NORWICH 0-0 MANCHESTER CITY - JOE BERNSTEIN AT CARROW ROAD: Manchester City saw their Premier League title hopes dented once again after a goalless draw with struggling Norwich at Carrow Road. Patrick Bamford rattled the crossbar with a powerful half-volley as the home side ended the first half as the stronger side. City failed to rally despite having the lions share of possession and rarely troubled John Ruddy in the second half, as the Canaries held on for a vital point.
Troubled Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has confided to friends that the club's former England winger Stewart Downing was not his signing and that he's finding it difficult to deal with the local hero and personal favourite of chairman Steve Gibson.
England head coach Eddie Jones and Wales boss Warren Gatland have both named unchanged starting XVs for Saturday afternoon's crunch RBS 6 Nations tie.
David Beckham and his son Brooklyn were involved in a clash with a Chelsea vice-president on Wednesday night after celebrating during Paris Saint-Germain's win in the Champions League.
Steven Gerrard said he will always wish he had won '10 extra medals' and admits he is 'immature' and 'like a kid' when it comes to assessing his achievements over his career.
MATT LAWTON: Rob Green no longer appears to exist. He is not named when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink lists his roster of goalkeepers at Queens Park Rangers during media interviews.
Stoke City have the opportunity to put further pressure on Manchester United when they host Southampton in one of two 3pm kick-offs in the Barclays Premier League.
The Russian said in a lengthy Facebook post she was 'determined to fight back' against what she deemed misreporting of the facts of the case. The ITF and WTA alerted players five times.
Celtic secured their first Scottish Premiership victory in three weeks, as goals from top scorer Leigh Griffiths and Callum McGregor in either half saw off Partick Thistle at Firhill Stadium.
It was late on Thursday night and calm was descending over Anfield. But in a private box high up in the Centenary Stand, the debate between two old rivals continued to rage. Liverpool's 2-0 blitzing of Manchester United surprised JAMIE CARRAGHER and PAUL SCHOLES but for entirely different reasons. Have Jurgen Klopp's team done enough to reach the Europa League quarter-finals, or can Louis van Gaal mastermind a great escape? DOMINIC KING listened as the views were aired.
CHARLES SALE - SPORTS AGENDA: Calls for Louis van Gaal to be sacked will hit new levels if Manchester United's silverware hopes end. But club chiefs are desperate not to make a change.
Manchester United have managed just zero or one shot on target in eight of their last 30 Premier League games in the latest damning statistic to implicate Louis van Gaal.
Arsene Wenger may have a full quota of fit centre-backs to chose from against Watford on Sunday afternoon - but the Arsenal boss still fears the threat of Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo. The Hornets make the short trip to the Emirates Stadium for their FA Cup sixth-round tie - with a place at a Wembley semi-final the prize for the victor. And the Frenchman is wary of the threat that Watford's two strikers can possess - with the visitors looking to spring a surprise by knocking out the record 12-time winners of the trophy.
OLIVER HOLT IN MUMBAI: England smashed their way to a morale-boosting warm-up victory over New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium with an explosive display of batting ahead of the opening of their World T20 campaign against the West Indies in Mumbai on Wednesday. Some fine spin bowling from Adil Rashid, a stunning innings from opener Jason Roy and a late, match-clinching cameo from Jos Buttler took England past New Zealand's total of 169-8 with four balls to spare in front of a decent crowd of local spectators.
LAWRENCE BOOTH IN MUMBAI: England warmed up for the World T20 with a six-wicket victory over New Zealand. Sportsmail's cricket writer explains five things he learnt from the encounter.
The north London club are chasing their first title for 55 years but their bid to win the Premier League has been hampered by disappointing results against West Ham and Arsenal.
The 19-year-old moved to La Liga on a temporary deal at the end of January and thinks it would aid his development if he were to stay in Spain rather than return to Stamford Bridge to play in the reserves.
Former England manager Fabio Capello believes that Roy Hodgson's men have the talent to win a major tournament but must first fix the 'excuse culture' in the side.
CRAIG HOPE: Rafa Benitez had been manager of Newcastle for just 90 minutes when he ordered his players - previously on a day off - to report to the training ground, get changed into their kit and head out for an impromptu session. There are 10 more important 90-minute periods to come, but as far as starts go it was ruthless and decisive - the exact opposite to the team he inherits. Compare that to Joe Kinnear's arrival in 2008 when he immediately gave his squad two days' holiday. In fact, they never returned and were duly relegated.
