Saturday
Football
8am-12pm (all times BST)Matchday live
Tom Bassam sets the weekend’s football coverage in motion by previewing a day of unrelenting action. As well as five Premier League games, there’s plenty of interest in the Championship, with Millwall v QPR and Portsmouth v Leicester among the key early fixtures. There’s also buildup to the latest Women’s World Cup qualifiers, including Albania v Wales and Belgium v Scotland. In the Bundesliga, history is in the making as Marie-Louise Eta takes charge of Union Berlin for her first game against Wolfsburg. Over in Spain, Atlético Madrid take on Real Sociedad in the Copa Del Rey final. In the National League, York and Rochdale both play at 5.30pm as they battle for promotion. Why not join the conversation? Email matchday.live@theguardian.com
Cricket
11amCounty Championship
Tanya Aldred clocks on for day two of our county cricket blog, with four fixtures under way. There’s certain to be interest in England prospect Sonny Baker’s progress as Hampshire face Somerset. The 23-year-old pace bowler hit a personal best 91.5mph in pre-season and gave the selectors a nudge with an astonishing triple-wicket maiden against Yorkshire last weekend. There has also been plenty of discussion surrounding the decision to allow permanent substitutions, with the new rule under scrutiny after just two weeks of the season.
Premier League
12.30pmBrentford v Fulham live
Fulham have won their past three league games against their west London rivals, but Marco Silva’s side have drifted to 12th in the table after a 2-0 defeat at Anfield. Brentford are currently perched in seventh place, but are just three points above Fulham. The race for European football keeps the stakes high as Tim de Lisle hosts the live blog and Taha Hashim reports from Craven Cottage.
Women’s Six Nations
1.30pmScotland v England live
England are on a record winning run of 34 games, chasing an eighth straight Six Nations title and fifth consecutive grand slam, but the Red Roses must come to terms with a growing list of absentees as they travel to Murrayfield. England’s head coach, John Mitchell, has made five personnel changes to the starting XV, handing a debut to the 19-year-old Demelza Short at blindside flanker and switching star player Ellie Kildunne to the left wing as England look to build on the 33-12 victory against Ireland. Daniel Gallan helms the live blog and Sarah Rendell reports from Edinburgh.
Premier League
3pmClockwatch
John Brewin keeps an roving eye across the two mid-afternoon kick-offs. Leeds host Wolves knowing they can take a huge step towards Premier League safety; victory would move Daniel Farke’s side nine points clear of the bottom three. Wolves will be officially relegated if they lose at Elland Road and other results go against them. Eddie Howe’s flailing Newcastle tenure faces a tough examination against his former club, Bournemouth, and there’s plenty of EFL action too. Aaron Bower reports from Elland Road, with Lousie Taylor filing from St James’ Park.
Premier League
5.30pmTottenham v Brighton live
With no wins in their past 14 league games, Tottenham are in the drop zone, two points below 17th-placed West Ham, and in danger of relegation for the first time since 1977. Defeat for Roberto De Zerbi’s side against his old club Brighton could leave them adrift with five games left if Nottingham Forest and West Ham pick up points on Sunday and Monday. Simon Burnton buckles up for the blog while Ed Aarons reports from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Premier League
8pmChelsea v Manchester United live
The evening kick-off could be a cracker, as Rob Smyth keeps pace with events at Stamford Bridge. Recent results have threatened Chelsea’s Champions League qualification hopes, with one win from their last seven league games leaving Liam Rosenior’s side four points outside the top five. A must-win game, then, as the Blues look to salvage what has become a disappointing season. Jacob Steinberg reports from the ground.
Sunday
Football
8am-12pmMatchday live
Tom Bassam rises early to offer all the news and vibes for a Sunday featuring two compelling Premier League clashes – the Merseyside derby and the title face-off between Manchester City and Arsenal. There’ll be plenty of aftershocks from Saturday’s matches plus a look ahead to Aston Villa v Sunderland, Nottingham Forest v Burnley and Monday night’s Crystal Palace v West Ham. North of the border, St Mirren will seek Scottish Cup joy against Celtic in the semi-final at Hampden Park. Back in December, the Buddies brought the Scottish League Cup trophy back to Paisley with a 3-1 win over the Hoops in the final.
Cricket
11amCounty Championship live
James Wallace picks up the baton for day three of our county cricket blog. With four games in progress, he’ll be providing updates from Hampshire v Somerset and Warwickshire v Essex in Division One, plus a pair of Division Two fixtures: Gloucestershire v Lancashire and Northampton v Middlesex. Email James or comment below the line.
Premier League
2pmEverton v Liverpool live
Daniel Harris is on overwatch for the first Merseyside derby at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Liverpool remain in the race for Champions League qualification with 52 points in fifth place – five points above Everton in eighth spot – but the champions’ underwhelming season has thrust manager Arne Slot’s future into sharp focus. After his side were bundled out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, the Dutchman must avoid another dispiriting defeat. David Moyes’s hosts, meanwhile, are seeking a third win in a row at their new home for the first time. Andy Hunter reports.
Premier League
4.30pmManchester City v Arsenal live
Rob Smyth is braced for what could be the decisive match in this season’s title race. Arsenal are six points clear at the top but in stuttering form, and a rejuvenated City will know that victory the Etihad Stadium would make them marginal favourites to reclaim the crown. If Pep Guardiola’s side prevail and then win at relegation-bound Burnley three days later, they will draw level at the top – but an away win on Sunday would all but end the race. Our big match reporting team are David Hytner, Barney Ronay and Jamie Jackson.
