Stockport County and Huddersfield Town go head-to-head this Saturday in a crucial League One showdown. Both teams are locked on 39 points, just 9 behind the automatic promotion spots, making this a must-win game to stay in the play-off hunt. With Stockport struggling at home and Huddersfield in solid form, it’s set to be a tense and exciting match at Edgeley Park.

With FA Cup Third Round weekend decimating the EFL fixture list, attention turns to non-league football for value picks. From promotion chases to relegation scraps across the National League, North and South, this guide breaks down the key fixtures and highlights where the smart money might lie — weather permitting.

The Roses Derby returns to Elland Road to kick off 2026, and this might be Leeds United’s best chance in over two decades to finally topple their fiercest rivals. With Daniel Farke’s side flying and Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United still prone to chaos, expect a ferocious, fiery encounter with huge consequences at both ends of the Premier League table. This is history, hatred and hope colliding - the perfect Big Bet to start the year.

Boxing Day football doesn’t get much better than this as Wrexham host a resurgent Sheffield United under the lights on Sky Sports. With Chris Wilder’s Blades flying and the Red Dragons hard to beat at home, this festive showdown could spark a late push toward the Championship play-offs — and promises goals, drama, and a touch of Christmas magic.

Newcastle United look to banish the ghosts of a painful Tyne-Wear derby defeat as they welcome Chelsea to St. James' Park. With both sides desperate to keep their Champions League dreams alive and Enzo Maresca’s Blues proving to be road warriors, will the Magpies’ "fortress" hold firm, or will Cole Palmer deliver a lump of coal to the Toon Army?

The Tyne-Wear Derby is back in the Premier League, and it's shaping up to be a massive showdown. Sunderland, riding high in the top half, host a Newcastle side hoping to reclaim their Champions League spot. With Sunderland’s near perfect home record and Newcastle’s improving form, it’s anyone’s game. Can Granit Xhaka control the midfield for Sunderland or will Bruno Guimaraes lead Newcastle to victory? Get ready for fireworks in the Big Bet!

A vital clash between Colchester United and Gillingham awaits this weekend as both sides look to jump into the play-offs with a crucial win. Colchester come into the match with a solid 4-game winning streak, while Gillingham are desperately trying to turn around a dismal run of form. With both teams knowing that a victory could launch them into the top seven, this is fixture you won't want to miss.

This Sunday’s London Derby promises fireworks as league leaders Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge to face second-place Chelsea. With both teams coming off impressive midweek wins, it’s all to play for as the Gunners look to extend their title charge. Can Chelsea stop them and close the gap, or will Arsenal prove too strong? Key battles like Caicedo vs Rice will shape this massive fixture. Don’t miss it!

Charlton Athletic welcome Southampton back to The Valley for the first time since 2011 in a clash that pits Championship overachievers against one of the division’s biggest disappointments. With Nathan Jones facing his former club and both sides desperate to prove their form is no fluke, this weekend’s Tipple Big Bet fixture promises a fascinating battle — especially down the flanks, where James Bree and Ryan Manning have been two of the league’s top creators.

MK Dons face Salford City in a crucial League Two showdown. Both sides are vying for automatic promotion, and with strong attacks and solid defences, this match promises plenty of drama. Can MK Dons capitalize on home advantage, or will Salford spring an upset? Read the full preview and key matchups here.

Blackburn Rovers mark 150 years at Ewood Park with a fiery Championship clash against Derby County - and it’s loaded with drama. John Eustace returns with seven ex-Rovers in his Derby squad, setting up a grudge match between two sides suddenly back in form. Can Blackburn finally win at home on their anniversary weekend, or will Derby’s old boys crash the party?

Liverpool’s Premier League form has nosedived, while Aston Villa are soaring under Unai Emery. With both sides level on points, this weekend’s Big Bet clash at Anfield could be season-defining. Can Virgil van Dijk and co. halt the slide, or will Morgan Rogers inspire another Villa statement win?

League One delivers a heavyweight clash as Cardiff City travel to Bolton Wanderers in a battle of promotion hopefuls. With both sides in strong form and boasting prolific attackers, Saturday’s early kick-off promises goals, drama, and a defining moment in the League One title race.

The twists and turns of a dramatic international break are over and it’s back to business as usual here at Tipple - this week the Big Bet focuses on the battle for the play-off spaces in the fourth tier as Bromley travel to Cambridge in this Saturday’s early kick-off. League Two is proving itself to be the demanding and exhausting test we all know it can be, and that’s why we love it. Cambridge are hoping for an immediate return to League One while their opponents are looking to build on their historic rise as they entered the Football League for the first time last season, both teams have it all to play for. Will the hosts finally show what they're made of or will the visitors pull out another memorable result on their incredible rise from non-league?

Ipswich and Norwich renew one of the fiercest rivalries in the EFL this weekend in the East Anglian Derby. With both clubs struggling for consistency, bragging rights in East Anglia could prove the spark to ignite their seasons. Can Ipswich finally end a 14-game winless run against their rivals, or will Josh Sargent and the Canaries extend their dominance?

The Tipple Big Bet heads to the Championship this weekend as Coventry host Birmingham in a fierce West Midlands clash. Both sides are level on points but need to prove they can turn solid starts into promotion form. Goals, pressure, and bragging rights are all on the line in Saturday’s early kick-off.

Tipple Gameweek 6 is dominated by title six-pointers across the leagues. Cardiff vs Bradford (1st vs 2nd in League One), Salford vs Swindon (3rd vs 1st in League Two), and Arsenal vs Manchester City in the Premier League Big Bet headline a stacked weekend. From scraps like Burnley vs Forest to cagey mid-table duels such as Fulham vs Brentford, it’s a round packed with tension, form swings, and unpredictable results.

The South London Derby returns after five years, with Charlton looking to end a 29-year winless run against Millwall in front of more than 22,000 fans at The Valley. With both sides evenly matched and Millwall thriving away from home, this Big Bet clash promises tension, intensity, and no shortage of drama.

Gameweek 5 brings a feast of derbies across the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two, from the South Coast showdown between Southampton and Portsmouth to the first Manchester derby of the season. With fierce rivalries, high-scoring trends, and promotion battles all on the line, it’s set to be one of the most dramatic weekends yet.

Gameweek 3’s Big Bet is as big as they come: Liverpool vs Arsenal at Anfield. It’s early in the season, but this clash between the league’s sharpest attack and its strongest defence could set the tone for the title race. Liverpool’s chaos meets Arsenal’s control in a fixture that rarely disappoints.