WHEN THERE’S AN earthquake in Donegal, you know you’re better off staying in for the weekend.  And why wouldn’t you; check this lot out.

• One to sit in for: It’s the FA Cup, it’s full of vitriol, it’s Liverpool v Manchester United at Anfield…AND IT’S LIVE!
• One to Sky-plus: Unless you’ve got a very understanding boss or a new-born baby, head to bed on Sunday night and record the Australian Open men’s final, won’t you?
• One to skip: Bowls. Deary me.

Today

Basketball: NBA, Miami Heat v New York Knicks, (ESPN, 12.30am, Sat).

Bowls: The World Indoor Championships (BBC2, 1pm).

Cricket: Pakistan v England, Second Test (Sky Sports 1, 6am); Australia v India, Fourth Test (Sky Sports 1, 11.55pm).

Golf: Abu Dhabi Championship (Sky Sports 3, 6am). PGA, Farmers Insurance Open (Sky Sports 3, 8pm).

Football: African Nations Cup, Niger v Tunisia (Eurosport, 4pm); Gabon v Morocco (Eurosport, 6.30pm). FA Cup fourth round, Watford v Tottenham, (ESPN, 7pm).

Rugby: Top 14, Montpellier v Stade Francais, (Setanta Ireland, 7.40pm).

Snooker: World Snooker Shootout, (Sky Sports 2, 6pm).

Tennis: Australian Open (Eurosport, 7.45am).

Saturday

Bowls: World Indoor Championships, (BBC2, 2.30pm).

Boxing: Commonwealth Super Bantamweight bout, Carl Frampton v Kris Hughes, (Sky Sports 1, 9pm).

Cricket: Test, Pakistan v England, (Sky Sports 1, 6am).

Football: FA Cup, Liverpool v Manchester United, (Setanta Ireland, 12.15pm, ITV1, noon); FA Cup TBC, (Setanta Ireland, 2.30pm), Brighton or Wrexham v Newcastle, (ESPN, 4.30pm). African Nations Cup, Botswana v Guinea, (Eurosport, 4pm), Ghana v Mali, (Eurosport, 6.30pm).
Bundesliga, (Bayern Munich v Wolfsburg, (ESPN, 2.30pm). Primera Division, Real Madrid v Real Zaragoza followed by Villarreal v Barcelona, (Sky Sports 4, 6.55pm). Serie A, Juventus v Udinese, (Setanta Ireland, 7.40pm, ESPN, 7.45pm).

Golf: European Tour, Abu Dhabi, (Sky Sports 3, 9am); PGA Tour, The Farmers Insurance Open, (Sky Sports 3, 6pm).

Horse racing: Leopardstown, (RTÉ Two, 1.30pm). Channel 4 Racing, (Channel 4, 2pm).

Rugby: International friendly, England Saxons v Irish Wolfhounds, (Sky Sports 1, 4.30pm). Top 14, Racing v Toulouse, (Setanta Sports 1, 3.10pm). LV Cup, YBC, (Sky Sports 1, 2pm).

Snooker: World Snooker Shootout, (Sky Sports 2, noon, 6pm).

Tennis: Australian Open, (Eurosport, 7.45am, BBC2, 8.25am).

Paul Kimmage and Irish Times journo Ian O’Riordan had a right old ding-dong on iTalkSport as the fallout from the Martin Fagan doping controversy continues. Worth a watch.

YouTube Credit: setantasportsireland

Sunday

American football: Pro Bowl All-Star game, (Sky Sports 1, 11.30pm).

Cricket: Test, Pakistan v England, (Sky Sports 1, 6am).

GAA: Bord na Móna O’Byrne Cup final, (TG4, 1.45pm).

Golf: European Tour, Abu Dhabi, (Sky Sports 3, 8am). PGA Tour, The Farmers Insurance Open, (Sky Sports 3, 6pm).

Horse racing: Leopardstown, (RTÉ Two, 1.30pm).

Football: FA Cup: Sunderland v Middlesbrough, (ITV1, 1pm, Setanta Ireland, 1.25pm); Arsenal v Aston Villa, (ESPN, 3.30pm). Scottish League Cup: Falkirk v Celtic, (Setanta Sports 1, 2.55pm) African Nations Cup, TBC, (Eurosport, 5.30pm). Eredivisie, Feyenoord v Ajax, (ESPN 11.30am).
Serie A, AC Milan v Cagliari, (ESPN 7.15pm). Primera Division, Malaga v Sevilla, (Sky Sports 1, 8pm).

Liverpool and Manchester United meet in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday. Let us take you back to a little-known meeting between the sides in 1999…

YouTube Credit: EntertainmentMUFC

Tennis: Australian Open, (Eurosport, 7.45am, BBC2, 8.15pm).

Snooker: World Snooker Shootout, (Sky Sports 1, 2pm, 7pm).

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