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A feast of New Year football! Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Emirates FA Cup action and more this January on Virgin TV
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Football fans will be in their element this month with all the live action across your channels on VIrgin TV
By Chris Miller, Feature Writer
- Published
- 7 January 2026
The Christmas period is a brilliant time for live football on TV – but January is arguably even better. As well as the Premier League, there’s FA Cup action as this season’s competition gets going with the addition of England’s biggest clubs, plus the all-important final games in the league phase of the Champions League. There are key clashes in the EFL, Scottish Premiership and Women’s Super League, plus you don’t have all those pesky Christmas preparations to distract you from what’s really important!
It’s a real New Year feast of football, so here’s our guide to the biggest matches you can watch in the coming month. You can enjoy it all from the comfort of your sofa but if you’re out and about, you can follow all the live action on TNT Sports and Sky Sports wherever you are in the UK, if there’s WiFi, 3G or 4G. For TNT Sports, simply download the Virgin TV Go app, which is free to all Virgin TV customers and is compatible with Android and Apple devices, Windows 10 and PC/Mac. For Sky Sports, you need to download the free Sky Sports app, which is compatible with all the same systems.
If you’re thinking your telly could do with some more live sport on it, then have a look at our Sports TV Package deals to find the combination that’s perfect for you.
Here’s a more in-depth look at the live sport you can enjoy on Virgin TV this January, and for up-to-date broadcast details of all the live sport on TV, check out our full weekly guide to live sport.
Premier League
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Arsenal led the way during the first half of the Premier League season, but the challengers were always hot on their heels – including Manchester City, who won four titles in a row from 2021 to 2024. While Arsenal are packed with talent and seem to have built a league-winning squad, Pep Guardiola and his players have been there and done it.
Both teams are in live TV action this month, with Arsenal facing Liverpool and Manchester United at home, and City travelling to Old Trafford to take on their improving local rivals. Don’t miss these huge Premier League games this month, as well as choice fixtures like West Ham against surprise package Sunderland (TNT Sports) and the meeting of top-four hopefuls Chelsea and Crystal Palace (Sky Sports).
Arsenal v Liverpool
Thursday 8 January, Sky Sports Premier League/HD (CH 512/502)
Manchester United v Manchester City
Saturday 17 January, Sky Sports Premier League/HD (CH 512/502)
Arsenal v Manchester United
Sunday 25 January, Sky Sports Premier League/HD (CH 512/502)
Liverpool v Newcastle United
Saturday 31 January, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
UEFA Champions League
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TNT Sports brings you extensive live coverage of the UEFA Champions League this season, with some games on Prime Video too, and January brings the final two rounds of the league phase – so these matches are all vital, as the elite European clubs vie for the all-important qualification places. The top eight go straight to the knockout rounds, while the ninth- to 24-placed teams face a two-legged play-off. These are the key dates for the English teams – and don’t forget, TNT Sports also shows the UEFA Europa League, with live matches on 22 and 29 January.
Bodø/Glimt v Manchester City
Tuesday 20 January, TNT Sports
Inter Milan v Arsenal
Tuesday 20 January, Apps > Prime Video
Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund
Tuesday 20 January, TNT Sports
Chelsea v Pafos
Wednesday 21 January, TNT Sports
Marseille v Liverpool
Wednesday 21 January, TNT Sports
Newcastle United v PSV Eindhoven
Wednesday 21 January, TNT Sports
Arsenal v Kairat
Wednesday 28 January, TNT Sports
Eintracht Frankfurt v Tottenham Hotspur
Wednesday 28 January, TNT Sports
Liverpool v Qarabag
Wednesday 28 January, TNT Sports
Manchester City v Galatasaray
Wednesday 28 January, TNT Sports
Napoli v Chelsea
Wednesday 28 January, TNT Sports
Paris Saint-Germain v Newcastle United
Wednesday 28 January, TNT Sports
Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Women’s FA Cup
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TNT Sports brings you live action from the FA Cup, the world’s oldest football competition and one that still has that special aura. And as the biggest clubs in England join the competition for the third round, there are some intriguing ties. Non-league Macclesfield of the sixth-tier National League North will host holders Crystal Palace, while Nottingham Forest face a tricky trip to Wrexham and Chelsea will visit Charlton. Liverpool face Barnsley, who famously knocked them out in 2008, and there are two all-Premier League ties to watch. Some games are live on BBC TV as well.
Wrexham v Nottingham Forest
Friday 9 January, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Macclesfield v Crystal Palace
Saturday 10 January, BBC One HD (CH 101) + TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
Saturday 10 January, BBC One HD (CH 101) + TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Charlton Athletic v Chelsea
Saturday 10 January, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Derby County v Leeds United
Sunday 11 January, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 522)
Portsmouth v Arsenal
Sunday 11 January, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Sunday 11 January, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Liverpool v Barnsley
Monday 12 January, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Also this season, TNT Sports is broadcasting live action from the Women’s FA Cup, and the biggest clubs are also entering the competition in January as it reaches the fourth round. Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and holders Chelsea will be in action alongside fourth-tier teams like Chatham Town, York City and London Bees on the weekend of 17-18 January, with some of the action also live on Channel 4.
