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Seaborne Freight will not receive cash unless it runs a ferry service, the Department for Transport says.

• BBC’s Tim Davie and ITV’s Tom Betts reportedly in frame • Susanna Dinnage took job but will now stay at Discovery The Premier League is determined to make a swift appointment to fill the vacant role of chief executive, after the surprise decision by Susanna Dinnage to walk away from the job. That leaves broadcast executives Tim Davie and Tom Betts, the two candidates understood to have been on the original shortlist with Dinnage, as the most likely candidates. Davie runs BBC Studios while Betts is ITV’s director of strategy. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/31/premier-league-quick-appointment-susanna-dinnage-u-turn-davie-betts

• Midfielder completes deal to the end of the season • Nasri played for Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City Samir Nasri has completed his expected move to West Ham on a deal to the end of the season - on the day he completes a doping suspension. The Hammers have announced the signing of the 31-year-old former France midfielder, who is available to play from January 1 after an 18-month ban for receiving an intravenous treatment at a Los Angeles clinic in breach of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s rules. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/31/samir-nasri-west-ham-doping-suspension-elapses

• Keramuudin Karim says allegations are ‘a conspiracy’ • Three female national team players have alleged abuse The Afghanistan Football Federation president, Keramuudin Karim, has denied allegations he sexually and physically abused members of the women’s national team. Three players detailed to the Guardian last week the abuse they say they suffered at the hands of Karim. He and four other senior Afghan FA officials have been barred from leaving the country by the attorney general’s office, which is looking into the claims. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/31/afghanistan-fa-president-keramuudin-karim-denies-abuse-allegations

A man was arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance after a 30-minute closure.

Royal Mail says returns of online purchases will rise by 80% on 2 January.

Dr Roberts was chief scientist in charge of designing and building the tech that became the internet.

Max Rushden , Jonathan Wilson , John Brewin and Gregg Bakowski discuss the dominant thrashing of Arsenal, players flying again at Manchester United, early kick-offs and Neil Etheridge saving penalties from presidents Join the conversation on Facebook , Twitter and email . We look back at the weekend’s football action, starting with Liverpool’s 5-1 win over Arsenal, sending them seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table and Gregg into dreamland. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2018/dec/31/football-weekly-podcast-liverpool-have-lift-off-before-manchester-city-showdown

Their was support, if not united, for Kalidou Koulibaly in Naples, while VAR issues clouded the final games of the year Kalidou Koulibaly was suspended for Napoli’s final game of 2018. He will miss the first league fixture of next year, too. He had been one yellow card away from a ban before picking up two in the Boxing Day defeat to Inter. Serie A’s sporting judge was not minded to show leniency towards a player who lost his cool after being racially abused . Still, Koulibaly did not want to miss Saturday’s game at home to Bologna. He took up a seat in the stands at the Stadio San Paolo, and was greeted by the sight of his own face: over and over. Thousands of Koulibaly masks had been distributed before kick-off so fans could show their support for the player. Down on the pitch, Faouzi Ghoulam ran out to warm up in the centre-back’s No 26 shirt. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2018/dec/31/serie-a-sees-out-2018-with-divisi...

Left winger won two league titles and FA Cup with Liverpool Thompson was a mainstay of Shankly’s team in the 60s The former Liverpool and England midfielder Peter Thompson has died at the age of 76. The left-winger won two league titles with Liverpool under Bill Shankly as well as the club’s first FA Cup, in 1965, scoring 54 goals in 416 appearances. He also helped Shankly’s formidable team of the 60s reach the European Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1966. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/31/peter-thompson-former-liverpool-and-england-winger-dies-aged-76

Investors will be glad to see the back of 2018 after major markets end with biggest falls in a decade.

• Lingard credits manager with restoring Pogba’s confidence • Solskjær wants Manchester United to kill games early, he says Jesse Lingard believes Ole Gunnar Solskjær has ensured a bright New Year for Manchester United by turning back time and restoring Paul Pogba to the dynamic midfielder for whom the club paid £89m. “I can definitely, definitely, see the Paul I used to know,” said Lingard as he reflected on United’s three games and three wins – featuring four goals from Pogba – since the Norwegian took temporary charge at Old Trafford in the wake of José Mourinho’s sacking. “I have seen him playing through the ranks and he is back to that player, the player we know.” Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/31/solskjaer-pogba-manchester-united-lingard-form-confidence

The NYPD will use camera-equipped drones to watch over New Year's Eve celebrations.

Donald Trump's offer on trade cannot happen if the PM's Brexit deal goes through, says Woody Johnson.