The new manager has been given a three-year deal with the Magpies after the north east club finally swung the axe on Steve McClaren's tenure. As those on Twitter got stuck into the appointment, Rafa Benitez issued a rallying cry to the fans following his appointment asking the fans to get behind the team as they bid to stay in the top flight.
Former Newcastle captain Alan Shearer insists the appointment of Rafa Benitez is a 'good coup' for the club. Shearer is Newcastle's all-time leading goalscorer, netting 206 times.
CRAIG HOPE: Rafa Benitez has called on the 'Toon Army' to help secure Newcastle United's Premier League future after he was confirmed as manager on a three-year deal.
CRAIG HOPE: Seven emails, six wins. As far as tombstone epitaphs go, it makes you wonder how Steve McClaren survived at Newcastle United for nine months.
KIERAN GILL - THE NUMBERS GAME: No Premier League club have dropped more points from winning positions or conceded more goals at home than Everton this season. Roberto Martinez wants to be judged at the end of the campaign, but defeat by Cheslea at Goodison Park on Saturday would be the end of their season.
Heather Watson lost the last six games as she threw away a winning position in the deciding set to crash out of the BNP Paribas Open to Monica Niculescu. Watson was leading 2-0 in the third set after winning seven games in a row but she fell apart to fall to a 6-4 2-6 6-2 defeat by the 32nd seed.
Everton striker Oumar Niasse could have been lining up against his current employers in Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final had Jose Mourinho not been sacked by Chelsea prior to January's transfer window.
Williams played at the Indian Wells since she and sister Serena and father Richard were booed and heckled after Venus withdraw from her semi-final against Serena because of injury.
Andy Murray teamed up with fellow Brit Colin Fleming but the pair faced a tall order against John Isner and Milos Raonic, who have a combined height of 13ft 3ins between them.
CHRIS FOY: When the giants collide at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon, the RBS 6 Nations title will be settled a week early. These are comfortably the best two teams in Europe and the victors will not be denied the prize. If England prevail, there may even be white ribbons on the trophy by Sunday night, in the event of a French defeat at Murrayfield. Eddie Jones will know that France have not yet rediscovered their mojo, so Saturday is the crunch for his men. Everything is on the line at HQ. This is the play-off for Northern Hemisphere supremacy.
ANDY NICOL: What a difference a win makes. The landscape is so very different after Scotland finally got a victory in the Six Nations with that fantastic effort in Rome two weeks ago which ended a run of nine straight defeats. The alternative was unthinkable and would have heaped even more pressure on the team on Sunday but now there is a very different feel to this game against the French. I made no secret of how important I saw that game in Italy as it went to the very core of Scotland's credibility after so many defeats. France at Murrayfield is now as important as it is the next one. Simple as that.
NIK SIMON: Their proposed new fee, which would begin on July 1 and run until the 2019 World Cup, is on the back of the RFU's record £207.9million revenue last year.
It's crunch time in the RBS 6 Nations at Twickenham on Saturday evening. This is the pivotal match and Wales could effectively have the tournament won by 6pm.
Having kept his silence for almost two weeks, England coach Eddie Jones came out slugging when he targeted Wales No 10 Dan Biggar ahead of Saturday's titanic tussle at Twickenham.
NIK SIMON: England host rivals Wales on Saturday in what is being labelled as a title decided for this year's Six Nations clash at Twickenham.
LIAM HEAGNEY: This isn't a question of whether Ireland will win and put an end to the longest winless streak of the Joe Schmidt era - the only debate is how wide the margin will be at the finish.
SAMI MOKBEL AT THE MADEJSKI STADIUM: In the end it was heartbreaking for heroic Reading keeper Ali Al Habsi. Crystal Palace won't care a jot, though. The Omani produced one of those goalkeeping displays only the FA Cup can muster. But in the end he was beaten by a late Yohan Cabaye penalty that saw Reading defender Jake Cooper sent off for a second booking.
Manchester United have been linked with a shock move for Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the summer. Ibrahimovic will turn 35 later this year but has scored 27 goals for PSG this season, including in both legs of their Champions League triumph over Chelsea.
Liverpool won 2-0 in the first ever meeting between the two clubs in Europe, and another limp display from United has piled more pressure on manager Louis van Gaal.
EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United are facing a fight to keep midfielder Ander Herrera this summer. The Spanish star is the subject of growing interest from his homeland - namely Atletico Madrid.
Scholes certainly didn't pull any punches in the wake of Manchester United's miserable Europa League defeat to Liverpool on Thursday night. We discuss the points Scholes made in the wake of United's loss
Tottenham Hotspur's tilt at the Premier league title wasn't helped on Thursday when they were forced to stay in Dortmund for another night due to a problem with their plane.
Jose Mourinho has confirmed that he will be starting a new job in July, as the pressure grows on Louis van Gaal at Manchester United.
Matthew Olosunde will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow starlets such as Marcus Rashford and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson by making a name for himself at Old Trafford.
MATT LAWTON: Moyes hopes that the arrival of a new billionaire owner in Farhad Moshiri will at least give them a fighting chance of holding onto John Stones, Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku.
IAN LADYMAN: Three goals in his last three games have taken Antonio's tally to seven for the season in all competitions and elevated the 25-year-old to revered status at Upton Park. On Sunday he stands in the way of United in the FA Cup dreaming unashamedly of glory. Antonio didn't watch Manchester United as they fell apart at Liverpool on Thursday night. You can, however, be certain that in recent days Manchester United will have been watching plenty of him.
The defender played an hour at Prenton Park as Liverpool and Manchester United Under 21s fought out a 1-1 draw.
The famous old FA Cup has looked its age this season with punters and pundits lining up to suggest ways of giving it a jump start. But as we head into the quarter-finals, don't write it off just yet.
First-leg goalscorer Daniel Sturridge has promised Liverpool will go for the jugular at Old Trafford to ensure they send Manchester United crashing out of Europe.
Manchester United have condemned the supporters who chanted about the Hillsborough disaster during Thursday's Europa League clash with Liverpool.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain joined all-rounder Ben Stokes to discuss his fiery temperament, his record-breaking 258 and the secret to this young side's success as they prepare for their first World Twenty20 match in India against West Indies on Wednesday. Nasser Hussain: It's been a brilliant 12 months for you and the England team. The best year of your life? Ben Stokes: In terms of my job definitely. Before this 12 months started I felt in limbo and wasn't sure if I was going to make it as an international. Now I feel part of this England team.
Arriving at Barnet's Hive complex provides a snapshot of English football. As you walk in you are surrounded by training pitches, some of them a little the worse for wear in winter, an impressive facility used by everyone from the club to the local community. The grassroots. Looking up, you see the Hive itself, the 5,000-seater stadium of a club that has bounced between non-league and the lower leagues for most of the last two decades. The professional game.
The former world No 1, sidelined from competition since August due to back surgeries, revealed that he has been hard at work on his chipping and putting at his outdoor facility and takings full swings.
Russia must wait until May to discover if it can send an athletics team to the Rio Olympics after being told 'further significant work' is required before its international suspension is lifted.
The World Anti-Doping Agency has confirmed 99 positive tests for meldonium since the drug was added to its banned list in January. The finding underlines the extent of the issue in elite sport.
Hamilton called for his phone from off stage and proceeded to take a moving picture of his audience, which he then posted on a social media site, adding 'zzz'.
Carl Frampton is to move up a division to take on world featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz in a super-fight this summer, while James DeGale has also agreed to a major fight.
LA Galaxy stars Gerrard, Keane, Cole and De Jong jet off to Colarado for MLS clash
Veteran Steven Gerrard says he will never be at peace with football
He's a lady! Stoke striker Crouch swaps shorts for a skirt as he dresses up as a woman with Walliams
Peter Crouch as you've never seen him before...
QPR keeper Green left out in the cold as he opens up on exile: 'I'm desperate to play'
MATT LAWTON: Rob Green no longer appears to exist at Loftus Road
Chelsea fans get first glimpse of January buy Miazga as he stars in U21s win over Leicester
The US centre back has not made a competitive appearance yet
Stokes: 'I punched the locker. I've not got too long now to avoid stuffing this one up!'
Ben Stokes discusses his fiery temperament with Nasser Hussain
Is Rafa Benitez the right man for Newcastle?
Now share your opinion
'C'mon Toon Army!' Benitez delivers rallying cry to Newcastle fans as he agrees THREE-YEAR deal after McClaren is sacked
Changes on Tyneside
Cheer up, Louis! Glum Van Gaal goes back to drawing board at Manchester United HQ
Suffered embarrassing defeat by Liverpool in Europa League
Guess who? It's Barcelona stars... as you've never seen them before!
