Sky Sports and ESPN have announced the latest set Barclays Premier League fixtures it will broadcast live as the season begins to reach a climax.
The Manchester derby features as part of Sky’s line-up of 12 live Premier League games during April, with an additional two live matches on ESPN.
The duel between title-chasing United and defending champions City at Old Trafford will be shown live in a special Monday Night Football on April 8, though if United are still involved in the UEFA Champions League at this stage, the clash will switch to Sunday, April 7.
Sky’s live coverage of the Manchester derby forms part a gripping weekend of live fixtures from the English top-flight.
Saturday, April 6, will see possible relegation rivals Reading and Southampton lock horns, while another match that could have a huge bearing on the drop zone will be shown on Sunday as Harry Redknapp’s QPR host Roberto Martinez’s Wigan.
On Sunday, April 7, ESPN will bring fans live and exclusive coverage of a clash between two sides set to be locked in a battle for top four as Tottenham Hotspur meet Everton.
Spurs narrowly missed out on a UEFA Champions League qualifying spot last season, placing new manager Andre Villas-Boas under pressure in his first season to make Europe’s top club competition next season.
Everton, meanwhile, have enjoyed one of their strongest starts to a season under manager David Moyes but will be looking for a strong season-end to fulfil the promise his side have regularly posed during his tenure.
Also during April, Sky Sports will show the Tyne-Wear derby between Newcastle and Sunderland
(April 13); Chelsea’s game with London rivals Tottenham (April 14), and the Blues’ trip to Liverpool (April 21) with Rafael Benitez returning to Anfield for the first time since returning to English football.
On Saturday, April 27 (Europa League participation permitting), ESPN has live coverage of Newcastle’s home clash against Liverpool.
The game will be Newcastle’s penultimate home game of the season and Alan Pardew’s men will be keen for points to keep them away from the relegation zone after a difficult season.
Liverpool have also struggled to find consistency during Brendan Rodgers’ first campaign in charge, but will hope that with a win here they could still have a chance of snatching a European place.
This game will be ESPN’s penultimate live Premier League game before its contract passes to BT Sport for next season. The channel will screen its final live game in May, which will be confirmed closer to the time.
Scheduling of several televised fixtures during April are subject to change due to participation in the FA Cup and European competitions.
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