From Australia’s sandpaper storm to some impressive popularity contests, via José Mourinho and worm denial 5 January: “We have money for sardines and I’m thinking lobster. I will do my best to try and bring in the best players. I will look to the lobsters and sea bass, but if not we must buy sardines. But sometimes the sardines can win games” – Perhaps, Carlos Carvalhal, but they couldn’t keep Swansea in the Premier League. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2018/dec/31/the-sporting-quotes-of-2018-year

Game held up for more than half an hour after Perth’s Tomi Mrcela crashes into net, forcing replacement with portable goal A snapped goalpost caused a lengthy delay in Monday night’s A-League game between Central Coast and Perth in Gosford. The incident occurred in the 10th minute at Gosford’s Central Coast Stadium on Tuesday when Perth centre back Tomislav Mrcela ran into the back of the Mariners net while trying to score, partially bringing down one post. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/31/snapped-goalpost-delays-a-league-central-coast-perth

The Guardian and Observer sport photographer Tom Jenkins selects his favourite images from the thousands of frames that he shot during 2018 and recalls the stories behind them 20mm lens 1/2000 f4 ISO 3200 Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/dec/31/tom-jenkinss-best-sports-photos-of-2018

Today’s rumours are sniffling, snuffling and sweating out 2018 Not long now. At 12.01am, as the final drunken renditions of Auld Lang Syne echo through the dark winter UK night (other time zones are available) and assorted folk make life-improving resolutions they almost certainly won’t keep, the January transfer window will open for business. We’ve had some belters over the years: Afonso Alves to Middlesbrough, Jimmy Bullard to Hull City and Kostas Mitroglou to Fulham, to name just three who flopped spectacularly having surfed from one club to another on a New Year wave of optimism. But for every Giannelli Imbula to Stoke, there’s a Luis Suárez to Liverpool and so it is that football fans approach this time of year with understandably high hopes of what the month ahead might hold in store. Related: ‘Do we need blood?’ Jürgen Klopp defends Mohamed Salah over ‘dive’ Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/31/football-transfer-...

Jürgen Locadia proves his worth, Hart loses out to Heaton, Palace need reinforcements and Arsenal need a defence After Ole Gunnar Solskjær rained praise down on Marcus Rashford, calling him the “catalyst” for Manchester United’s pressing game, Romelu Lukaku might wonder when he will next be given a start. Rashford scored and created Paul Pogba’s opener in the 4-1 win . Asked about Lukaku, who was a late, scoring replacement, Solskjær said: “At times he’s a good target man but if you tell him to be a target man he’ll never face the goal, today he was side on and he’s got the attributes of a top, top striker. We need to work on his fitness but I’m delighted even though he was half a yard offside – it was a good finish.” Next up is Thursday’s trip to Newcastle United as the caretaker manager seeks a fourth consecutive win from his opening four games. So far Rashford has excelled for the Norwegian so why would he drop him now for Lukaku? Jamie Jackson Continue reading... from Football ...

The malware, which affected papers owned by Tribune Publishing, is believed to be from outside the US.

In its first public statement, HES confirms that all 400 UK staff are now redundant.

Fishers can no longer discard fish to avoid busting quota - but that could put boats off the water.

The Premier League says its prospective new chief executive, Susanna Dinnage, has told the organisation she will not be taking up the position.

The malware, which affected papers owned by Tribune Publishing, is believed to be from outside the US.

• Arsenal players accuse Mohamed Salah over penalty incident • ‘We don’t have divers,’ says Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp proved far more defiant than Arsenal’s defence as, rather than revelling in a biggest league win over top-six peers for 16 months and Liverpool’s largest lead in this season’s title race , he rejected suggestions Mohamed Salah is a diver by insisting the striker should not have to bleed to win a penalty. Liverpool’s top scorer struck from 12 yards after Sokratis Papastathopoulos twice clipped his calves but, after the half-time whistle blew, the Arsenal defender confronted Salah to accuse him of taking a tumble. Some 90 minutes before Klopp intervened to protect Salah, so did Virgil van Dijk during an altercation in the tunnel. “He went to Mo and was saying he dived,” the Dutchman said. “He was attacking him a bit but I wanted to say he didn’t dive.” Nevertheless, the reigning footballer of the year risks getting the wrong kind of tag. This was the second time i...

• Manager says win against Everton proves club’s progress • But Brighton must not ‘start thinking we’re better than we are’ Chris Hughton marks four years in charge of Brighton on Monday and, while he has never been one to luxuriate too fondly in his successes, could be excused a note of satisfaction. Saturday’s 1-0 win over Everton ensured they will end 2018 as the Premier League’s 13th-placed team, a victory away from reaching the top half, and the contrast with the situation he inherited is stark. Related: Jürgen Locadia strike enough to steer Brighton to victory over Everton Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/30/brighton-chris-hughton-win-against-everton-proves-progress

• Dinnage named as Richard Scudamore’s successor last month • TV executive’s decision comes as a huge blow to organisation Susanna Dinnage has told the Premier League she will no longer be taking up her position as its new chief executive, the organisation has announced. It was announced in November that Dinnage would replace Richard Scudamore at the Premier League at the beginning of next year having worked as global president of Animal Planet, part of the Discovery group of TV channels. “I am excited at the prospect of taking on this fantastic role,” she said at the time. “The Premier League means so much to so many people.” Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/30/susanna-dinnage-pulls-out-of-becoming-new-premier-league-chief-executive

Towards the end Old Trafford was the loudest in recent memory, Manchester United’s joyous fans singing the “20 times” ditty about their record number of titles. This recognised the manner of this 4-1 hammering of Bournemouth and the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer honeymoon that continues with a third emphatic win of the caretaker manager’s three games in charge. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/30/manchester-united-bournemouth-premier-league-match-report

Seaborne Freight was founded less than two years ago and has never run a ferry service before.

