated to game with the kind of rivalry that only comes from the fierce age-old rancour that you get when these two great teams meet.
Chelsea v Crystal Palace - Premier League football - Saturday 10 March – BT Sport 1 and BT Sport UK4HD from 5pm (Kick-off 5.30pm)
Saturday’s London derby between clubs from the west and south of the capital represents a chance for the Blues to keep their Champions League qualification hopes alive. Chelsea have lost their previous two Premier League games against Crystal Palace, so Palace won’t want to leave Stamford Bridge without a third consecutive victory under their belt. Expect a spirited clash.
Rangers v Celtic – Scottish Premiership football – Sunday 11 March - Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football from 11.30am (Kick-off 12noon)
Rangers will have to turn recent history on its head in Sunday’s high noon Old Firm showdown with Celtic if they’re to maintain their wafer thin hopes of winning an unlikely Premiership title.
The Gers’ recent league record against great rivals Celtic is abysmal. Previous managers Mark Warburton and enigmatic Portuguese Pedro Caixinha both oversaw 5-1 defeats, with Caixinha’s defeat at Ibrox the worst home result in Rangers’ illustrious history.
However, since Caixinha’s departure and an influx of loan players such as Jason Cummings, Jamie Murphy and Russell Martin, all under the interim stewardship of Graeme Murty, Rangers have staged something of a mini-revival. They’ve clawed themselves to within six points of former runaway leaders Celtic who, by contrast, have seen the form that delivered a domestic treble and unbeaten season last campaign slip.
A first league Old Firm win since they were demoted to Scottish football’s bottom tier would put Rangers just three points behind Celtic, having played a game more. However, if Celtic can recapture their best form it’s likely they’ll put this season’s title race to bed at the home of their greatest rivals.
Arsenal v Watford – Premier League football – Sunday 11 March – Sky Sports Premier League from 12.30pm (Kick-off 1.30pm)
Arsenal haven’t won on English soil since an emphatic 5-1 win against Everton on 3 February. However, an impressive 2-0 victory against AC Milan at the San Siro this week will do wonders for their confidence despite a recent poll stating that 88% of Arsenal fans don’t believe that Arsene Wenger should be in charge at The Emirates next season.
By contrast, Watford look as if they may be slowly rediscovering the form that saw them win plaudits and a solid top half berth in the early part of the season under Marco Silva. New manager Javi Garcia has led Watford to wins in three of their last four. As a result, the Hornets will fancy their chances of capitalising on a frail-looking Arsenal and continuing their resurgence, while compounding the misery in north London’s red half.
