Football
The Carling Cup final is this weekend’s big match as Liverpool face Cardiff City at Wembley. Kenny Dalglish’s side are the 2/5 favourites to win the Cup for the first time since 2003. It’s Cardiff’s first appearance in the League Cup final and the Bluebirds can be backed at 15/2.
Manchester City remain two points clear at the top of the Premier League table heading into this weekend’s matches and have a straightforward looking tie on Saturday. Roberto Mancini’s men are just 2/11 to see off struggling Blackburn Rovers in the late kick-off.
Rivals Manchester United face a tricky away tie at Carrow Road on Sunday. Norwich look great value at 11/2 to upset the champions who are available at 8/15.
Arsenal’s woes continue after their FA Cup exit and it could get even worse for Arsene Wenger this weekend. His side welcome high flying Spurs and defeat could prove to be a defining moment in his Arsenal career. Spurs are 15/8 to pile more misery on their North London rivals.
Chelsea can give boss Andre Villas-Boas some breathing space with a win over Bolton at Stamford Bridge while I fancy Wigan to beat Aston Villa at 17/10.
Golf
64 of the world’s top 66 golfers are at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club this week for the 14th WGC Accenture Matchplay.
The tournament is wide open with dozens of players capable of taking the $1.4 million first prize. Rory McIlroy is the joint 12/1 favourite with three time winner Tiger Woods whilst reigning champion Luke Donald is available at 16/1. I also fancy the chances of Keegan Bradley at 40/1, Lee Westwood at 20/1 and Thomas Bjorn at 66/1.
Cricket
There are a couple of one day international matches to enjoy this weekend. New Zealand face South Africa in Auckland in the third match of their series while the triangular series between Australia, India and Sri Lanka continues on Sunday in Brisbane.
Tennis
Victoria Azarenka captured her second big title of 2012 with a win last week in Qatar and the Belarusian world number one is the favourite for this week’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Sabine Lisicki could be one to watch in the bottom half of the draw while world number six Agnieszka Radwanska could also do well this week.
The ATP Tour is in Memphis this week for the Regions Morgan Keegan Championship. Milos Raonic has already won two titles in 2012 including last week’s SAP Open in San Jose and is the 2/1 favourite. Andy Roddick is a three time winner of the tournament and can be backed at 6/1.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won the Open 13 in Marseille in 2009 and leads the field this year. Mardy Fish makes his debut at this event looking to kick-start his season while Australian Open quarter-finalist Juan Martin del Potro also appears in the French city for the first time.
Rugby League
St Helens had Jamie Foster to thank for avoiding defeat in a brilliant match at Craven Park last weekend. Foster kicked a last minute penalty to secure a 36-36 draw with Hull KR and maintain Saints’ unbeaten start to the season. Saints can keep up their good run with a win over Catalans Dragons on Friday evening.
Leeds captured the World Club Challenge title last week after their excellent 26-12 win over the Manly Sea Eagles and should romp to a comfortable win at Widnes on Sunday. Warrington top the table and the Wolves should see off Hull KR while fourth placed Wigan can win at Castleford.
Rugby Union
The Six Nations returns this weekend with Wales chasing the Triple Crown. They travel to Twickenham as the favourites for the first time since 1988 and Warren Gatland believes his side should be ‘excited’ about the trip to face England.
England coach Stuart Lancaster is set to tinker with his team for the first time with Leicester players Manu Tuilagi and Toby Flood set for a recall. Twickenham remains the least fruitful venue for Wales since the Six Nations began and so backing England at 10/11 with a three point start could be the call.
Ireland welcome Italy to the Aviva Stadium in only their second match of the competition following the late postponement in France a fortnight ago. I expect Ireland to win this one, but backing Italy with this weekend’s 15 point start would have recorded a profit in four of the last five meetings between the two sides in Dublin.
Scotland continue to struggle and it gets no easier for Andy Robinson’s side on Sunday as they play France at Murrayfield. The Scots have won only one of the last 13 meetings against Les Bleus and have lost five of the last six Murrayfield meetings between the two sides. Back France to overcome the six point handicap at 10/11.
Horse Racing
Only two horses finished the Eider Chase at Newcastle in 2011 with Companero prevailing on that occasion. This race is often seen as a good trial for the Grand National with Comply or Die winning both races in 2008.
Portrait King is the 6/1 ante-post favourite from Mister Marker and Eyre Square.
Elsewhere, there is racing on Saturday from Chepstow, Lingfield Park and Kempton Park.