The alarm bells shrilled for Manchester City. Almost out of nowhere, they had lost three Premier League games out of four and, with Liverpool flicking on the after-burners, it is no exaggeration to say that another reverse would have imperilled their title defence. Pep Guardiola and his players could feel a bit better after this. City imposed their front-foot football and, although they wobbled at times during the first half, they had too much for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s rebooted Southampton. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/30/southampton-manchester-city-premier-league-match-report

Burnley picked up a much-needed three points with their first win of the Christmas period, not quite managing to climb out of trouble but looking a lot more like their old selves in holding out against West Ham. Sean Dyche dropped Joe Hart and returned to a 4-4-2 formation in the hope of restoring some of the defensive solidity that has served Burnley well in the past. It seemed to work, in that Burnley kept a rare clean sheet, though perhaps judgment should be reserved until opponents with more attacking conviction are encountered. Tom Heaton was not given a great deal to do in his first league appearance of the season, until he made an excellent one-handed stop to foil Andy Carroll at the end. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/30/burnley-west-ham-united-premier-league-match-report

China's latest statement suggests trade negotiations between the two countries are progressing.

The scoreline may give the impression Chelsea squeezed out a second successive win in their travels but, in reality, Maurizio Sarri’s team may not enjoy too many away victories as comfortable as this. One flash of quality was all it took to claim the spoils across south London and open up a five point gap from fifth place. Crystal Palace failed to muster a single shot on target all afternoon. They never discovered whether the visitors were fragile or not. This had been desperately humdrum until N’Golo Kanté, his head coach’s half-time instructions presumably still ringing in his ears, injected some impetus early in the second half. Chelsea had been probing, David Luiz sizing up his options in possession inside Palace’s half, when the France midfielder took it upon himself to dart behind and away from Cheikh Kouyaté and between Patrick van Aanholt and Mamadou Sakho to the edge of the six-yard box. David Luiz’s lofted pass was perfectly weighted, with Kanté collecting neatly on his ches...

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has urged his players to maintain their focus after beating Arsenal 5-1 on Saturday to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League Roberto Firmino shows all Liverpool parts are now operating at their peak Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2018/dec/30/jurgen-klopp-its-not-important-how-far-clear-you-are-in-december-liverpool-football-premier-league-video

Italy's parliament approves a budget for 2019, amid complaints it was revised to placate the EU.

From fake porn to Facebook scandals, security alerts to Google protests - 2018 was a busy year.

• Italian reflects on halfway point of first season at Chelsea • ‘Here there are more accelerations, you need a big engine’ Maurizio Sarri says the greatest culture shock he has felt during his transition from Italian to English football has been in the remorselessness of sprinting in matches. The Chelsea manager is looking forward to Sunday’s visit to Crystal Palace but at the halfway point of his first season outside of his native Italy, he took a moment to reflect. Sarri’s regrets centre on the Premier League defeats at Wolves and at home to Leicester while the high point was surely the victory over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. But what has startled him has been the pace and intensity of the games. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/29/maurizio-sarri-chelsea-manager-intensity-english-game-culture-shock

• Liverpool manager irritated by talk of team as title favourites • ‘It does not matter how far ahead you are in December’ Jürgen Klopp said he would prefer to deliver his verdict on Liverpool’s first half of the season after the game against Arsenal, and following another handsome win that took his side nine points clear he was true to his word. “Nothing to moan about at all,” was the manager’s summary of 20 games unbeaten in the Premier League, even if he did go on to say Liverpool can still play better. “It is not every day you beat Arsenal 5-1 but there were times in the game when we could have played better, and there were certainly times when we could have defended better,” Klopp said. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/29/jurgen-klopp-liverpool-nine-points-ahead-manchester-city

It seems Pep Guardiola might be wrong about Liverpool feeling the pressure now they are out in front in the Premier League – all the slip-ups and chokes are currently coming from the teams immediately below them, with the leaders sailing serenely on. Jürgen Klopp’s team were almost untouchable here, taking advantage of Tottenham’s unexpected collapse at Wembley to open up an impressive nine-point gap at the top of the table. Klopp insists it is too early to talk about titles and leads, though if his side are still unbeaten after their visit to the Etihad on Thursday it is hard to imagine who or what might derail the most powerful assault on the Premier League Liverpool have ever mounted. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/29/liverpool-arsenal-premier-league-match-report

