EUROPEAN TRAVELS...
Liverpool’s “reward” for finishing third in their Champions League group will be to enter the Europa League, though as one of the four worst performing third-placed teams they will not be seeded. The same goes for Tottenham, whose defeat by Besiktas forced them to settle for second in Group C and meant they risk a last-32 tie against – among others – Internazionale, Napoli or Fiorentina. Everton, on the other hand, are seeded after finishing top of Group H and possible opponents include the French Cup winners Guingamp, who come from a town of 7,500. he draw, not it must be hoped as labyrinthine as the tournament itself, is at noon tomorrow.
NETBALL ...
England’s netballers play a three-Test series against Malawi this week and will hope for improvement after losing their recent two-game series against Australia and New Zealand. They will play at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Sunday (5pm) and London’s Copper Box Arena on Wednesday (7.30pm) before finishing at Worcester’s University Arena on Saturday (3pm). All three Tests will be screened on Sky Sports 4. Anna Mayes’ side were beaten in both games against the Aussies and eventually lost to New Zealand on goal difference.
BIG BASH...
Kevin Pietersen will write a new chapter in his T20 career on Thursday when Melbourne Stars commence this winter’s Big Bash League against Adelaide Strikers. The tournament’s fourth edition will run for six weeks and Andrew Flintoff, continuing his reincarnation as 20-over specialist, will also be taking part, for Brisbane Heat. Flintoff’s team do not play for a further three days. Tim Bresnan, meanwhile, will join Hobart Hurricanes in January.
BULLSEYES AND BEER ...
We all have a friend who insists darts is not a real sport but it has become a huge draw since its pub beginnings and a BBC Four documentary named Bullseyes and Beer: When Darts Hit Britain (Monday, 9pm) will chart its meteoric rise during the 1980s, a time when its star players became household names.