Neymar and Dani Alves swap faces ahead of return to La Liga action
Russell Crowe carries casket at funeral of cousin and New Zealand hero Martin
The cricketing great's funeral was attended by hundreds of mourners
Duff admits worries that he will 'turn into' Kim Kardashian in retirement
Former Chelsea winger is concerned about life after football
Henry cleared to be a football manager after Arsenal legend earns UEFA A Licence
Thierry Henry has moved a step closer to going into management
Forster scoops Player of the Month gong after making clean-sheet history... while Pochettino named manager of month
Worthy award winners
Lingard watches his side lose at Anfield along with a trio of United legends
Jesse Lingard, out due to suspension, was in the away end
Scholes brands Manchester United 'a shambles' and says stars 'are falling short'
The former Manchester United midfielder did not hold back
Liverpool fans taunt Manchester United supporters with rude motorway banner
United fans did not get the best welcome ahead of their game at Anfield
Joshua winds down with a 'needed' Jacuzzi session ahead of world heavyweight title fight with Martin
Everyone needs a break once in a while
Neville's men lose in the rain as Spanish rivals sink Valencia in tight affair
Raul Garcia's first-half header gave Athletic Bilbao a 1-0 win
Sharapova in training on LA beach as Russian insists: 'I am determined to play tennis again'
Sharapova thanked her fans on Facebook for their support
Ford's 'scary moment': England fly-half should be fit for Wales clash despite taking knock with giant Launchbury in training
Unequal collision
Wet and wild! Higuain, Reina and Napoli make a splash after soggy training session
Italian football has a long- held reputation for diving
London has fallen! Twitter reacts as Zlatan ends Chelsea's European dreams
Zlatan Ibrahimovic had the last laugh as PSG beat Chelsea
Heads, you win: Monfils plants unorthodox volley at the net during an exhibition win over Wawrinka
Gael Monfils and his showboating skills
Suarez takes on Coutinho at FIFA 16
Suarez uploaded a picture to his Instagram of him and Philippe Coutinho enjoying a game of FIFA 16
Watson continues winning run as Brit beats Voskoboeva in Indian Wells opener
Watson won her sixth consecutive match in the Californian desert
UFC star VanZant and Super Bowl MVP Von Miller join Dancing With the Stars
Paige VanZant lost against Rose Namajunas last year
Neymar celebrates at his sister's Walt Disney-themed 20th birthday party after receiving permission from Barcelona
Had to ask club captains
Beckham pops into PSG's London hotel ahead of Champions League tie with Chelsea
Beckham met with Marco Verratti and team-mates at a London hotel
Djokovic, Keane and Friedel watch courtside as Lakers beat Orlando Magic in NBA clash
Sporting stars turn out in force in Los Angeles for the NBA match
Henry meets Miami Dolphins' London-born star Ajayi
Jay Ajayi is looking to step up his game to a higher level in new season
'Spot the fraud'! PSG add fuel to Chelsea fire with Diego dig
French champions have aimed a sly barb at Chelsea striker Diego Costa on Twitter
The new Nou Camp: Barcelona unveil plans for revamped 105,000-seater stadium as architects are selected for £465m upgrade
New plans for 2021...
Real Madrid stars celebrate win over Roma... in the hot tub!
Boss Zinedine Zidane reflected on a job well done after his side saw off wasteful Roma to win
Suarez returns to Liverpool as Barcelona star is welcomed back to Melwood by Sakho
Luis Suarez clearly still holds the Merseyside outfit close to his heart
Time to rebuild, Brendan? Rodgers insists Klopp is expected to dig deep and deliver the title
Brendan Rodgers knows all about expectations
Serena Williams and
Gerrard and Keane enjoy a night out in Los Angeles after LA Galaxy open their MLS season with a win
At an exclusive Los Angeles lounge bar
Rio Ferdinand like you've never seen him before... former Manchester United star disguised for funny Champions League ad
Incognito star
Which Premier League star is posing in a full face cast as his wife calls him 'Superman'?