• Kilmarnock defeat St Mirren to move within a point of Celtic • Aberdeen leave it late to beat Livingston Olly Lee’s sublime first half strike earned Hearts a narrow 1-0 derby victory against Hibs. The 28th-minute strike from the English midfielder was one of the few moments of quality in a tense and fiercely contested match between the Edinburgh rivals. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/29/hearts-hibernian-kilmarnock-scottish-premiership

Derby staged an astonishing late comeback to beat high-flying Norwich 4-3 at Carrow Road in the Championship. Trailing 3-2 with 10 minutes to go, and with a floodlight failure then delaying the game for 25 minutes, Derby hit back in superb style. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/29/norwich-derby-championship-match-report

The top three hit the rocks in the Championship Lincoln sail clear at the top of League Two None of the top three were able to record a win on a rollercaoster afternoon in the second tier. Leeds could not repeat their Boxing Day heroics during the visit of Hull City , who came away with a shock win thanks to a goal in each half from Jarrod Bowen. Ten-man West Brom needed a 95th-minute own goal from David Jones to salvage a point at home to a rejuvenated Sheffield Wednesday , after Jay Rodriguez saw red for the first time in his career, while Norwich failed, like their floodlights, to take advantage of events at Elland Road, losing 4-3 at home to Derby despite another two goals for Teemu Pukki. Enjoying similarly free-scoring seasons are Tammy Abraham, who netted in Aston Villa ’s 1-1 draw at Preston North End , and Sheffield United ’s Billy Sharp, whose double helped put Blackburn to the sword for the promotion hopefuls. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian http...

This was the kind of dramatic collapse that will leave Tottenham Hotspur wondering if they have the depth and killer mentality to last the distance in the title race. After their recent goal glut Mauricio Pochettino’s side came crashing down to earth after running out of steam against Wolverhampton Wanderers, who did Liverpool a potentially significant favour with a stunning late comeback at Wembley. Related: Liverpool v Arsenal: Premier League – live! Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/29/tottenham-wolves-premier-league-match-report

For a long time it looked like Salomón Rondón’s powerful headed goal would earn another precious away win for Newcastle, but then Abdoulaye Doucouré came of the bench to deny the visitors with a header of similar quality. It was a fair result, even if the visitors were the more tidy side for long periods. Newcastle’s sky-blue kit contrasted with their manager’s gloomy forecasts, Rafael Benítez having predicted that only a miracle could save Newcastle from relegation unless the club make significant investments in January. Despite that, Newcastle had cause to be optimistic about this particular fixture, as Watford are one of only two teams to have been beaten by them at St James’ Park this season and Benítez’s team have tended to be even stronger on the road. Few managers plot smash-and-grab performance as expertly as Benítez. That was his plan here. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/29/watford-newcastle-united-premier-lea...

A mere six weeks ago, Jürgen Locadia suggested he would use the winter months of a bleak first year in England “to think if this is still good for me”. It certainly looks pretty satisfying from Brighton’s point of view now. The suggestion Locadia, a £14m signing who had not scored in the Premier League before the Boxing Day draw with Arsenal, would earn Brighton a four-point haul from two fiendish home assignments might have drawn blank looks earlier in the month but his Premier League career now has lift-off. His close-range winner, awarded after Robert Madley had originally ruled it out for offside, punished a sloppy start to the second half from Everton and ensured Brighton put a four-game winless run behind them. Everton’s previous four games had brought 22 goals and wildly differing fortunes. It was asking a lot for the middle fixture of the Christmas schedule to offer similar knockabout fun, though; players are not machines, as Marco Silva pointed out after resting Richarlison f...

Fulham grabbed a vital three points at the death to keep alive their hopes of Premier League survival. By the looks of the Huddersfield players, who dropped as one to their haunches at the final whistle, the result was an equal blow to their own chances of staying up . Aleksandar Mitrovic’s added-time goal, assisted by Ryan Sessegnon, came after the hosts had missed a late penalty. Aboubakar Kamara argued with his team-mates over who should take it and then had his effort saved by Jonas Lössl. In a poor-quality game of few chances, a defining moment had looked unlikely to arrive, but it did, and how important it may yet prove to be. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/29/fulham-huddersfield-town-premier-league-match-report

The finest Rangers performance of Steven Gerrard’s tenure fittingly delivered the former England captain’s most meaningful result. It was, in fact, a travesty Rangers did not win this Old Firm clash by more than a single goal. Related: Rangers v Celtic: Scottish Premiership – as it happened Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/29/rangers-celtic-scottish-premiership-match-report

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace, the second goal a contentious penalty, to give Juventus a dramatic 2-1 win over Sampdoria who had a stoppage-time equaliser chalked off following a long VAR review. Related: The 100 best male footballers in the world 2018 Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/29/juventus-sampdoria-serie-a-european-football-roundup

