Italy v Ireland
Six Nations – 3.00 pm
ITV
The weekend’s Six Nations rugby wraps up on Sunday in Rome. Italy are likely heading towards another wooden spoon in the championship. They have lost their opening two matches. There have been sporadic period of competitiveness from them though. Italy scored three tries in ten minutes against Scotland in their opening defeat. They battled well at home in their second match against Wales but still couldn’t produce the win.
This won’t be an easy game against Ireland who have won nine of their last ten games against the Azzurri in the Six Nations. Ireland recovered well from their opening defeat against England to put in a powerful and composed performance to win at Murrayfield against Scotland. Ireland have ran up margins of victory of at least 37 points in four of their last five games against Italy in the Six Nations. The leading bookmakers recognise this could be easy for the men in green. The handicap line is set at -29 Ireland at 10/11 odds.
Chelsea v Man City
EFL Cup Final – 4.30 pm
Sky Sports
Chelsea have been having a really rough time of things lately. They are going to struggle to make the top four in the Premier League. They were dumped out of the FA Cup at home by Manchester United. Now their only shot at domestic silverware sees them having to try and beat Manchester City. When the two met recently in the league the Citizens produced a thumping 6-0 win. Not too surprisingly then it is the Citizens who are at 8/13 odds to get the victory in this meeting.
The big question is what can Chelsea change in such a short period of time? How can they adapt and find some way to threaten the Citizens? That is going to be a big challenge for the 4/1 underdogs at Wembley on Sunday afternoon. Both Manchester City and Chelsea have won the tournament five times before. Between them they have won four of the last five editions, City winning three of those. The Citizens will be stepping out to defend their title which they won 3-0 against Arsenal last season. Will the quadruple dream still be alive for them after the close of this one?
Manchester United v Liverpool
Premier League – 2.05 pm
Sky Sports
What a day of football we have on the cards for Sunday. This is a massive showdown in the Premier League. Liverpool are still harbouring ambitions of the title. Manchester United’s new life under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has seen them play their way into what at one point, looked like unlikely top-four contention. The Red Devils have been on fire in the league recently and they are W7 D4 L1 in the EPL at Old Trafford this season.
They have won four of their last five at home as well (D1) and the confidence is coursing through their ranks at the moment. The Red Devils have scored at least two goals in each of their last five home games now. The over/under goals market should be pretty active here and the top bookmakers have over 3.5 goals at 7/4 odds. Liverpool have dropped points in two of their last three league games (W1 D2) and need to get back on top of their game for this one.
They took a 3-1 home win over the Red Devils earlier this season and need a repeat of that to keep pressure on Man City at the top. Liverpool are W1 D2 L1 in their four away games this season in their matches against the other Big Six. The importance on this game for Liverpool is huge and they will need their defence, which has been fantastic in conceding only eight away goals all season, to be at its best. The leading bookmakers have them at 6/5 favourites to win. But the form of the Red Devils isn’t to be ignored.
Luton v Coventry
League One – 11.45 am
Sky Sports
Why not get an early start on the day and get the chance to watch one of the country’s in-from sides. In case you have missed it, Luton are the current leaders in League One. They are currently on a massive twenty-match undefeated streak of form in the league. They have won their last six in a row and thirteen of their last sixteen played. The Hatters have picked up ten wins in their last eleven on home soil (L1) remaining undefeated at Kenilworth Road in league action this season.
Can the visiting Coventry burst Luton’s bubble? With six defeats in their last eight road games (W2), it would be a massive upset. The intriguing thing is that that Luton’s record has to go at some point surely. It’s just waiting for it to happen and catching it at the right time. Coventry are 17/4 underdogs to pull off the upset, with the Hatters 8/13 with leading bookies to get the home win.
