The League of Ireland faithful might not care to dwell on the fact but there will be huge numbers of Irish football fans feeling they have real skin in the game when Liverpool host Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.

For those with only a passing interest in football, it might have seemed as if Adam Idah came out of nowhere to dominate the sports headlines last weekend, as the 18-year-old from Douglas marked his FA Cup debut for Norwich with a stunning hat-trick in their 4-2 victory over Preston.

Could Liverpool become the new Invincibles?

There is a conversation from a couple years ago that sticks in the mind — and the craw — of Sean O’Shea.

Just when Manchester United had kidded themselves they were closing the gap on their noisy neighbours, even if it was only by a fraction, they were brought back to cruel reality at Old Trafford in this Carabao Cup semi-final

Marcus Rashford’s 17th goal of the season kept Manchester United’s Carabao Cup hopes alive after Manchester City had threatened to end their Wembley dreams in the first leg of their semi-final.

Mick McCarthy says that Adam Idah has put himself “right into our thoughts” with his sensational hat-trick for Norwich in their 4-2 FA Cup win at Preston.

If the recent stories of players from middle-tier football counties quitting the inter-county scene have told us that losing is no fun, tales from the clubs and colleges inform us winning isn’t always a picnic either.

Daniel Storey gives his Premier League review.

The chief executives of the Six Nations renewed talks in London yesterday aimed at finalising an offer designed to change the face of the game. Having already forked out some €400m to buy stakes in the English Premiership and PRO14, the private equity firm CVC Partners are willing to pay the Six Nations almost as much again for a share of the tournament’s commercial rights.

Your correspondent spent the eve of the derby in north-eastern France, enjoying some December 6th Saint Nicholas celebrations with various drunken Flems. I marvelled at the locals’ luck; in effect, they get two Christmases.

Solskjaer enjoys a wonderful return to form

Daniel Storey breaks down the big talking points of the Manchester Derby.

This was a game between two of the sport’s best. It stood to reason that everyone wanted to see it happen.

The result ended a run of three straight wins for Spurs in that time, and allowed United to move to sixth place.

The clash between Real Madrid’s new midfield hope, and Barcelona’s returning central figure, could go a long way to deciding tonight’s La Liga Clasico.

Serie A’s decision to use three paintings of monkeys to illustrate a campaign to stamp out racism has been branded “a sick joke”.

No shame in losing to the Premier League champions in this form, but the manner of this schooling by Manchester City on home turf was embarrassing for Arsenal’s owners, directors, coaching staff, players, and supporters.

Just another Arsenal humbling. Kevin de Bruyne’s brilliance is hardly newsworthy given his form during this and other seasons, but Arsenal seemed not to have noticed.

It’s been said that if your romantic relationship can survive race week in Galway, well, it’s a union worth pursuing, such are the potential pitfalls on the track and in the snugs of those hallowed, cobbled streets.