Untold money has been spent at the Etihad yet the squad remains reliant on an ageing midfielder with no deputy Pep Guardiola’s failure to find a credible back-up for Fernandinho despite a £542.9m spend on players since taking over as Manchester City manager in 2016 is receiving heightened scrutiny. City have lost three times in four league games and significantly Fernandinho’s thigh problem forced him to miss the losses to Crystal Palace and Leicester . The player Guardiola believes could operate in any outfield position is in contention for Sunday’s trip to Southampton but he may not start. City’s slump has allowed Liverpool to take advantage at the top of the Premier League and without Fernandinho the fear is Guardiola’s side may slip further behind. City are already 11 points worse off than at the season’s midpoint a year ago. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2018/dec/29/fernandinho-manchester-city-pep-guardiola-flaw-in-...

The kind of racist abuse aimed at Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly is commonplace in Italian football – and points to a wider malaise This week has shown, once again, that Italian football has a deep-seated problem with racism and fascism. At the Boxing Day game at the San Siro stadium in Milan, the black Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly was booed for the entire match. Then, the next day, it was revealed that the fan who had died in a fight before the game between rival “ultras” (the hardcore fans) was a neo-Nazi member of a gang called Blood and Honour. No country is free of racism, as the banana skin thrown at the recent north London derby and the abuse of Raheem Sterling , made clear. But in Italy, the problem isn’t a result of individual idiocy, but of widespread group planning. The incidents aren’t isolated, but incessant. Anne Frank stickers are used by Lazio ultras to invoke death to their Roma rivals. “Jew” is a common taunt on stadium banners, and fascist and Nazi symbols – swa...

A look back at the oddest stories in a year of improvised VAR, drunken curlers and top, top canine goalkeeping “If the boy thinks I’ve farted he’s 1,010% wrong” – Gary Anderson, upset by talk he used “a fragrant egg smell” to throw rival Wesley Harms at November’s Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton. Harms: “It’ll take me two nights to lose this smell from my nose.” Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/dec/29/alternative-review-sport-2018

The music retailer will accept gift cards so long as stores keep trading, says KPMG.

French, Dutch and UK firms will provide capacity for 4,000 more lorries a week to cross the channel.

The New Year heralds the launch of two major trade deals, with Japan emerging as a key player.

Google and Facebook's ad networks placed promotions for major brands before apps were banned.

Google and Facebook's ad networks placed promotions for major brands before apps were banned.

The Arsenal striker has a claim to be the most thrillingly old-fashioned centre-forward in the Premier League OK, but apart from that . Apart from scoring more goals in the last three and a half seasons than anyone else we have seen in England. Apart from being the Premier League top scorer in a new-build team still trying to work out their rhythm and shape. And apart from doing all this with a thrillingly controlled range of movement, that easy grace that scarcely leaves a dent in the dew. Apart from all that. What has Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang actually done to commend himself as the deadliest, most thrillingly old-school centre-forward in the Premier League? Related: Liverpool v Arsenal: match preview Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2018/dec/28/pierre-emerick-aubamayeng

Watford’s revival ended at the hands of Chelsea but a spirited display in defeat will give Javi Gracia hope they can rebound against struggling Newcastle. Rafael Benítez will want a repeat of the performance from earlier in the season when his side recorded their first win after 10 games against Gracia’s. Benítez still believes it will take a miracle for Newcastle to avoid relegation and he may be onto something if they fail to win here as Manchester United and Chelsea are up next. Graham Searles Saturday 3pm Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/28/watford-newcastle-match-preview

• It has been suggested Fulham want to sign midfielder • Benítez says players understand his ‘miracle’ comment Rafael Benítez has said there is “no chance” of Newcastle selling Jonjo Shelvey to Fulham or anyone else during the impending transfer window. It has been suggested that Claudio Ranieri is keen to transport Shelvey to Craven Cottage with Tom Cairney – a player admired by Benítez – moving in the opposite direction but that idea has now been quashed. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/28/rafael-benitez-newcastle-jonjo-shelvey-not-for-sale

Mauricio Pochettino can reflect on the first-half of the season with pride. Flying high in the Premier League, his Tottenham side are also into the Champions League last 16 and the Carabao Cup semi-finals. He could scarcely have wished for more yet it is what lies ahead that tantalises. Can Spurs win the league? Play like they have done since Pochettino was strongly linked to Manchester United and they could. Wolves have stabilised after a wobble and they will threaten on the counter. David Hytner Saturday 3pm Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/28/tottenham-wolves-match-preview

• Liverpool midfielder damaged knee ligaments in April • ‘It actually looks like he could play tomorrow,’ jokes Klopp Jürgen Klopp could hardly have asked for a better Christmas, though one of the first things he saw after going six points clear at the top of the Premier League was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back in training. The midfielder has not played for Liverpool this season after suffering knee ligament damage in the Champions League semi-final against Roma in April. At first it looked as if the whole 2018-19 season might be a write off but initial reports indicate Oxlade Chamberlain could be ready to return in February or March. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/28/jurgen-klopp-liverpool-arsenal-oxlade-chamberlain

Liverpool look strong favourites to beat an Arsenal side still reeling from injuries in defence. Jürgen Klopp’s aggressive style could produce a similar scoreline to the 4-0 win last season at Anfield. Unai Emery has the chance to show his tactical nous, considering how limited his options are, but he could be forgiven for wishing this match came in January when Arsenal have brought in reinforcements. Liverpool’s last league defeat at home was in April 2017. Graham Searles Saturday 5.30pm BT Sport 1 Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/28/liverpool-arsenal-match-preview

Tesla beefs up its board with executives from Oracle and Walgreens to reassure investors.

