Sports fans are in for a treat this weekend with a spectacular line-up of events across multiple disciplines. The action spans from the oche at Alexandra Palace to the hallowed turf of the Sydney Cricket Ground and the fierce rivalry of Celtic Park.
Saturday's Sporting Feast
The weekend kicks off with a full slate of football. The Premier League features several key matches, starting with Aston Villa hosting Nottingham Forest at 12:30pm GMT. Villa aim to bounce back from a heavy defeat, while Forest, hovering above the relegation zone, are desperate for points.
Simultaneously, the Scottish Premiership delivers its showpiece event: the Old Firm derby. Celtic face Rangers at Celtic Park (12:30pm GMT) in a rare scenario where neither Glasgow giant tops the table. Both are chasing leaders Hearts, making this clash pivotal for the title race.
Later, Arsenal travel to Bournemouth for a 5:30pm GMT kick-off, but will be without the influential Declan Rice due to injury. The evening then switches to the Africa Cup of Nations, where Mali meet Tunisia in a last-16 knockout tie at 7pm GMT in Casablanca.
Darts and Cricket Take Centre Stage
The highlight of Saturday evening is the culmination of the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace (8:15pm GMT). The winner will claim a £1 million prize, with Luke Littler aiming for back-to-back titles, though he must first navigate a semi-final. The final promises high drama on the oche.
As the darts concludes, cricket fans can stay up for the start of the final Ashes Test. The fifth Test begins at the Sydney Cricket Ground at 11:30pm GMT. Although Australia have already retained the urn, England seek a consolation victory to build on their win in the previous match, ensuring no 'dead rubber' atmosphere.
Sunday's Domestic and Continental Drama
Sunday offers another rich mix, headlined by a classic Premier League rivalry. Leeds United welcome Manchester United to Elland Road at 12:30pm GMT. The hosts are in good form, while United will look to extend an unbeaten run at the ground that stretches back to 2002.
A 3pm GMT clockwatch will cover four Premier League fixtures, including Fulham vs Liverpool and Tottenham vs Sunderland, alongside Afcon action featuring Morocco against Tanzania. The day's marquee match sees Manchester City host Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium (5:30pm GMT), with Pep Guardiola's side looking to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal.
American football fans can enjoy key NFL Week 18 games from 6pm GMT, with playoff spots still up for grabs. The Ashes then resumes with day two from Sydney at 11:30pm GMT, as the final Test of the series continues.
This weekend truly offers a global sporting spectacle, with live blogs, minute-by-minute reports, and expert analysis ensuring fans won't miss a moment of the crucial action.