In form, but un-recognisable
Webber and presenter Jones join Channel 4's 'dream' Formula One team
Steve Jones, the former T4 presenter will be the new face of Formula One
'Hello... it's me': Rooney looks to raise United's spirits after defeat as stars and WAGs attend Adele gig
It was a welcome break for United's players
West Ham eye move for Oxlade-Chamberlain as he poses for a photo with Hammers loanee pal Jenkinson
The 22-year-old craves first-team football
Man's best friend! Hamilton is the picture of contentment as he takes dogs Roscoe and Coco for a walk in Paris
It's no secret that dogs are man's best friend
PSG reignite social media mind games with Chelsea with Zlatan as 'Parisian Sniper' in movie poster mock-up
PSG step up their game in online stakes
Cheltenham Festival green light for Pendleton as she prepares to ride Pacha Du Polder in the Foxhunter Chase
Victoria Pendleton is progressing well
NFL hero Manning fights back tears as he announces retirement
Peyton Manning ends his brilliant career after sealing second Super Bowl victory
Rooney pets tiger during break in Dubai with knee brace... then United star is pictured walking unaided back in England as he steps up injury recovery
Bale is the most expensive player ever at £86m... but his cheap trick is cutting holes in his socks as he returns from his calf injury
Really helping?
Hamilton hoping to hit all the right notes as world champion gears up for the start of the new Formula One season
Tempted by 'the keys'
Burgess makes rugby league return after code-crossing nightmare as South Sydney Rabbitohs thrash Sydney Roosters
Turbulent 18 months
Mayweather and Rihanna watch courtside as Los Angeles Lakers stun Golden State Warriors in NBA encounter
Far from routine
Ronaldo back in the gym after four-goal haul
Real Madrid star also took time out to pose for selfies with his son, Cristiano Jnr, after the win over Celta Vigo
Which England cricket star is travelling light for World T20 in India?
The big-hitting England all-rounder took to social media to show off his luggage for the trip.
F*** the hate! McGregor hits back
UFC star hits out at critics, Aldo and Dos Anjos and vows not to shy away from Diaz defeat
LA Galaxy heading in One Direction ahead of new MLS season
Niall Horan joined Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane and Ashley Cole in training
These are for you, mum!
Manchester United star Memphis Depay caught the eye when he wore a pair of special Mother's Day boots
Is it Sharap-over?
Speculation was rife about Maria Sharapova's future last night after the Russian perpared to make what was termed a 'major announcement'.
McGregor virals: Here's how social media celebrated his Diaz loss
UFC 196 defeat sparked a social media reaction after second-round submission
Shear class... Shearer beats Savage 547-529 in 57-hour five-a-side epic for Sport Relief
A grand total of £370,592 was raised, with 1,000 people taking part overall
'Bulls*** he's sick': Tomic captured on courtside microphone slamming Kyrgios for missing Davis Cup tie
Australia were defeated by the USA
McGregor BEATEN by Diaz at UFC 196 via second-round submission after brutal beating in Las Vegas
One punch changed the Irishman's destiny
McGregor set to defend featherweight title at UFC 200 against Aldo or Edgar after loss
He announced his plans after his welterweight experiment backfired
Holm choked unconscious as Tate claims bantamweight belt at UFC 196
Tate put champion Holm to sleep with a rear-naked choke
Tate to defend bantamweight title against Rousey... having lost to her nemesis in 2012 and 2013
The pair are set to meet for a third time
Guardiola involved in passionate exchange with youngster Kimmich after 'outstanding' Dortmund performance
Bayern Munich boss is certainly a perfectionist
Richard the FIRST: After playing second fiddle to McCoy for 20 years, Johnson is on the brink of assuming the king's mantle
OLIVER HOLT interview
Ronaldo reaches the 350-goal mark for Real after scoring FOUR in Celta Vigo thrashing
Zinedine Zidane salutes the forward after his goals at the Bernabeu
Streak continues for Murray brothers as they ease to doubles win
They beat Yoshihito Nishioka and Yasutaka Utchiyama 6-3 6-2 6-4 in an hour and 52 minutes
Ivanovic: Chelsea could not cope with pressure of being champions
Branislav Ivanovic can recall no time quite like the start of this season
Lloris is close to Arsenal's French players... but there are no friends in a north London derby
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY MATT BARLOW
Salah scores brace as Spalletti's men record seventh straight win
Mo Salah helped Roma beat rivals Fiorentina 4-1 to gain an edge in the Champions League race
Jenas the latest football star after Barton to take on the Question Time debate
How did the Match of the Day pundit fare against political panelists?
