More weekday action is coming your way from across the counties this week as we have cup matches and vital title deciders all waiting to be enjoyed.

Tuesday 8th September EFL Cup: Sunderland v Hull City 20:00

We kick things off this week with Round Two of the EFL Cup as an all-Premier League clash takes centre stage, with Hull heading north to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland.

The Tigers have had an unbelievable start to their season, with everyone predicting a horrid season on the horizon prior to the first matchday. Some even suggested they could break the lowest points tally set by derby.

But Hull were quick to prove people wrong, as their maiden match on their top flight return against Manchester United saw the side from East Yorkshire put on a show at the MKM Stadium and take all three points in a 2-0 win.

The winning ways continued in less style in their first EFL Cup fixture as they faced off with Championship Stoke City, where, after conceding late in the second half, Hull equalised just six minutes later and just shy of the half-time whistle before winning 5-4 on penalties.

Their second Premier League fixture brought a different challenge when they travelled away to fellow newly promoted side Coventry, where another win was achieved as now departed Liam Millar scored the only goal to get a vital three points in what some were calling an early relegation six-pointer.

More positivity grew from a well-fought 0-0 draw with Aston Villa, a fantastic result against the reigning Europa League champions and a well-established Premier League giant.

Sunderland has had a mixed start to the season, with a disappointing loss to Ipswich on the opening day getting things off to a devastating start.

If a loss to a newly promoted side was not bad enough, it was thanks to a last-minute winner from former Black Cat winger Jack Clarke, who made no attempt to temper his celebrations as he secured the loss for the Wearsiders.

They returned to winning ways against Fulham the week after, though when the winner was left until late, but this time worked in The Black Cats' favour, as striker Wilson Isidor scored the winner just fifteen minutes from the end.

They also head into the EFL Cup on the back of a draw, with a point gained in dramatic fashion against Brentford at the weekend, where a 57th-minute Janelt opener for the Bees was tempered with a Le Fee penalty just eight minutes from full time.

With Hull looking to continue their good start and Sunderland hoping to get going, there is a lot in terms of confidence on the line, despite the fact that both will be focusing more on the league and for Sunderland a good run in Europe.

Date: 08/09/2026
Time: 19:45
Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland
The match will be shown on Sky Sports+



Wednesday 9th EFL Cup: Chelsea v Leeds United 20:00

The EFL Cup action continues on Wednesday with a bitter rivalry beginning another chapter as Leeds travel to the capital to face Chelsea.

There is certainly no love lost between the two sides, who have had no kind words for each other since the 70s. With modern times proving to have less opportunity for the two to meet, each clash has become more of a spectacle, with fans wanting more than ever to get one over on the other.

The most recent meeting was one of the most impactful when last year the two sides met at Wembley for the semi-final of the FA Cup.
Chelsea got the best of the Whites that day, with a goal from Enzo Fernandez being the difference maker as Leeds’ Wembley curse continued for another year.

The Peacocks have had a good decent start to the season as they opened their 26/27 Premier League account with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City ground, only to then find themselves back on Trent's side in the first round of the EFL Cup just days later.

Farkes men doubled their tally from the previous weekend in a 2-0 win and got back up north with three points in the league and a pass to the next round.

Their winning ways ended in their first match at Elland Road of the season when they faced a Brentford side in hot form. The match looked like a certain loss for the home side, who were abysmal in the first half and found themselves 1-0 down. The second half was a different story as Leeds rallied and equalised, clawing a point from the jaws on zero.

It was somewhat of an opposite state of events against Brighton in their last fixture, where Leeds looked commanding in the first half and found themselves one-nil up at half-time thanks to Jayden Bogle, a first goal for the Peacocks in 14 years against Brighton.

That dominance wasn’t to last, though, as the hosts eventually equalised through Vuskovic, leaving each side happy with a point and continuing Leed’s unbeaten start.

Chelsea have had a good start to the season, which kicked off with a touchy 3-2 West London derby win over Fulham. Their first EFL Cup match ended with a more routine win over League One Luton, which would be their only routine win, as then it was on to Brighton.

The match with the Seagulls looked to be a whitewash, and the Blues took a 3-0 lead within the first 32 minutes. Half an hour from the final whistle, though it was 3-2, Chelsea, thanks to Cole Palmer, saved the day once again as he fired them 4-2 in front.

A consolation from Pascal Gross in injury time made no difference as a 4-3 win was secured. The good times ended there, though, as a London derby with Arsenal ended in defeat for Xabi Alonso’s men, after a goal from new signing Morgan Rogers gave them the lead within the opening minutes.

The response from the reigning champions was too much of a handle, though, as goals from Havertz and Odegaard sealed the win at the Emirates.

With so much history and venom between Leeds and Chelsea, a win will be the only accepted outcome for either side as they look to set down a marker and show their intent to not only go far in the cup competitions, but to prove that they have the heart to slay rivals.

Date: 09/09/2026
Time: 20:00
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
The match will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event



Friday 11th September Betfred Super League: Leeds Rhinos v Hull FC 20:00

We round the week off with what could be a title deciding fixture in West Yorkshire as Leeds Rhinos have a slight chance of glory if they win against East Yorkshire opposition Hull FC, but only if results elsewhere go their way.

The Rhinos have been on red hot form for practically the full season and were favourites for the league leaders' shield until an all-important game against second place Wigan Warriors ended in disaster last weekend.

Under the floodlights at Headingley, it was The Warriors that shone brightest and all but extinguished Leeds’ hopes of the league leaders' shield with a dominant display as they blew Rhinos out of the water and off top spot in a 40-8 win.

An earlier slip-up to Leigh for Leeds a few weeks ago has also proven to be catastrophic now in a run that has been mostly positive, with just three losses in their last 15 matches.

Now it's elsewhere, where Bard Arthur’s side will look as they are two points behind Wigan with just a game remaining, meaning the Warriors have to slip up at home to the Catalans Dragons if there is any hope of reclaiming first place.

First, though, they need to make sure they can beat a Hull FC side that has struggled for the majority of this season.

Just seven wins from 26 matches is nowhere near the standard expected of Hull, especially considering the success that their neighbour and enemy Hull KR have had in recent years.

It is looking likely that the Black and Whites will finish in 12th and beneath two of the three newly promoted sides. They will be hoping that next year brings a wave of improvements so they can better what has been a damning points total of 14 thus far.

A win away at Leeds would do them the world of good for optimism heading into the winter, where there will be a rebuild on the cards in preparation for 2027.

Date: 11/09/2026
Time: 20:00
Venue: Headingley Stadium, Leeds
The match will be shown on Sky Go