The sporting week ahead (08/05/11)

Today

Even I go along with Sky's hyperbole for once. Yes, it is quite a big game between Manchester United and Chelsea this afternoon. Arsenal, who still have a sliver of a chance, travel to Stoke, while Wolves desperately need the points in another Midlands derby against West Bromwich. In Scotland, Celtic are in danger of throwing away the SPL – they travel to Kilmarnock.

Tomorrow

Mark Hughes was the scourge of Liverpool sides on many occasions and would dearly love to turn them over with Fulham tonight as they make an unlikely bid for a European place.

Tuesday

A Champions' League place will be Manchester City's reward if they see off Spurs, while Rangers have a key game at home to Dundee United. Way down in Division Two of cricket's county championship, struggling Kent go to Glamorgan while fellow underachievers Essex are in Derbyshire.

Wednesday

Shiver me timbers, the Cornish Pirates will ensure Worcester Warriors are in for an 'aaaaarrrrrrrrrd game tonight in their Championship play-off first leg.

Thursday

His team may be woeful but Scott Parker is a worthy recipient of the Football Writers' Association's Footballer of the Year award tonight.

Friday

The Players Championship in Florida. American golf fans call it the fifth major. Germany's Martin Kaymer (one of six Europeans occupying the top eight places in the world) claims it isn't all that. Don't bet against him winning.

Saturday

The FA Cup final. A sacred day. Get up at 8am, watch hours upon hours of inane interviews at the team hotels and then the thrill of seeing the team coaches getting stuck in traffic on the way to Wembley. Sadly, it's sacred no more. Man City versus Stoke kicks off at 3pm, but Manchester United could have won the title by then (their League game at Blackburn kicks off at 12.45pm). It could be a spooky echo of 1968, when City won the League, only to be upstaged a few days later as United won the European Cup. In the relegation battle, Blackpool host Bolton and Wolves go to Sunderland. And finally, Andrew Strauss, who is now – somewhat bizarrely – one of three England cricket captains, gets an early look at the summer's first set of tourists as Middlesex host Sri Lanka.