Live Sport on TV this weekend – January 6th & 7th
Saturday
Football
FA Cup Third Round
Sunderland v Newcastle – ITV 1 – 12.45
The first Tyne-Wear derby since the two sides met in the Premier League in 2016 which ended 1-1. Before today both have won 53 games with 50 drawn games. After a high-flying season last year Newcastle have been brought to earth with a bump this season losing their last three games to Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Luton and languish in ninth place. Sunderland are having a good season in the Championship and should have no fear going into the game. However draw 51 is on the cards and a replay.
Middlesbrough v Aston Villa – BBC One – 17.30
Middlesbrough are having a mid-table season in the Championship and this looks like a win for Villa who currently sit second in the Premier League. The FA cup can be a great leveller, but Unai Emery’s side is playing with some confidence and is expected to beat Michael Carrick’s side.
Rugby Union
English Premiership – Leicester v Saracens – TNT Sports 1 – 15.05
Will this be Owen Farrell’s last season with Saracens with rumours of a move to French side Racing 92? Both sides are currently in the bottom half of the table, but with no team dominating the Premiership both sides could well be in a play-off position by the end of the season. Again a battle of the two fly-halves, Handre Pollard v Owen Farrell, who were last in opposition in the World Cup semi-final when South Africa beat England. Leicester with home advantage to win and Pollard to get the better of Farrell again.
Sunday
Football
FA Cup Third Round
Arsenal v Liverpool – BBC One – 16.30
The big one of the weekend – Arsenal’s fine start to the season is stuttering, losing their last two games against West Ham and Fulham, teams they would expect to beat with ease. Before that they drew 1-1 against Liverpool at Anfield in an entertaining stalemate. Mohammed Salah scored Liverpool’s goal that day, but will be missing today, away at the African Cup of Nations. Liverpool will be without Wataru Endo too, at the Asian Cup, and Dominik Szoboszlai, injured and Arsenal will be without Takehiro Tomiyasu. The loss of Liverpool’s talisman Salah is the biggest blow. However the confidence Liverpool has from topping the Premier league should see them through against a less than confident Arsenal.
Rugby Union
English Premiership – Bath v Gloucester – TNT Sports 1 – 15.00
Bath played a second-string fifteen last weekend and got mauled by Sale. There would be a major revolt by the fans at The Rec if they did the same today against west country rivals Gloucester. Bath have been revitalised this season by the arrival of Finn Russell and they should see off Gloucester who are having a poor season by their standards.
American Football
NFL – Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans – Sky Sports NFL 21.00
