Weekend Preview: What’s On In Sport This Weekend

In this segment, we take a look at the upcoming weekend’s biggest sporting contests.

This weekend sees important fixtures in the EPL, a must-win for Australia and the end of an era.

Cricket

The second test match between India and Australia kicked off on Friday.

It’s the first international test match at Western Australia’s new Optus Stadium in Perth.

Being the summer sport for both countries, in addition to a thrilling first test, this will be must watch sport for many.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat on the unknown commodity of the green pitch.

So far, it’s working out for them, 0-66 at lunch on the first day, Australia continued to have success with the bat after the break, until Finch was dismissed for half a century.

Australia’s inexperienced openers were looking steady, after failing to prove themselves, much like the rest of the batters in the last test.

Man Utd vs Liverpool

While Manchester United lag behind in sixth, it’ll still make for compelling viewing when they travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool.

Liverpool sit atop the ladder, one point ahead of United’s cross-city rivals, Manchester City.

Liverpool narrowly edged past Napoli during the week to get to the round of 16 in the Champions League.

United lost midweek against Valencia but still managed to get through to the next round as well.

The game is a must-win for both teams, for differing reasons.

Liverpool must collect the three points to keep their lead over an ever-competitive City.

United desperately need to win if they want to catch up to the top five teams.

Man City vs Everton

Manchester City will be barracking for United for once, and hoping they can overcome Everton this weekend, to leapfrog Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Everton sit one position and two points behind United, so they’ll be hoping for the opposite results.

City will also join United and Liverpool in the round of 16 in the Champions League after topping their group with a win over Germany’s Hoffenheim this week.

While first vs sixth and second vs seventh wouldn’t usually be important fixtures, the profiles of each team, and the significance of the results means this will be a very interesting weekend in the English Premier League.

UFC On Fox 31

This weekend’s UFC action will be the last of UFC on Fox, with the promotion signing a new deal with ESPN for next year.

The last event for Fox is certainly not a bad way to cap off the seven year relationship.

The main card kicks off with Jim Miller and Charles Oliveira facing each other.

Followed by Sergio Pettis taking on Will Font.

The co-main event sees Edson Barboza facing New Zealand’s Dan Hooker.

Barboza’s last two fights resulted in losses to UFC Lightweight Champ Khabib Nurmagomedov and Kevin Lee.

In the main event, Lee finds himself against another one of Khabib’s fallen opponents in Al Iaquinta.

Iaquinta was rushed in as a last day option to take on Khabib for the belt back in April and performed admirably.

He also beat Lee in their first encounter in 2014, making for a very intriguing rematch.

By Brandon Clark