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Dominic Booth clocks on bright and early with all the latest news and previews to set the tone for a lively Saturday of football action. There are five Premier League fixtures, bookended by the lunchtime meeting of Bournemouth and Sunderland and the late afternoon kick-off at Elland Road as Leeds host title-chasing Manchester City. Plus any wash-up from Friday night’s match, Wolves v Aston Villa. In the Championship, rudderless and sinking West Brom travel to Oxford, while leaders Coventry take on Stoke. In Scotland, disruptors Hearts host Aberdeen, the last club to break the Old Firm duopoly way back in 1985. In Europe, Barcelona welcome Villarreal, Inter and Paris Saint-Germain are in action, plus Germany’s Bundesliga big-hitters Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund collide in the Klassiker.
Barry Glendenning hosts the live blog as Sunderland seek an uplift on the south coast. Regis Le Bris’s Black Cats impressed during the first half of the season, but have only recorded two wins from nine league games so far in 2026. They enter Saturday’s skirmish at Bournemouth on a three-game losing run in the league and sit 12th in the table. Sunderland’s injuries have suddenly mounted since Sunday’s defeat by Fulham, with fresh problems for Romaine Mundle, Jocelin Ta Bi, Nordi Mukiele and Brian Brobbey. However, Bertrand Traoré is making his return and captain Granit Xhaka is in contention. Andoni Iraola’s Cherries will be looking to extend their seven-match unbeaten run and continue their push for Europe. Only Manchester United – on 10 – are on a longer unbeaten streak.
