5 Big Sports Matches You Can’t Afford To Miss This Weekend

Just a week out from the start of the Rugby World Cup sees a lack of rugby internationals this weekend, but we do have some colossal Premier League clashes and Currie Cup encounters to keep us entertained. Here’s the five matches you should be watching:

England vs Australia (ODI cricket)

Friday, 11:30

England will take on Australia in the fourth ODI of the five match series at Headingley in Leeds on Friday. Having won the third ODI at Old Trafford, Eoin Morgan-led England would look to square off the series by winning the fourth ODI on Friday. It will require a special effort from the England players if they would want to bounce back in the series. They played extremely well in the third ODI for the first time in the series and will have to put up a similar effort to draw level with Australia.

Everton vs Chelsea (Premier League football)

Saturday, 13:45

Two sides that would have been hoping for better starts to the season go head to head at Goodison Park this weekend as defending champions Chelsea travel to Everton. Both sides have won just one of their first four matches of the 2015-16 campaign, meaning just one point separates them ahead of this match. When the two sides met at Goodison Park last season, it was a high-scoring occasion, with the visitors securing a 6-3 victory, largely thanks to a Diego Costa hat-trick. Although Everton will be a stronger side with their additions in the transfer window, Chelsea have had the beating of the home side in recent years, and should have enough to clinch a narrow win this time.

Sharks vs Western Province (Currie Cup rugby)

Saturday, 17:05

Western Province, the defending Currie Cup champions, are in third place on the log after five weeks of action, with the Sharks just two points behind them in fourth position. They face one another this weekend, and to be fair, the Sharks haven’t been at their best this season, and were lucky to beat the Pumas in Durban last week. They lost to the Lions at home after a fast start and they’ll likely be upstaged by a confident WP side, who secured a strong win against the Griquas last weekend with some impressive long-range tries.

Manchester United vs Liverpool (Premier League football)

Saturday, 18:30

The 193rd edition of English football’s biggest fixture will take place this weekend as Manchester United host bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford. Both sides saw their unbeaten starts to the new Premier League season come to an end before the international break, and Saturday evening’s kickoff will give them a chance to bounce back in the best possible way. This fixture rarely fails to live up to the billing and, with both sides eager to bounce back from defeats last time out, they will be desperate for a victory over their fiercest rivals in order to kickstart their respective seasons.

Blue Bulls vs Golden Lions (Currie Cup rugby)

Saturday, 19:00

Undefeated neighbours the Vodacom Blue Bulls and the Xerox Golden Lions will go head-to-head in a table-topping Absa Currie Cup clash on Saturday at 19h00 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. The Northern rivals are both in prolific form and have yet to lose a match after five rounds of thrilling action in South Africa’s premier domestic rugby competition. Johan Ackermann’s Golden Lions outfit are leading the standings on 25 points after collecting a vital try bonus point in each of their league matches. The Blue Bulls, however, are breathing down their necks, just one point adrift in second place.

Which game are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments section below…

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