Scottish Premiership, EFL, WSL and more
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Thought that was all the football in January? Think again! There’s tons more action from the three divisions of the English Football League, the Scottish Premiership, the Women’s Super League (which returns from its winter break on 10 January), the German Bundesliga, Italy’s Serie A and more, including the Africa Cup of Nations, across TNT Sports, Sky Sports and more Virgin TV channels. Here are just a few of the January highlights.
Scottish Premiership: Dundee v Heart Of Midlothian
Sunday 11 January, Sky Sports Football/HD (CH 513/503)
Women’s Super League Arsenal v Manchester United
Saturday 10 January, Sky Sports Premier League/HD (CH 513/503)
Scottish Premiership: Heart Of Midlothian v Celtic
Sunday 11 January, Sky Sports Football/HD (CH 513/503)
Serie A: Inter Milan v Napoli
Sunday 11 January, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Africa Cup Of Nations: Semi-finals
Wednesday 14 January, E4 HD (CH 106)
EFL Championship: West Bromwich Albion v Middlesbrough
Friday 16 January, Sky Sports Football/HD (CH 513/503)
EFL Championship: Coventry City v Leicester City
Saturday 17 January, Sky Sports Football/HD (CH 513/503)
Bundesliga: RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich
Saturday 17 January, Sky Sports Football/HD (CH 513/503)
Africa Cup Of Nations: Final
Sunday 18 January, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)
Women’s Super League: Chelsea v Arsenal
Saturday 24 January, BBC One HD (CH 101)
EFL Championship: Portsmouth v Southampton
Sunday 25 January, Sky Sports+
Not heard about Virgin TV Go?
Don’t let anything get in between you and your essential viewing with Virgin TV Go. With loads of sport and Box Sets to try out, you’ll always be entertained wherever you are!
The app is available to all Virgin TV customers at no extra cost and is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows 10 and PC/Mac. Get downloading (from the links below) and you’ll be one step closer to watching what you want, when you want.
Download the Virgin TV Go app from the Apple app store
Don’t miss a moment of the action
Catch Sky Sports, TNT Sports and more fan favourites with our Sports TV Package deals.
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TV channels: Channels, content and features available depend on your chosen package. Channel line-ups and content are subject to change at any time and to regional variations.
HD: HD TV set, V HD Box, TiVo box or Virgin TV V6 connected with HDMI cables required for HD channels. Number of inclusive HD channels depends on package.
ITV HD is subject to regional variation. ITV HD is not available where STV HD or UTV HD is available.
Catch Up TV: Catch Up TV content available for up to 7 days or up to 30 days after broadcast, depending on content.
Premium channels (add-ons): 30 days’ notice required to remove premium channels/packs.
TNT Sports is included in selected Virgin TV bundles, or it can be taken as an add-on at additional monthly cost. Premium channels and upgrades must be kept for at least 30 days.
TV Go: Content available to view depends on TV package. Not all channels/content from relevant pack available. Live streaming and On Demand requires broadband/WiFi or 3G/4G/5G access. UK only. Access via PC, Mac or TV Go App (selected iOS devices and Android™ devices only). Maximum 5 compatible devices per account can watch TV. Maximum 2 compatible devices per account can watch TV simultaneously.
Sky Sports HD channels: Sky Sports HD channels £7 per month when subscribing to Sky Sports SD channels.
Sky Sports apps: Only available via the Sky Sports websites or apps (for selected iOS and Android mobiles and tablets) to customers who subscribe to these channels. UK only. Maximum 2 devices. Only available on iOS 8 and above, and Android 4.x. Selected content may not be available to view. Separate terms and conditions apply to the Sky Sports apps and websites.
Virgin TV 360 Box: Not available with full fibre. Minimum of M50 Fibre Broadband required for operation. Boxes require a HDMI cable to connect to your TV. Catch Up TV: Catch Up TV content available for seven days after broadcast.
Virgin Stream box: Virgin Media broadband required (min. 50 Mbps). Compatible with Hub 3 and above. Stream box requires an HDMI cable connected to TV. HD TV set and a Stream box connected with HDMI cables required for viewing HD channels. Number of inclusive HD channels depends on package. 4K compatible TV/device required to watch Ultra HD. Stream box and remote remain property of Virgin Media.
Flex: Virgin Media broadband required (min. 50 Mbps). Not available with other Virgin Media TV services. Compatible with Hub 3 and above. Stream box requires an HDMI cable connected to TV. HD TV set and a Stream box connected with HDMI cables required for viewing HD channels. Number of inclusive HD channels depends on package. 4K compatible TV/device required to watch Ultra HD. Stream box and remote remain property of Virgin Media. There is a £5 a month charge for Flex service, and a one-off activation fee of £35 may apply, along with charges & terms for each Flex entertainment subscription chosen. Some Flex subscriptions require 30 days’ notice to cancel. New Virgin Media broadband customers subject to 18 month contract and set up fees may apply. See full details.