Tesla beefs up its board with executives from Oracle and Walgreens to reassure investors.

Unlikely victories over Chelsea and Manchester City have elevated Leicester to seventh and eased the pressure on Claude Puel. With Cardiff up next, Leicester will hope to make it three straight wins, given Neil Warnock’s side have collected only two points on the road all season. The Cardiff manager is expected to bring Harry Arter and Aron Gunnarsson back into the starting lineup but Callum Paterson, who has been converted into a striker, faces a fitness test. Leicester have no new injury concerns. Stuart James Saturday 3pm Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/28/leicester-cardiff-match-preview

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has said it is ‘time to decide’ on Eden Hazard as speculation continues over the future of the Belgian forward. Hazard has consistently been linked with a move to Real Madrid but is yet to make an announcement on his future. Hazard is out of contract in the summer of 2020 Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2018/dec/28/its-time-to-decide-sarri-calls-for-clarity-on-hazards-future-at-chelsea-video

Everton become the first club to complete 4,500 top-flight matches against Brighton, and they travel in mixed form. A pre-Christmas 6-2 thumping by Spurs was followed by a 5-1 win at Burnley on Boxing Day and with Richarlison expected to start after appearing as a scoring substitute at Turf Moor, they will be expecting to add more goals. Brighton have Lewis Dunk restored to the defence after suspension but will be without their goalkeeper Mat Ryan, who has played every minute of every league match since Albion returned to the top flight in 2017, as he has joined up with Australia for the Asian Cup in the UAE. David Button is expected to deputise. Mark Tallentire Saturday 3pm Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/28/brighton-everton-match-preview

• Emery doubted forward could handle pressure at major club • Arsenal manager says Salah now one of top five players in world Unai Emery has ranked Mohamed Salah among the top five players in the world and revealed he considered signing the Liverpool forward during his time in charge of Paris Saint-Germain. Related: ‘Craig Bellamy swung the golf club hard. He could have ended my career’ Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/28/unai-emery-mohamed-salah-psg-arsenal-liverpool

Viewers can decide the characters' fates in Bandersnatch, the latest instalment of the Netflix drama.

• Hazard has not signed new deal despite club’s best efforts • Sarri likes Hazard as false nine despite player’s reservations Maurizio Sarri has betrayed his burgeoning frustration over the Eden Hazard contract standoff by telling the Chelsea hierarchy that it is “time to decide” on the player’s future for the good of the club. Hazard’s deal expires in the summer of 2020 and despite Chelsea’s best efforts, ongoing since their Premier League title win in 2017, he has decided against extending his terms. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/28/maurizio-sarri-chelsea-eden-hazard-decide-future-contract

Louis Theroux, Eamonn Holmes and others were targeted by researchers worried about flaws in Twitter.

Second-bottom Fulham play host to last-placed Huddersfield. A relegation six-pointer if ever there was one despite the season only having reached the halfway stage. Neither side can climb out of the mire with a win but avoiding being further cut adrift will be imperative to both managers. David Wagner’s first win of the season came against Fulham in November but with Claudio Ranieri in charge Fulham have tightened up in defence. If they continue that trend then Ranieri will be confident his side have the better chance. Huddersfield have lost six in a row while scoring just four goals. Graham Searles Saturday 3pm Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/28/fulham-huddersfield-match-preview

The University of Tennessee striker has overcome personal tragedy – she lost four brothers, three of them to gang-related violence – to guide Jamaica to the 2019 World Cup The Guardian Footballer of the Year is an award given to a player who has done something truly remarkable, whether by overcoming adversity, helping others or setting a sporting example by acting with exceptional honesty. Khadija “Bunny” Shaw is our third winner following Fabio Pisacane in 2016 and Juan Mata in 2017 . There is a warmth and gentle magnetism about Khadija “Bunny” Shaw that is immediate and fills the room, a personality as towering as the nearly 6ft frame that pounded in one goal after another during a breathless year of double duty for the Jamaica women’s national team and the University of Tennessee. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/dec/28/guardian-footballer-of-the-year-2018-khadija-bunny-shaw

Beijing was responding to claims it might use Huawei's 5G kit to act "in a malign way".

Beijing was responding to claims it might use Huawei's 5G kit to act "in a malign way".

