This Week in Sport: 4th – 10th November 2019
The first week of November brings plenty of exciting sport. Monday Night Football in the NFL features a clash between NFC East divisional rivals, the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys. Melbourne plays host to Australia’s most prestigious horse racing event, the Melbourne Cup. There is a battle of high-flying NBA teams as the Los Angeles Lakers host the Milwaukee Bucks. Europe’s best golfers fight for end-of-season points at the Turkish Airlines Open. Norwich and Watford look to leave the relegation zone in the Premier League. Alabama and LSU play season-defining college football. Liverpool and Manchester City clash at the top of the Premier League.
Monday 4th November 1:15AM GMT (Tuesday 5th) – American Football: New York Giants v Dallas Cowboys
The NFL week ends with the New York Giants welcoming the Dallas Cowboys to MetLife Stadium.
The Giants and rookie quarterback Daniel Jones will face a tough match as they look to snap a four-game losing streak. Their opponents are the division rival Cowboys, who come off their bye week at 4-3. Despite some struggles, Dak Prescott has over 2100 yards passing and is leading a potent offense. Ezekiel Elliot is a top-ten rusher whilst Amari Cooper is a top-ten receiver. The teams previously met on Opening Weekend, which finished with a big win for Dallas. Can they do it again?
Tuesday 5th November 4:00AM GMT – Horse Racing: The Melbourne Cup
Australia’s biggest and most prestigious horse racing event returns as the Melbourne Cup is contested at Flemington Racecourse.
A thrilling edition of the Melbourne Cup awaits spectators at Flemington Racecourse. The pre-race favourite is the 3-year-old Irish-bred Constantinople. He has broken onto the scene and done well in his first nine starts. However, he is young and has a tendency to be erratic. These behaviours could open the door to a horse like Prince of Arran or Finche. Prince of Arran finished third at the Cup last year while Finche has been strong all season. This is a must-watch race.
Wednesday 6th November 3:00AM GMT (Thursday 7th) – Basketball: Los Angeles Clippers v Milwaukee Bucks
The 2019 NBA season continues with the Los Angeles Clippers hosting the Milwaukee Bucks at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Last year’s Eastern Conference leaders will test their mettle against one of the best in the West, as the Clippers meet the Bucks in an early-season showstopper. Milwaukee have made an impressive start to the new campaign having already toppled reigning NBA Champions, the Toronto Raptors. However, Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers will pose a very different threat to Milwaukee. The LA-based franchise has been deadly on the offensive end so far, and lead the league in field goal percentage.
Thursday 7th November 5:00AM GMT – Golf: Turkish Airlines Open
The European Tour’s Rolex Series continues with the Turkish Airlines Open at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal in Belek.
The Turkish Airlines Open gets underway this week at The Montgomerie Maxx Royal Golf Club in Antalya. This pristine course will be navigated by the world’s best golfers over the coming days, as they battle it out for the sixth Rolex Series title of the season. The performance of Justin Rose will be under particular scrutiny, as the Englishman has won the previous two editions of this competition.
Friday 8th November 8:00PM GMT – Football: Norwich v Watford
To open the Premier League weekend, Norwich and Watford will fight to leave the relegation zone at Carrow Road.
Norwich and Watford will look to kickstart their respective campaigns as the two strugglers do battle at Carrow Road. Whilst Norwich have won just two of their opening 11 league outings, Watford remain winless in the top-flight this term despite improved performances in recent weeks. Three of Watford’s five Premier League points this year came in the month of October, and Quique Sánchez Flores will look to build on that to lead his side to a first win of the season. Meanwhile, Norwich will be grateful to return to Carrow Road this weekend, as both of their league wins have come on home soil this term.
Saturday 9th November 8:30PM GMT – American Football: Alabama Crimson Tide v LSU Tigers
The top two teams in college football go head-to-head at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
In one of the biggest matches of the season so far, these two heavyweights of the college football scene will lock horns at Bryan-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Both sides have made perfect starts to the campaign, going into this game with identical records of 8-0, but something will have to give today as two titans clash. LSU Quarterback Joe Burrows has been sensational so far having already notched 2,805 yards of offence this season. He will be hoping for another sensational return as his side look to march out of Alabama with the W for the first time in eight years.
Sunday 10th November 4:30PM GMT – Football: Liverpool v Manchester City
The last match of the Premier League week is an all-important clash at the top of the table at Anfield.
Liverpool and Manchester City’s title credentials will be severely tested this weekend as the two sides meet at Anfield in a battle for supremacy. These teams have set the tone early on in this gripping Premier League campaign and currently sit first and second in the standings respectively. Since losing to City in January, Jurgen Klopp’s men have gone 28 league matches without loss, but the visit of Pep Guardiola’s side to Anfield will likely prove one of the toughest assignments of the campaign.
Other sports highlights from around the globe
Honourable mentions around the globe include the cricket as New Zealand host England in a number of T20 Internationals, Afghanistan start their ODI series against the West Indies whilst Australia entertain Pakistan in their T20 Series. Champions League football returns this week with the action headlined by Ajax’s trip to Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen’s clash with Atletico Madrid. There is action on offer from the ATP World Tour as the Next Gen ATP Finals play out, starting on Tuesday. Additionally, the season finale from the tour begins on Sunday as the Nitto ATP Finals get underway at the O2 Arena. Meanwhile, the unmissable World Para-Athletics Championships begin on Thursday, with the eight-day event taking place in Dubai. On the European Tour, the Turkish Airlines Open begins on Thursday and will conclude on Sunday. There is exciting Premiership Rugby action on Friday as Sale Sharks host Wasps at the AJ Bell Stadium and Gloucester host Saracens on Saturday. On the PDC Tour, the preamble to the World Championships begins on Saturday as the Grand Slam of Darts is contested at Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton. Celebrity Cruiserweights KSI and Logan Paul will contest their first professional boxing fight at the Staples Center on Saturday, after their initial amateur bout ended in a draw. Leicester will entertain Arsenal at the King Power in the Premier League on Saturday where the two sides’ top four credentials will be put to the test. France and Australia will meet in the Fed Cup final over the weekend as the nations battle it out for one of international tennis’ most prestigious titles. The Staples Center will be home to more NBA action on Sunday night as the LA Lakers do battle with the reigning champion, Toronto Raptors. The highly anticipated MLS Cup final will be contested on Sunday between the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC. In international rugby league, the Great Britain Lions continue their Tour with another Test match against New Zealand.
A week of world class sport awaits. Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by Dallas Cowboys, Flemington Racecourse, LA Clippers, Turkish Airlines Open, Norwich City FC, LSU, Premier League
Written and information correct on 4th November at 10pm GMT