Midweek TV Preview: 6 - 9 December

Monday 6 December

19.45 Napoli v Palermo, Serie A, ESPN/ESPN HD
Fourth play fifth. If you haven't caught Palermo yet this season you might want to just see their 21-year-old Argentine midfielder Javier Pastore who's already got seven goals including a recent hat-trick against Catania. Napoli have their own South American goal machine in the shape of Uruguayan Edinson Cavani - he's netted 20 times for club and country since returning from the World Cup.

20.00 Liverpool v Aston Villa, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1/3D
It'll be interesting to see what reaction Gerard Houllier gets on his return to Anfield. Probably too much to hope it will be largely indifferent.

Tuesday 7 December

19.45 Manchester Utd v Valencia, Champions League Group C, Sky Sports 2/HD2
Avoiding defeat will be enough for United to finish top of the group. Both teams are already through to the next stage.

19.45 FC Twente v Tottenham Hotspur, Champions League Group A, Sky Sports 4/HD4
Twente have secured third place so will only be playing for pride if they want to dent Spurs' chances of finishing top.

19.45 Barcelona v Rubin Kazan, Champions League Group D, Sky Sports Interactive
Barca are already guaranteed top spot while Rubin are pushing for second place. Rubin really need to win and hope that Copenhagen slip up against Panathinaikos. It could happen: Barca have failed to beat Rubin in three attempts.

19.45 Benfica v Schalke, Champions League Group B, Sky Sports Interactive
Benfica's woeful away form means they go into this with little chance of qualifying for the next stage. They also need to win here to be sure of securing third place. Schalke are top and through.

19.45 Bursaspor v Rangers, Champions League Group C, Sky Sports Interactive
Rangers can do no better or worse than third. Dead rubber.

19.45 FC Copenhagen v Panathinaikos, Champions League Group D, Sky Sports Interactive
A win will be enough to clinch a knock-out stage place for FCK.

19.45 Lyon v Hapoel Tel-Aviv, Champions League Group B, Sky Sports Interactive
Thanks to a 3-0 win against Benfica, Hapoel can go into this game with something to fight for. If they can get a win here and Portugese side fails to win, they will go through to the Europa League. Lyon are already through.

19.45 Werder Bremen v Inter Milan, Champions League Group A, Sky Sports Interactive
With Bremen assured last place, Inter will be hoping Twente can do them a favour. That's of course if they care about finishing top in the group.

Wednesday 8 December

19.45 FC United of Manchester v Brighton & Hove Albion, FA Cup 2nd Round Replay, ESPN/ESPN HD
Both sides have seen their good early season form dry up since getting involved in the FA Cup. FCUM have lost both Blue Square matches and been knocked out of the FA Trophy since they beat Rochdale in the First Round Proper. Similarly, Brighton's shoot-out victory over Woking has been their only win in over a month. A home tie to Portsmouth awaits the winner.

19.45 Arsenal v Partizan Belgrade, Champions League Group H, ITV1/ITV HD
A must-win for Arsenal against one of the poorest teams in the whole group stage. Final placings are dependent on the result in the other match

19.45 Marseille v Chelsea, Champions League Group F, Sky Sports 2/HD2
Second against top. Nothing will change. Dead rubber.

19.45 Real Madrid v Auxerre, Champions League Group G, Sky Sports 4/HD4
Auxerre have a chance to pinch third spot from Ajax and with Madrid's spot confirmed, who's to say they can't?

19.45 AC Milan v Ajax, Champions League Group G, Sky Sports Interactive
If Ajax lose this, Auxerre only need a point to take third.

19.45 Bayern Munich v Basle, Champions League Matchday 6, Sky Sports Interactive
Basle's only hope is that top-place Bayern don't bother showing up and Cluj do them a favour against Roma.

19.45 Cluj v Roma, Champions League Matchday 6, Sky Sports Interactive
Despite their heroics in their last game (3-2 win over Bayern) Roma still go into this game needing a point.

19.45 MSK Zilina v Spartak Moscow, Champions League Group F, Sky Sports Interactive
Spartak's inferior head to head with Marseille means they can do better than third. Zilina can restore some pride by securing their first Champions League point

19.45 Shakhtar Donetsk v Braga, Champions League Group H, Sky Sports Interactive
Braga need a big win against Shakhtar to make through to the next stage - or hope Partizan pull off a miracle.

Thursday 9 December

19.45 Luton Town v Charlton Athletic, FA Cup 2nd Round Replay, ESPN/ESPN HD
Both teams are in top form and with a money-spinning trip to White Hart Lane for the winners, this should be as cracking a cup-tie as the first game was.

Graham