In an extract from his new autobiography, John Arne Riise gives his account of the extraordinary bust-up that overshadowed Liverpool’s Champions League visit to Barcelona in 2007 The team travelled to the Algarve to recharge for our Champions League match against Barcelona. For five days we were going to do some light training, play golf, relax in the sun and socialise. That was the plan. We stayed at Barringtons Golf and Spa hotel, which was located in an exclusive resort called Vale do Lobo. I shared a room with Daniel Agger. On Thursday it was decided we should have a team dinner without the trainers and managers. At these dinners the players were allowed to have a beer or two, something I never took advantage of. But a couple of beers wasn’t going to hurt anyone else. If only they had managed to stick to a couple. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2018/dec/28/craig-bellamy-raised-the-club-and-swung-he-could-have-ended-my...

Today’s fluff is poison but tasty Samir Nasri , whose 12-month doping ban is coming towards its conclusion, is on his way back to England, with the Mirror saying he has been offered a bumper six-month contract, with an option to keep him longer should everything work out swimmingly, by West Ham . Nasri, who won the title at Manchester City under West Ham’s current manager, Manuel Pellegrini, could earn £80,000 a week at the London Stadium (the Mill, incidentally, has spotted some uncanny similarities between this morning’s Mirror “exclusive” and the almost identical story published by the Evening Standard the best part of two months ago, the difference perhaps being that with the player’s ban ending on December 31, something could actually happen very soon). Related: Weekend football countdown: Liverpool v Arsenal, Solskjær and more – live! Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/28/football-transfer-rumours-nasri-set-for-8...

• Former chairman oversaw Graham and Wenger eras • Hill-Wood part of formation of Premier League The former Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has died at the age of 82, the Premier League club has announced. Hill-Wood joined the Arsenal board in 1962 and served as chairman from 1982-2013. His time at the helm included the club’s title-winning eras of managers George Graham and Arsène Wenger. He was also a key part of the formation of the Premier League in 1992. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/28/peter-hill-wood-arsenal-chairman-dies

The BBC understands the music retailer is in the process of appointing administrators.

The majority of shoppers are wary of social media influencers, a survey for the BBC indicates.

A personal computer at a resettlement centre in South Korea was found to have been infected.

FTSE 100 index of UK's largest company rises 1% at start of Friday trading.

Local authorities are buying up failing shopping malls with the aim of reviving them, but is it too risky?

Ladybird books, periodicals, textbooks and signed copies are making more money than ever for used-book sellers.

The boss of Severn Trent says limited "must have" skill lists stop many women applying for roles.

Things could get worse for Manchester City before they get better and Kyle Walker-Peters poses a few questions for Mauricio Pochettino Related: The Dozen: Boxing Day's best Premier League photos Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/28/premier-league-10-things-to-look-out-for-this-weekend

A-League club languishes in 9th position after four losses Brisbane Roar are reeling after head coach John Aloisi resigned from the A-League club, effective immediately. Related: Markus Babbel frustrated by inconsistent Wanderers after Adelaide draw Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/28/john-aloisi-tenders-shock-resignation-as-brisbane-roar-coach

• ‘He can make the difference for Manchester United’ • Bournemouth next as Solskjær looks for third win in a row Nemanja Matic has urged his team-mate Paul Pogba to keep improving while playing for Ole Gunnar Solskjær, saying that the Frenchman is capable of “doing even more”. Pogba has been reinstated to the Manchester United team after the dismissal of José Mourinho, starting both games since the Portuguese manager departed, supplying two assists in the 5-1 victory at Cardiff City and scoring two in the 3-1 win over Huddersfield Town. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/27/paul-pogba-even-more-nemanja-matic-manchester-united

• Lovren says Reds have everything needed to be champions • Mo Salah escapes FA action over penalty against Newcastle Dejan Lovren believes Jürgen Klopp has assembled a Liverpool squad capable of winning the Premier League title and insists that they have learned their lesson from previous campaigns. Despite reaching the finals of the Champions League, Europa League and League Cup since Klopp was appointed manager in 2015, Liverpool have yet to win any silverware under the German but lead the Premier League table by six points at the halfway stage. Lovren, who moved to Anfield from Southampton in 2014 , is one of several players Klopp inherited when he succeeded Brendan Rodgers and the Croatia defender admitted it has taken time for the former Borussia Dortmund manager’s methods to bear fruit. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/27/jurgen-klopp-liverpool-title-puzzle-dejan-lovren-salah

Southampton supporters arrived in hope of witnessing the third successive Premier League win that would have given them some breathing space in the scrap for survival, but departed lamenting an all too familiar feeling as the outstanding Felipe Anderson brought their revival under Ralph Hasenhüttl to an abrupt halt. Related: Southampton v West Ham: Premier League – live! Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/27/southampton-west-ham-united-premier-league-match-report

