The international break is over which herald’s the return of ‘real football’ this weekend. Football that matters, football that inebriates us, football that somehow still excites us even if it is a 0-0 draw on a cold, wet and windy night in Stoke.
With the exposure of Sky Sports and ESPN across digital TV platforms at an all time high it’s sometimes difficult to know what channel your team is playing on and whether or not that channel is even available to you!
Simplifydigital take a look at this weekend’s ‘TV fixtures’ and which digital TV providers are broadcasting them.
Everton vs Manchester United
Saturday – Live on Sky Sports 2 from 12:45pm
It’s the return of the man that once said “Once a Blue. Always a Blue”. But it’s not his defection to Manchester that has the Merseyside Police on high alert. Wayne Rooney will be making his first league appearance since details about his private (or not so private) life were released last week.
He’ll be expecting plenty of abuse from the blue side of the Mersey and we expect the good folk of Everton not to let us down. As good as any reason to tune into Sky Sports 2 which is available on BT, Sky, Top Up TV and Virgin Media.
Birmingham vs Liverpool
Sunday – Live on Sky Sports 1 from 3:30pm
Liverpool make the short(ish) trip south to St Andrews which has been somewhat of a bogey ground for them in the past. Liverpool will be without the injured Dirk Kuyt and the suspended Joe Cole but will be hoping that the class of Gerrard and Torres will be able to break down a stubborn Birmingham outfit who boast ‘household names’ Roger Johnson and Stephen Carr at the back.
Coverage starts from 3:30pm on Sunday and is live on Sky Sports 1 which is available to Sky Sports subscribers on BT, Sky, Top Up TV and Virgin Media.
Stoke vs Aston Villa
Monday – Live on Sky Sports 1 from 7:00pm
Sky has taken the edge off Monday’s and brought back Monday Night Football this season. This Monday it’s Stoke who host Aston Villa in what will be Gerard Houllier’s first game in charge. The Britannia is one of the hardest grounds to play at for visiting teams and Houllier would’ve been hoping for an easier reintroduction to the English Premier League.
Nevertheless, Villa will want to take 3 points from this fixture and get their season back on track after the drubbing at Newcastle. It’ll be cold, wet and windy but who cares. By full-time your Monday woes will be behind you for another week. Coverage starts at 7pm and is live on Sky Sports 1.