West Ham boss Bilic backs Payet to win Player of the Year award after scintillating debut season
Backed him to make the France squad
Juventus opened up a six-point gap over nearest challengers Napoli- who have a game in hand, at the top of Serie A after a narrow 1-0 win over Sassuolo on Friday night. Paulo Dybala fired in from the edge of the box, shortly before half-time to break the deadlock for Massimiliano Allegri's men. Paul Pogba started the match on the bench.
The US centre-back has not made a competitive appearance since November due to the end of the season in America, but has been building his fitness at the club's Cobham training ground. The 20-year-old signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at the Premier League champions at the end of the transfer windows after two years at MLS side New York Red Bulls.
He may not have featured as Paris Saint-Germain proved too strong for Chelsea in the last 16 of the Champions League, but France full back Layvin Kurzawa has got himself a brand new tattoo. The 23-year-old has made 15 appearances this season in his first campaign for Laurent Blanc's side since joining from Monaco, but with Maxwell preferred in the left-back berth at Stamford Bridge, Kurzawa fell back on his other passion.
SAM CUNNINGHAM: They host Watford in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday while Wenger has not yet given up on progressing in the Champions League when they travel to Barcelona on Wednesday.
SAM CUNNINGHAM: The formidable striker is out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain in the summer and has admitted he is interested in a new challenge at the end of his glittering career.
Antonio Conte is expected to meet with Roman Abramovich this week after being told he can have a say in who makes up his backroom staff at Chelsea.
DOMINIC KING: The Iranian billionaire will see his first game at Goodison Park on Saturday when he takes his place in the Directors Box for the FA Cup quarter-final with Chelsea.
Dean Holdsworth has assured Bolton supporters the club's future is in safe hands after the former Wanderers striker's consortium completed their takeover at the Macron Stadium.
Paris Saint-Germain could be crowned champions of France this weekend - some 62 days and eight matches before the end of the Ligue 1 campaign.
EXCLUSIVE BY MIKE DICKSON: You would need to venture to a remote farming community way up in the Australian tropics to find this Everton legend from the days when the FA Cup final stopped the nation in its tracks. In the far north of the country, 100 miles from Cairns, Mike Trebilcock lives among those who harvest bananas and sugar cane for a living in the small settlement of El Arish.
The former Chelsea winger announced his retirement on December 21 after playing nine games for Irish side Shamrock Rovers. He enjoys travelling the world but feels as though he has to earn it. Duff has been coaching for Blackburn Rovers since quitting the game.
Paul Scholes asked where Manchester United were heading and, after Thursday night, it is out of Europe by the looks of things. Louis van Gaal's side were branded a 'shambles' by the club legend as they lost to Liverpool in the Europa League last-16 first leg and might not qualify for next season's Champions League.
Ex-Aston Villa manager Brian Little and David Bernstein will join the club's board as the Barclays Premier League strugglers continue restructuring.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expects Aaron Ramsey to be out for four weeks - but not miss the rest of the season. Ramsey lasted only 16 minutes of the Gunners' FA Cup replay against Hull.
Lazio fans reportedly aimed racist chants at Sparta Prague defender Costa Nhamoinesu, who is from Zimbabwe. The referee stopped play in the first half of the 1-1 draw in Prague on Thursday.
The Blues skipper has been out for a month with a hamstring problem, but Guus Hiddink has confirmed the defender will travel to Merseyside this weekend, even though he is unsure he will be fit.
Watford captain Troy Deeney has told his six-year-old son not to celebrate an Arsenal goal in their FA Cup quarter-final clash or risk losing his pocket money.
Real Madrid's decision to replace experienced manager Rafael Benitez with club legend Zinedine Zidane has been questioned by Marcelino, the coach of La Liga rivals Villarreal.
Jamie Roberts has backed experience as an essential element of Wales' bid to repeat their World Cup heroics and floor fellow RBS 6 Nations heavyweights England on Saturday. Wales return to Twickenham six months after inflicting a damaging World Cup defeat on England for what is effectively a Six Nations title eliminator. A Wales win would leave them needing one more victory - against struggling Italy at home next weekend - to secure a third Six Nations crown in the last five seasons.
Martin Johnson has come out of retirement for one game only... in honour of a friend's 40th birthday. The former England international, who captained his country to World Cup glory in 2003 and later took the head coach job at Twickenham, had not scrummed in anger since calling time on his playing days more than a decade ago. However, he found himself in the thick of the action on Saturday as he took part in a friendly match staged as part of pal Dave Docherty's celebrations.
