New Year TV Preview: 1 - 3 January

Saturday 1 January

12.30 Hearts v Hibernian, SPL, ESPN/ESPN HD
What's your New Year's resolution? Watch more football? Watch less football? Well whichever it is our guide to what's on telly will help you separate the wheat from the chaff. First up for 2011 we have an Edinburgh derby. Well - OK if you're into that sort of thing I guess. Personally I'll be watching...

12.45 West Brom v Manchester Utd, Premier League, Sky Sports 2/HD2/3D
Not the easiest of places to go to try and get just your second away win of the season, but despite some notable results this season West Brom are in a dodgy position at the moment: three points from the dropzone and having lost their last three games. United on the other hand seem to be getting better and better.

17.20 Watford v Portsmouth, Championship, Sky Sports 2/HD2
Two teams on the rise and perfectly capable of getting play off spots. Should be goals here as both teams have been banging them in during December.

17.30 Birmingham City v Arsenal, Premier League, ESPN/ESPN HD
"Blah blah... Eduardo... blah blah... William Gallas... blah blah... season imploded..." Commentators are lazy, and in 2011 they won't be any different.

Sunday 2 January

12.45 Rangers v Celtic, SPL, Sky Sports 4/HD4
Back in October, both teams had a 100% record going into this game, Rangers won it 3-1 and seized the initiative in the title chase. Celtic have since taken the lead back again - but only because they've played two more games. Rangers have won the last three derbies at home, another win here could create an unassailable gap at the top.

13.30 Chelsea v Aston Villa, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Two teams in terrible form; not exactly the most enticing prospect beyond pure schadenfreude.

16.00 Wigan Athletic v Newcastle United, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Two days into the transfer window, what the odds Mike Ashley will have cashed in on Andy Carroll?

17.00 Barcelona v Levante, La Liga, Sky Sports 2/HD2
Decided to learn a foreign language in 2011? Spanish maybe? Sky have half the La Liga card on live this weekend, starting off with the leaders against a side fresh from an 8 (OCHO) -0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey.

19.00 Sevilla v Osasuna, La Liga, Sky Sports 2/HD2
Sevilla are in their worst run for almost a decade having lost their last five. Osasuna aren't as bad as their position would suggest and win will take them above the team that was in the Champions League places just a few weeks ago.

21.00 Valencia v Espanyol, La Liga, Sky Sports 2/HD2
Espanyol are having a great season and sit level on points with Valencia, but they've have had some big defeats against the top sides. Valencia, currently fourth, have been struggling for form after a strong start.

Monday 3 January

12.15 Huddersfield v Sheffield Wednesday, League One, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Double-header of League 1 action on Sky starts off with what they will call a Yorkshire derby.

16.00 Darlington v Barrow, Blue Square Premier League, Premier Sports
Now here's a New Years resolution with potential - get into non-league football. Neither of these sides are having the best season though.

17.05 Charlton Athletic v Swindon Town, League One, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Charlton like every other team at the top of League One seem to be struggling to get a win at the moment. Swindon are doing a bit better than they were but are still just three points from the drop zone.

19.00 Villarreal v Almeria, La Liga, Sky Sports 3/HD3
Shouldn't be a problem for the home side who sit third and have only dropped points once at home this season. Former Manchester United youth player Giuseppe Rossi is in rich form up front for "the Yellow Submarine" alongside Nilmar.

21.00 Getafe v Real Madrid, La Liga, Sky Sports 3/HD3
Four wins in a row for Getafe means they're just two points off fourth. That run will almost certainly end here.

Graham