Sport

Root hits masterful century for England before Head leads Australia fightback
Posted on Monday January 05, 2026

Fifth Ashes Test; day two: Australia 166-2, England 384Root makes 160 but hosts’ opener helps reduce lead to 218The Richies were out in force on an eventful second day at the Sydney Cricket Ground, an entire block of supporters decked out in either cream, bone, white, off-white, ivory, or beige. Bathed in sunshine, flags fluttering over the two heritage-listed pavilions, the backdrop for Joe Root’s 41st Test hundred was absolutely marvellous.This has not been the case for Root here over the years. In 2014 the SCG witnessed the one and only time he has been dropped by England. In 2018 he made scores of 83 and 58 not out here but ended up on a drip due to extreme heat, his side having crumbled to a 4-0 series defeat. Four years later came a duck and 24, England saving the Test to dodge the whitewash but his captaincy long since sunk. Continue reading...

Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s football
Posted on Monday January 05, 2026

Nuno lets a golden opportunity slip, Viktor Gyökeres does everything but score and Benjamin Sesko struggles againCalum McFarlane’s unexpected battle with Pep Guardiola brought back memories of the 2021 League Cup final, when Ryan Mason, Tottenham’s 29-year-old interim coach, faced the significant task of trying to outsmart one of the greatest managers in the game’s history. For Mason there was the added baggage of Spurs’ 13-year trophy drought; for McFarlane, making his senior management debut, it was Chelsea’s astonishingly bad recent record against Manchester City. Four and a half years have passed since Chelsea last beat Guardiola’s side, when Thomas Tuchel’s team triumphed in the Champions League final, and a draw on Sunday took that winless run to 12 matches. But Enzo Fernández’s injury-time equaliser, combining with the midweek upheaval at Stamford Bridge, made it a triumphant point, something Enzo Maresca didn’t achieve against City during his tenure. Taha HashimMatch report: Manchester City 1-1 ChelseaMatch report: Fulham 2-2 LiverpoolMatch report: Bournemouth 2-3 ArsenalMatch report: Leeds 1-1 Manchester UnitedMatch report: Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland Continue reading...

Amorim’s Manchester United future in balance amid Wilcox transfer tension
Posted on Sunday January 04, 2026

Coach believed club would back him in January windowAmorim had cast doubt on long-term future at UnitedRuben Amorim’s future at Manchester United is in the balance, with the head coach’s strained relationship with the director of football, Jason Wilcox, a factor in what is viewed as an unpredictable situation at the club.Amorim believed United were prepared to back him in the January transfer window should a major signing become available but at the moment this has changed, causing him discontent. The 40-year-old is believed to have been informed of this on the authority of Wilcox, who reports to Omar Berrada, the chief executive. Continue reading...

Liam Rosenior arrives in London to discuss taking over as Chelsea manager
Posted on Sunday January 04, 2026

Strasbourg manager, 41, to have talks on MondayHe could be in place before Wednesday’s game at FulhamChelsea are closing in on the appointment of Liam Rosenior after the Strasbourg manager flew to London to hold talks over the role.The 41-year-old is due to meet with the west London club on Monday and it is expected that discussions will end with him agreeing to replace Enzo Maresca, who left Stamford Bridge in acrimonious circumstances earlier this. Continue reading...

Double world champion is 14 titles from darts legend’s record but talented youngsters or even Littler himself could stall his questLuke Littler looked up and down the rows of filled seats, the line of microphones pointed at his mouth, the expectant faces hanging on his every word. This has long been one of his least favourite parts of the job, a fact he scarcely bothers to conceal. Occasionally everyone has to sit and wait while he sends a text. He leaves as soon as he is legitimately able. But there is of course a silver lining: if he’s sitting in the hot seat, it means he’s won.“Youse are probably all bored of seeing me now,” he said. “But I’m going to be here for many more years.” And frankly, while the going is this good, why not? A second world title in a row, a 10th major trophy in just 21 attempts, the first ever £1m prize in the sport. Barry Hearn wants to get that up to £5m within the decade on a wave of Saudi investment. He’s 18 years old. Nobody in the sport is remotely as good as him. The boy is fresh and the boy is hungry and the boy is greedy. Continue reading...

Leicester poised to sign full-back Ashleigh Neville from Tottenham
Posted on Monday January 05, 2026

Spurs sign Julie Blakstad after bringing in Hanna WijkArsenal sign Sweden right-back Smilla HolmbergLeicester are poised to sign the experienced full-back Ashleigh Neville from their fellow Women’s Super League club Tottenham, the Guardian understands, after the north London club completed deals for Julie Blakstad and Hanna Wijk. According to sources, an agreement has been reached for Neville’s move. Tottenham on Monday announced the signing of the Norway international Blakstad on as free transfer, after her contract expired at Hammarby. The 24-year-old former Manchester City player can operate as a winger, wing-back or left-back.Neville is Tottenham’s longest-serving player, having been with the club for eight and a half years, and has been a core part of their side since promotion to the second tier in 2017. A fans’ favourite, she became in February 2025 the first player to make 100 WSL appearances for Tottenham and was a key part of the side that reached the club’s first Women’s FA Cup final in 2024. Neville’s switch to Rick Passmoor’s Leicester is expected to bring regular starting opportunities after Tottenham also signed the Sweden full-back Wijk. The 22-year-old Wijk can, like Neville, play at left-back or right-back and Tottenham are evolving their squad. Leicester are understood to be targeting players with more WSL experience, having often had the youngest average age in the division in their starting side this season. Continue reading...

Novak Djokovic cuts ties with players’ group he co-founded amid transparency concerns
Posted on Monday January 05, 2026

Djokovic says values no longer align with PTPAPlayers’ group sued tours and grand slams in MarchSerb was not named as plaintiff in lawsuitNovak Djokovic is cutting ties with the Professional Tennis Players Association, a group he co-founded that sued the sport’s governing bodies last year, writing on social media on Sunday that “my values and approach are no longer aligned with the current direction of the organization”.The 24-time grand slam champion announced at the 2020 US Open that he and the now-retired Canadian player Vasek Pospisil were launching the PTPA. They said they were aiming to offer representation for players who are independent contractors in a largely individual sport. Continue reading...

Falcons fire Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot hours after finishing 8-9 season
Posted on Monday January 05, 2026

Morris fired after second straight 8-9 seasonFontenot exits after four-year tenure as GMFalcons begin concurrent searches for both rolesThe Atlanta Falcons fired coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot on Sunday night, announcing the moves hours after the team completed their second straight 8-9 finish under Morris and an eighth consecutive losing season.Morris said after Sunday’s 19-17 win over the New Orleans Saints that he expected to return for a third season. Instead, his 16-18 record was not enough to save his job after a year that began with optimism the Falcons would reach the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Continue reading...