| 4dThe first weekend in April has a wealth of major events to get sports fans salivating.
From the great tradition of the Grand National and the Boat Races to the FA Cup semi-finals and the latest instalment of the Premier League title race, there is plenty to keep you glued to your armchair this weekend.
Here, Press Association Sport provides the essential guide to what to watch and where and when to watch it.
FRIDAY
PREMIER LEAGUE
Southampton v Liverpool – Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Football, 1900
The big action starts early when Liverpool head to Southampton, hoping to go back to the top of the Premier League table in their tit-for-tat tussle with Manchester City. Virgil Van Dijk, Sadio Mane and Dejan Lovren to name just a few, Liverpool have bought so many players from Southampton in recent seasons they must have a loyalty card at St Mary's, and they will be keen to cash in some rewards, with every point crucial in the final weeks of the campaign. But Southampton may not be in forgiving mood as they battle the threat of relegation, having gained some breathing space with last week's win at Brighton.
SATURDAY
HORSE RACING
The Grand National – ITV, 1400
6️⃣9️⃣ five-day confirmations for the £1-million @RandoxHealth Grand National including: 🏇🏻 Tiger Roll🏇🏻 Anibale Fly🏇🏻 Rathvinden🏇🏻 Vintage Clouds🏇🏻 Lake View Lad🏇🏻 Rock The Kasbah🏇🏻 Mall Dini🏇🏻 Pleasant Company🏇🏻 Step Back Find out more 👉https://t.co/n24HylVicy pic.twitter.com/Erlwq3zmrB — Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) April 1, 2019
There is only one place to start on Saturday, with all eyes on Aintree for one of the highlights of the racing calendar. The Grand National, first run some 180 years ago, now claims a worldwide TV audience of some 600 million, so what else would you be watching? Tiger Roll is aiming to deliver a rare repeat win following victory 12 months ago, having looked strong at the Cheltenham Festival. The primary competition comes in the form of last year's runner-up Pleasant Company and Anibale Fly.
FA CUP
Manchester City v Brighton – BBC One, 1710
Two late goals and a dramatic penalty shootout sees @OfficialBHAFC into an #EmiratesFACup semi-final vs @ManCity! 👏 pic.twitter.com/lMlrm7U227 — The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 17, 2019
City's ambitious quadruple bid will continue on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Wembley to face Brighton. City are now firm favourites to lift the FA Cup for the first time since 2011 but Brighton will have ideas of their own. The Seagulls have never won the competition themselves and have only once made it this far before, losing to Manchester United in the 1983 semi-finals. Few would back them against Pep Guardiola's mighty side, but an intense fixture list may well catch up with City somewhere soon. Will it be at Wembley?
Other Highlights: Football – Hearts v Hibernian (Scottish Premiership, BT Sport 1 1200), Norwich v QPR (Championship, Sky Sports Main Event 1200), Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga, BT Sport 1 1715). Rugby Union – Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs (Premiership, BT Sport 2 1615).
SUNDAY
ROWING
The Boat Race – BBC One, 1320
Where Greatness Meets... Next time these crews will meet will be on Sunday 7th April on The Tideway#TheBoatRace2019 pic.twitter.com/X3ffgKDwsp — The Boat Race (@theboatraces) March 14, 2019
Another crown jewel in the British sporting calendar comes on Sunday as Oxford and Cambridge go head to head on the River Thames. The men will do battle for the 165th time after the 74th edition of the women's race. Cambridge's team will include double Olympic champion James Cracknell, 46, who is completing a Masters in human evolutionary studies.
FA CUP
Watford v Wolves – BT Sport 2, 1530
5️⃣ more days...#MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/AGLTIE3RNm — The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 1, 2019
After City v Brighton comes part two of the FA Cup semi-finals from Wembley. Watford and Wolves have impressed this season and are busy scrapping for seventh place in the Premier League, but both know a second potential path to Europe is on offer in the cup. Watford's best finish in the competition is the runners-up spot in 1984, but Wolves are four-time winners, last lifting the trophy in 1960.
Other Highlights: Football – Everton v Arsenal (Premier League, Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Premier League 1330). Rugby Union – Northampton Saints v Gloucester (Premiership, BT Sport 1 1430). Golf – Valero Texas Open (Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Golf 1800). Cycling – Tour of Flanders (Eurosport 1, 0915).
