Rivals pick best of new year fixtures

TV rivals Sky Sports and the Setanta-BT Sport alliance are banking on the Premier League big guns delivering audience share for them in the new year.

All three outlets announced Premier League coverage for January and February yesterday, with the wide open race for the title offering a variety of appetising TV fixtures.

BT Sport — available here on channel 413 via the Setanta package — kicks off with Saturday’s visit of Premier League leaders Arsenal to title favourites Manchester City.

Brian Quinn, marketing operations director of Setanta Sports, said: “December through to February is a very exciting time for the Setanta Sports pack.

“We have the very best fixtures in the Premier League during this period and to be able to announce we have secured Arsenal v Manchester United and Liverpool v Arsenal in a four-day period in February is great for our customers.

“At that time we also have Live Allianz Leagues GAA, Live FA Cup action plus lots more.”

Setanta/BT Sport

Dec 14: Man City v Arsenal, 12.45 (BT Sport 1); Chelsea v Crystal Palace, 3pm (Setanta 1). Dec 21: Liverpool v Cardiff, 12.45 (BT Sport 1); Man Utd v West Ham, 3pm (Setanta 1). Dec 26: West Ham v Arsenal, 3pm (BT Sport 1); Man City v Liverpool, 5.30pm (BT Sport 1). Dec 28: Norwich v Man Utd, 3pm (Setanta 1).

Jan 1: Southampton v Chelsea, 3pm (BT Sport 1); Man Utd v Tottenham, 5.30pm (BT Sport 1). Jan 11: Hull City v Chelsea, 12.45 (BT Sport 1); Tottenham v Crystal Palace, 3pm (Setanta 1). Jan 18: Arsenal v Fulham, 3pm (Setanta 1). Jan 28: Liverpool v Everton, 8pm (BT Sport 1).

Feb 1: West Ham Utd v Swansea City, 12.45 (BT Sport 1); Stoke v Man Utd, 3pm (Setanta 1). Feb 8: Liverpool v Arsenal, 12.45pm (BT Sport 1); Chelsea v Newcastle, 3pm (Setanta 1). Feb 11: Cardiff City v Aston Villa, 7.45pm (BT Sport 1). Feb 12: Arsenal v Man Utd, 7.45pm (BT Sport 1). Feb 22: Chelsea v Everton, 12.45pm (BT Sport 1); Liverpool v Swansea, 3pm (Setanta 1).

Sky Sports

Dec 14: Hull City v Stoke City, 5.30pm. Dec 15: Aston Villa v Man Utd, 1.30pm; Tottenham v Liverpool, 4pm. Dec 22: Southampton v Tottenham, 1.30pm; Swansea City v Everton, 4pm. Dec 23: Arsenal v Chelsea, 8pm. Dec 26: Hull City v Man Utd, 12.45pm. Dec 28: West Ham v West Brom, 12.45pm; Cardiff v Sunderland, 5.30pm. Dec 29: Newcastle v Arsenal, 1.30pm; Chelsea v Liverpool, 4pm.

Jan 1: Swansea City v Man City, 12.45pm. Jan 11: Man Utd v Swansea, 5.30pm. Jan 12: Newcastle v Man City, 2.05pm; Stoke City v Liverpool, 4.10pm. Jan 13: Aston Villa v Arsenal, 8pm. Jan 18: Liverpool v Aston Villa, 5.30pm. Jan 19: Swansea v Tottenham, 1.30pm; Chelsea v Man Utd, 4pm. Jan 20: West Brom v Everton, 8pm.

Feb 2: West Brom v Liverpool, 1.30pm; Arsenal v Crystal Palace, 4pm. Feb 3: Man City v Chelsea, 8pm. Feb 8: Swansea v Cardiff, 5.30pm. Feb 9: Tottenham v Everton, 1.30pm; Man United v Fulham, 4pm. Feb 22: Newcastle v Aston Villa, 5.30pm. Feb 23: Crystal Palace v Man Utd, 1.30pm; Norwich v Tottenham, 4pm.