Daily sports news cheat sheets for people who want to talk sports
The headline fixture is Arsenal — brilliant all season with 25 wins — making the trip to Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace, while Manchester City entertain Aston Villa at the Etihad in what looks like a crunch title-run day for both clubs.
Down at the bottom, the Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley clash at Turf Moor is an absolute relegation six-pointer: both sides have been shambolic all campaign, managing just three and four wins respectively, so a nil-nil draw is as good as a defeat for either. Manchester United heading to Brighton is also worth a watch, with United's decent form on the road running into a Brighton side who the bookmakers fancy to keep a clean sheet at the American Express Stadium.
EPL · The week ahead
The marquee event is the MLS All-Star Game, with the league's best taking on the Liga MX All-Stars at Bank of America Stadium. It's bragging rights on the line between the two North American leagues, and expect a lively, open game rather than a cagey draw, since these exhibitions tend to produce sitters and plenty of goalmouth action.
Keep an eye out for a moment of magic, a slick through ball or a screamer that finds the net, since nobody plays for a clean sheet in a game like this.
MLS · The week ahead
Liga MX All-StarsvsMLS All-Stars
The marquee event on the slate is the FIFA World Cup Final, with Argentina taking on Spain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford tomorrow evening — about as big as football gets. Argentina arrive as defending champions looking to go back-to-back, while Spain will be desperate to deny them and claim the trophy on North American soil.
A nil-nil draw through ninety minutes would push it to extra time, but expect both sides to push for a winner early rather than settle into the kind of cagey affair that ends in penalties.
World Cup · The week ahead