WEEK AHEAD: A feast of Premier League action alongside cricket from The Ashes and the opening rounds of World Championship Darts makes for a cracking seven days of sport.
There’s cricket to begin the week on Monday when Pakistan take on the West Indies in the first of three T20 internationals, live from 13:00 on Sky Sports.
NFL gets underway in the early hours of Tuesday morning, when the in-form Arizona Cardinals are on the road to face the Los Angeles Rams, a team they beat 37-20 when they last met in October. Catch the action at 01:00 on Sky Sports.
Later in the day there are three live Premier League games on BT Sport. Brentford host Man United in a 19:30 kick-off, while Steven Gerrard will seek to continue his fine run of form since taking over at Aston Villa when his side face Norwich at 19:45. Later Man City are at home to Leeds at 20:00.
On Wednesday the first rounds of the World Darts Championship commence from the Ally Pally, with the first darts thrown at 19:00 on Sky Sports. Premier League action continues with Crystal Palace v Southampton, Brighton v Wolves and Burnley v Watford all live on BT Sport from 19:30. In a slightly later kick-off at 20:00 West Ham travel to the Emirates to face an Arsenal side they have only beaten twice in their last twenty meetings.
Early on Thursday morning (03:30, BT Sport) tune in to the Ashes Second Test from the Adelaide Oval. The Second Test is a day/night test, played under floodlights, and England will be looking to get off to a quick start under the bright lights. There’s more cricket later in the day with the third T20 international between Pakistan and the West Indies (13:00, Sky Sports). The darts continues at 19:00, before three big games in the Premier League. Leicester and Spurs could fight out a tight contest (19:30, BT Sport), then Chelsea host Everton in a match that could be crucial for Toffees’ manager Rafa Benitez’s chances of remaining in a job at Goodison Park. After finally getting a first win on the board this season, Newcastle face a tough examination against Liverpool at 20:00 (BT Sport).
Early Friday morning (01:20), the Kansas City Chiefs line up against the LA Chargers and the sport continues through the early hours with the second day of the Test match live on BT Sport from 03:30. The evening action is on point too, with the darts from 19:00.
On Saturday there’s a double bill of cricket as England seek to strike a decisive blow in the middle day of the Test match (03:30, BT Sport), while Pakistan and West Indies play a first ODI (08:00 Sky Sports). At noon Man United could be tested by Brighton (BT Sport). There’s an earlier start at the Ally Pally, with darts thrown from 12:30. Players tee-up for the first round of the PNC Championship at 16:00 on Sky Sports. Stay on the channel for more football when Leeds host Arsenal at 17:30, Sky Sports.
As the second Test begins its conclusion on Sunday (03:30) there’s still a huge amount of top-class action to look forward to on Sunday. Everton are at home to Leicester in a 12:00 kick-off, darts fly at 12:30 and Newcastle face another test when Man City come calling at 14:15 (Sky Sports). There’s also Tottenham v Liverpool at 16:30 before the second day of the golf from the Ritz-Carlton Club in Orlando, Florida (17:30, Sky Sports) to round off an action-packed week. If that’s not enough there’s still the Minnesota Vikings v Chicago Bears in the NFL (01:20, Sky Sports).
