PICK OF THE SPORT: Manchester City are winless in seven games and Liverpool are smelling blood, writes Dylan Bettencourt.

Struggling Manchester City is facing another battle in the English Premier League.

The once high-riding league champions are on their worst run under Pep Guardiola, going seven games without a win, and now have to face league leaders Liverpool at Anfield.

Liverpool, eight points clear at the top of the table, will be determined to extend their lead to eleven points with a win.

Guardiola, however, will know that a win on Sunday could almost heal the pain of the last seven games and put them back on track.

But if City lose, it will feel as though the Premier League title is too far gone.

The two sides clash on Sunday at 6pm.

There’s plenty of action before that, with Southampton meeting Brighton & Hove Albion at 10pm on Friday.

Saturday sees a whole host of games at 5pm, but the match of the day is Arsenal’s visit to West Ham at 7.30pm.

To warm up for the weekend’s clash, Chelsea takes on Aston Villa at 3.30pm, while Tottenham faces Fulham and Manchester United hosts Everton at the same time.

All the action will be live on DStv channel 203.

➤ With the Autumn Internationals all but done and dusted, the Vodacom United Rugby Championship is back with a bang, and two South African franchises face tough challenges right from the start.

The Vodacom Blue Bulls are bracing themselves for a battle against Connacht in Galway, Ireland, where cold, damp weather is forecast. The wind, racing off the Atlantic Ocean, is expected to reach speeds of around 30kph. It’s a tough day ahead for the Bulls as they look to defend their third-place position on the log.

The Lions face Ulster and can expect a similarly icy reception when they take on Munster in Limerick, Ireland, under the same conditions. The Lions are clinging to fourth place on the log, a crucial spot for securing a home semi-final. To stay there, they’ll need skill, determination and a winning attitude.

Back home, it’s a derby as the underperforming Sharks host the DHL Stormers, who have done even worse this season. The Sharks are ninth on the log, having lost two of their five matches, while the Stormers sit lower, with three losses in five games. Both teams have been disappointing and will aim to improve their standings and win back fan support.

➤ The HSBC Sevens kicks off with the Blitzboks hoping to build on their strong finish at the end of the last tournament. They have a good record in Dubai, having won the men’s event five times and beating Argentina in the final earlier this year.

Their biggest test comes against France on Saturday evening. France, however, will be without Antoine Dupont, the star of the 2023 Olympics.

Fixtures:

• Hollywoodbets Sharks v DHL Stormers: Durban, Saturday, 5pm
• Connacht Rugby v Vodacom Bulls: Galway, Saturday, 7.30pm
• Munster Rugby v Emirates Lions: Limerick, Saturday, 9.30pm

All matches are live on DStv channels 201 and 211.

Saturday – HSBC Sevens Fixtures (All on DStv channel 211):

• Blitzboks v Australia: 8.50am
• Blitzboks v Kenya: 12.58pm
• Blitzboks v France: 6.44pm

Pictured above: Manchester City.

Source: Man City/X