Continuing our series on controversies that defined the year, the Spain manager is fired twice in 138 days, the second time by Real Madrid The call came, a five-minute warning, and then the bombshell landed. It did so about the same time as Aeroflot flight 2501. In the long, slow queue at Sheremetyevo airport were staff from a Spanish radio station: presenters, reporters, producers, technicians, arriving in Russia to cover a World Cup they still thought Spain could win. “Julen Lopetegui’s gone to Real Madrid”, someone told them, standing there, watching the first message appear on his screen. “Nah, no way” came the reply. But their phones too flickered into life, beeping frantically, and, bloody hell, it was true. It couldn’t be – not now – but it was. Across the city of Moscow Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Football Federation, had been informed by Real Madrid five minutes before they released the communique, or so he said: he was told, not asked, and he was furious . Th...

• Emery struck bottle at Brighton supporter in frustration • He has until 2 January to respond to improper conduct charge Unai Emery is facing a possible touchline ban after being charged with improper conduct by the Football Association for kicking a plastic bottle at a Brighton supporter during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at the Amex Stadium on Boxing Day. Emery reacted with frustration to Arsenal’s final, failed attack of the match and immediately apologised to the fan in question, insisting his fit of pique had been an accident. However, that did not stop the FA from announcing on Thursday morning that they were looking into the incident with the governing body announcing just after 5pm that they had decided to charge the Spaniard. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/27/arsenal-unai-emery-faces-touchline-ban-after-being-hit-with-fa-charge-improper-conduct-bottle

• Belgium defender will now be contracted to summer of 2020 • Deal means Alderweireld can be bought for £25m this summer Tottenham will trigger an extension clause in Toby Alderweireld’s deal and the Belgium defender will now be contracted until the summer of 2020, having been due to be a free agent at the end of the season. By taking up the year’s option, however, it also activates a £25m release clause which runs from the start of the 2019 summer transfer window until the last two weeks. The news comes several weeks after Spurs triggered an option on Jan Vertonghen’s contract. Mauricio Pochettino, the manager, said: “Yes, for sure. It is obvious. It is the same situation as Jan.” Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/27/tottenham-hotspur-toby-alderweireld-deal-release-clause

The video and image sharing site apologises after a test was accidentally rolled out to millions of users.

Wall Street shares drop 2% amid political and economic uncertainty and weak consumer confidence data.

Norwegian has instilled the feel-good factor at Old Trafford but he was handed a winnable run of fixtures and a first true test may be the January trip to face Tottenham at Wembley In Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s opening two matches the feel-good factor has been mainlined back into Manchester United. Following the dark José Mourinho days this was a prime demand when appointed caretaker manager last week. The second was to win and do so in fine style: again, this has been achieved. Saturday’s 5-0 victory at Cardiff City was followed by Boxing Day’s 3-1 defeat of Huddersfield. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/27/ole-gunnar-solskjaer-good-times-manchester-united

A fan was killed before the Inter v Napoli match while Kalidou Koulibaly faced alleged racist abuse from the stands during it It should have been an occasion to celebrate. For the first time since 1971, a round of Serie A fixtures was being played on 26 December – St Stephen’s Day, to most Italians, though the sporting press seemed eager to embrace the English lexicon of “Boxing Day football”. More than a quarter of a million fans attended games up and down the country, and many were treated to entertaining fare. In Bergamo, Atalanta became only the second team this season to take points off Juventus. Despite falling behind in the second minute, they roared back to lead 2-1 and appeared to be in the driving seat with the champions reduced to 10 men. That was until Cristiano Ronaldo, left out of Juventus’ starting lineup for the first time this season, came off the bench to head home the equaliser from close range. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.thegua...

Mr Musk's insults to Thai cave rescuer were a "schoolyard spat" and not to be taken seriously, say lawyers.

Max Rushden , Lars Sivertsen , Paolo Bandini and Mark Langdon discuss Liverpool extending their Premier League lead, Spurs entering the title race, late drama in the Championship and a return for Italian Boxing Day football Join the conversation on Facebook , Twitter and email . We start at Anfield, as Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League following their win over Newcastle and Manchester City’s second consecutive defeat, this time at the hands of Leicester City. We also take a look at Spurs, who climbed above the champions following their comfortable 5-0 drubbing of Bournemouth. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2018/dec/27/a-six-point-gap-and-a-forgetful-linesman-football-weekly-extra

From Lars Bohinen to Morten Gamst Pedersen, some of the most enjoyable (but not necessarily the best) cult heroes from across the North Sea Just as Belgians were à la mode for the early and middle parts of this decade, for a while in the 1990s there was hardly a Premier League club that would dare be seen in public without a Norwegian. The most significant influx was sparked by one of English football’s darker nights of the soul, a 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat in Oslo that saw Egil Olsen’s Norway provide live ammunition for cult documentary makers . Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/dec/27/joy-of-six-norwegians-in-english-football

The majority of shoppers are wary of social media influencers, a survey for the BBC indicates.