SATURDAY
Manchester United v Fulham
PremPlus, kick-off 5.15pm
Imagine that nine Manchester United players had brawled during the opening match of the season and that the FA had banned Ryan Giggs and John O’Shea for six weeks each, Wes Brown for two months, Gary Neville and Louis Saha for three months each, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for four months, Paul Scholes for five months, Gabriel Heinze for eight months and Quinton Fortune for nine months. It would be an absolute sensation and would prompt comments about United facing an almost impossible job in trying to win the title. Yet turn those absences into injuries — which is United’s fate this season — and it is viewed as only slightly significant. “OK, they’ve had a few injuries, but the real reason for their poor season is . . .”
Match of the Day
BBC One, 10.30-11.50pm
You will have heard that Wigan Athletic’s remarkable tale has involved them moving from the old fourth division to the old third division, to the new second division, to the new third division, to the new second division, to the new first division, to the Championship and to the Premiership. To which the response is: “What on earth does that mean?” Name changes blur historical perspectives that would provide context and football without context has less meaning, as the Football League would do well to remember when they next try to prise a few more pounds out of Coca-Cola with an “exciting” new branding.
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LIVE MATCHES
Today: 5pm: Tunisia v Guinea, African Cup of Nations, British Eurosport. 5pm: Zambia v South Africa, African Cup of Nations, British Eurosport 2. 7.45pm: Exeter City v Accrington Stanley, Nationwide Conference, Sky Sports 1. 7.45pm: Torino v Atalanta, Italian second division, British Eurosport 2. Tomorrow: 5pm: Nigeria v Senegal, African Cup of Nations, British Eurosport. 5pm: Ghana v Zimbabwe, African Cup of Nations, British Eurosport 2. 8pm: Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur, Barclays Premiership, PremPlus. Wednesday: 4pm: Paris St-Germain v Auxerre, French Cup, British Eurosport. 7.45pm: Motherwell v Celtic, CIS Insurance Cup, BBC One Scotland. 8pm: Arsenal v West Ham United, Premiership, Sky Sports 2. Friday: 1pm: African Cup of Nations, first quarter-final, British Eurosport. 5pm: African Cup of Nations, second quarter-final, British Eurosport. 7pm: Arezzo v Brescia (second half), Italian second division, British Eurosport 2. 8pm: Mantova v Vicenza, Italian second division, British Eurosport 2. Saturday: 12.15pm: Rangers v Hibernian, Tennent’s Scottish Cup, Sky Sports 1. 1pm: African Cup of Nations, third quarter-final, British Eurosport. 5pm: African Cup of Nations, fourth quarter-final, British Eurosport. 5.15pm: Manchester United v Fulham, Premiership, PremPlus. Sunday: 11.15am: Norwich City v Ipswich Town, Coca-Cola Championship, Sky Sports 1. 1.30pm: Tottenham Hotspur v Charlton Athletic, Premiership, Sky Sports 1. 4pm: Chelsea v Liverpool, Premiership, Sky Sports 1. 7.30pm: Lazio v AC Milan, Italian league, Bravo.
Setanta has yet to announce their live and delayed matches from the Italian, French and other European leagues. Sky Sports has yet to announce its live Spanish league matches on Saturday and Sunday evenings.