Sport on TV this weekend
Friday August 11
Burnley vs Manchester City – 20:00 – Sky Sports Premier League/Main Event
The Premier League finally returns this weekend, and it all starts at Turf Moor with Vincent Kompany welcoming his old side, and defending champions, Manchester City, for the Clarets’ first game back in the top flight. It won’t be easy for Pep Guardiola’s men as the home crowd will be in buoyant mood having returned to the top table, but back City’s quality to shine through to make a winning start.
Al Ahli vs Al Hazm – 19:00 – DAZN
With DAZN confirming their coverage of the Roshn Saudi League this season, it’s Al Ahli who get us underway and given they now boast the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy and Allan Saint-Maximin in their ranks, they’ll be very confident of claiming all three points.
Saturday August 12
Football
Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest – 12:30 – TNT Sports 1
Can the Gunners go one better than last season and dethrone Man City? A home win looks to be on the cards in this one as Mikel Arteta’s men should have too much for a Nottingham Forest side hoping to build on their survival last year. Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz have all arrived for Arsenal this summer, and they’ll be looking to make an early statement having picked up the Community Shield last weekend.
Newcastle Utd vs Aston Villa – 17:30 – Sky Sports Premier League/Main Event
There’s a fascinating battle at St James’ Park on Saturday evening, with Newcastle looking to build on their top-four finish last season, while Unai Emery’s Villa were hugely impressive last year and will be knocking on the door to break into the top six themselves. Goals are undoubtedly on the cards as both sides were impressive in pre-season and boast real quality in the final third, but might they have to settle for a share of the spoils in this one?
England (W) vs Colombia (W) – 11:30 – ITV1/ITVX
The Lionesses’ march on in their pursuit of World Cup glory, and although it hasn’t been entirely convincing as of yet and they’ll now have to find a way without the talents of Lauren James after her red card last time out, they’ll still fancy their chances of advancing to the semi-finals with a win over Colombia.
Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig – 19:45 – Sky Sports Football
With Harry Kane seemingly signed, sealed but not quite delivered just yet, Bayern will look to start the season with yet another trophy as they face RB Leipzig for the German Super Cup. Back Thomas Tuchel’s side to do what they do best and dominate domestically again this season, as they look for the perfect foundation ahead of going in search of a 12th consecutive Bundesliga title.
Rugby Union
England vs Wales – 17:30 – Amazon Prime
France vs Scotland – 20:00 – Amazon Prime
The pre-World Cup Friendlies continue on Saturday – with both home teams looking for revenge after defeats last weekend and both are heavy favourites to gain exactly that.
Boxing
Anthony Joshua vs Robert Helenius – 22:00 – DAZN
An Anthony Joshua (25-3, 22KO) last-minute replacement? What could go wrong? Although an Andy Ruiz Jr-esque upset is unlikely from Robert Helenius (32-4, 21KO) this weekend, AJ will be wary of a new opponent in the opposite corner. Robert Helenius was called in on Tuesday following Dillian Whyte’s failed drugs test and fights Joshua inside London’s O2 Arena on Saturday night. If the Briton is to keep himself in the ever-evolving heavyweight title picture, then a convincing win over the big Finn is a must. Derek Chisora, Filip Hrgovic and Campbell Hatton feature on the undercard.
Sunday August 13
Brentford vs Tottenham – 14:00 – Sky Sports Premier League/Main Event
In the season’s first Super Sunday game, both Brentford and Tottenham look set to be without their star strikers. Ivan Toney is banned until the winter for the Bees, and Harry Kane is somewhere over the English Channel, en route to signing for Bavarian kings Bayern Munich. Only one point separated these two sides last season, and despite an Ange Postecoglou injection in north London, there’s unlikely to be much between them once again in this 14:00 kick-off. However, we are just siding with the home team as the Harry Kane hangover clouds Tottenham heads.
Chelsea vs Liverpool – 16:30 – Sky Sports Premier League/Main Event
Both Chelsea and Liverpool underperformed in the 2022-23 Premier League campaign, so will be looking to get up and running from the first kick-off this time around. They have already enjoyed a week of head-to-head action before Sunday’s game in a tussle to sign Brighton’s Moisés Caicedo. It’s understood that the Ecuadorian will be at Stamford Bridge for the 16:30 kick-off, but wearing blue or red? The last four meetings between these two have ended goalless, so, of course, we are backing a back and forth score draw as both sides adapt to their new-look XIs.
Monday August 14
Man Utd vs Wolves – 20:00 – Sky Sports Premier League/Main Event
With Julen Lopetegui’s exit on the eve of the new season, Wolves are set for a difficult start. Tipped by many as relegation candidates, a loss at Old Trafford on the opening weekend is going to exacerbate their problems and we can’t make a case for any other outcome.
Other notable events
Cricket: The Hundred continues across Sky Sports this weekend, with reigning Men’s champions the Trent Rockets in action on Saturday at 14:30, and that comes after the defending Women’s champions, the Oval Invincibles look to pick up a win on Friday afternoon at 15:00 on Sky Sports Hundred.
Football: Ligue 1 and La Liga both get started this weekend too, with Paris Saint-Germain facing Lorient live on TNT Sports 1 on Saturday night at 19:45, while Barcelona begin the defence of their league crown against Getafe on Sunday night at 20:00, and you can tune into ITV4 to watch that live.
UFC: Vicente Luque vs Rafael Dos Anjos leads a packed card from Las Vegas, with the main card getting underway on TNT Sports 1 at midnight on Sunday morning.