Jones claims Warren Gatland's men pre-engage at the scrum knowing that the referee will eventually tire of awarding penalties against them out of fear of being criticised for ruining the game.
Rory Best has admitted Ireland's players 'haven't delivered on promises' as he attempted to ease pressure on boss Joe Schmidt before Saturday's critical clash with Italy.
Steve Borthwick has prompted an urgent overhaul of England's lineout codes to prevent a repeat of their calamitous World Cup defeat against Wales six months ago.
He's been sitting pretty at the top of the Formula One world the last two years and Lewis Hamilton has revealed his secret to success. The 31-year-old has taken fans behind the scenes by explaining how he sits in the Mercedes car he'll be driving in the upcoming season. Three-time world champion Hamilton will be hoping to continue where he left off last season when he takes to the track for the opening race of the calendar in Australia later this month.
The Austin race, where Lewis Hamilton clinched his third title in October, was thrown into doubt after the Texas state decreased its funding of the event by more than £4million.
While Sebastian Vettel's ever-improving Ferrari team are expected to lead the challenge to Mercedes in 2016, Formula One is braced for its third instalment of Hamilton versus Rosberg.
Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas believes Williams can end their race-winning drought this season. The British team have not won a race since Pastor Maldonado's unlikely triumph in 2012.
What's The Scoop became a candidate for the 'what happened next slot' when throwing away certain victory at Sandown on Friday. The Nicky Henderson-trained runner was in complete control in the Ollie McPhail' s 1,000th Racing to School Novices' Hurdle when diving left at a 90 degree angle under Barry Geraghty after jumping the last hurdle. His only remaining rival was Starvin Marvin, who was very tired, but he kept on strongly enough to hold off the rallying What's The Scoop by six lengths.
Martin Crowe's wife, Lorraine Downes, led a touching tribute to the cricketing great at his funeral in Auckland, New Zealand, on Friday. The funeral was attended by friends, family, including his cousin Russell Crowe who was a pall bearer.
In one of the most hotly anticipated domestic match-ups of the year, Terry Flanagan will face Derry Mathews on Saturday. The two will meet at Liverpool's Echo Arena, where Flanagan will put his WBO lightweight title on the line against the 49-fight veteran Mathews.
Terry Flanagan and Derry Mathews are promising 'a slug-fest not a snooze-in' as they become the second pair of British boxers in a fortnight to contest a world title.
Jordan Spieth holed three shots from off the green and made the cut with one shot to spare in the Valspar. Now he has to figure out how to catch up to Steve Stricker and Will MacKenzie.
The Warriors led only 6-0 after 55 minutes but they were the more inventive team throughout and eventually cut loose to run out 28-6 victors to maintain their 100 per cent record and draw level at the top.
Miesha Tate could take a leaf out of Holly Holm's book and elect to defend her UFC women's bantamweight title rather than waiting for the return of Ronda Rousey in the Autumn.
Hend carded a third round of 70 at Black Mountain Golf Club on Saturday to finish 14 under par, two shots ahead of American Peter Uihlein, with Belgium's Thomas Pieters a shot further back.
Anthony Crolla will make the first defence of his WBA lightweight crown against hard-hitting Venezuelan Ismael Barroso at the Manchester Arena on May 7.
Harry Whittington is carving out a reputation as a trainer to keep on side and AFFAIRE D'HONNEUR (Sandown, 3.10) could strengthen his burgeoning status with victory in the Imperial Cup.
Colin Tizzard calls it his 'claim to fame' - the schoolboy sporting experiences he shared with future England cricket legend Ian Botham. But if Cue Card and Thistlecrack deliver at Cheltenham.
Eden Hazard has been pilloried for swapping shirts with Angel di Maria at half-time of Chelsea's Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain. The Belgian is not the first Premier League player to anger his fans with an ill-judged and badly-timed shirt swap - but why is it a football tradition?
At only just 25, Hazard looks as if he would be more at home propping up saloon bars along the King's Road than kicking a ball around the pitch at Stamford Bridge.
Our secret scout is a top football expert who attends matches each week searching for the next star. This week it's Leicester left back Ben Chilwell who gets the secret scout treatment.
THE DEBATE: I wrote a column quoting Claudio Ranieri's assessment of the big five as scared. They are terrified that the invasion may become the norm. You had plenty to say on the subject.
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