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Saturday, Dec 16th 2017 3PM 51°F 6PM 55°F 5-Day Forecast
 

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Updated: 07:57 EST
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Leicester vs Crystal Palace LIVE at King Power Stadium

Leicester are looking to make it six wins in a row when they host Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off. The Foxes have been rejuvenated by the arrival of Claude Puel and have climbed up to eighth in the table after a 4-1 thrashing away at Southampton. Palace lifted themselves off the bottom of the Premier League with a last-minute win over Watford in midweek and can climb out of the relegation zone for the first time this season with a point. Join Sportsmail's JAMES DUTTON for all the LIVE action with kick-off at 12.30GMT...

Steve Smith double ton has England staring at Ashes defeat

PAUL NEWMAN AT THE WACA: This was brutal. This was torture. It was almost cruel. This was the day, surely, any hopes England possibly had of retaining the Ashes disappeared. By the close of a totally one-sided third day of the third Test they looked completely broken. Not only did England have no answer to the extraordinary figure of Steve Smith but, far more worryingly, they looked flat and bereft of all energy, ideas and imagination throughout a day they simply had to be at their best. Remember, Australia started the day 200 behind England with three wickets down and some of the biggest pundits in the game were saying they would rather be in Joe Root’s shoes than Smith’s.

MARTIN SAMUEL IN PERTH: On any unsuccessful Ashes tour there is always a day when it can be said the wheels came off for England.

Arsenal are gearing up for one of the biggest squad overhauls in Arsene Wenger’s 21-year reign. The Gunners have already started planning what will almost certainly be a busy summer.

There was no ambiguity in Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino’s words when the subject of celebration etiquette was put to him on Friday afternoon.

I'd have done exactly the same if I'd been wearing blue. It has been claimed Manchester City's players crossed a line but nothing could be further from the truth.

KIERAN GILL - THE NUMBERS GAME: Alli has looked out of sorts, unconfident and less threatening. Rested against Brighton in midweek, he is set to return for Manchester City

THE ASHES - LATEST FROM DOWN UNDER
 

Ashes 3rd Test Day 3: Smith has sit down, Stokes in crowd

England took just one solitary wicket on Saturday as they saw their hopes of retaining the Ashes take a hammering. Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh made the most of benign batting conditions to make hay and take Australia beyond the tourists' first innings total. Here Sportsmail take a look at some things you may have missed on day three...

England have confirmed Craig Overton has a hairline cracked rib. The seamer was passed fit to bowl for England on day three of the third Ashes Test in Perth, after taking pain-killers.

Michael Vaughan believes the lack of variety in England's bowling attack is contributing to their downfall in Australia. The tourists are on the brink of relinquishing the Ashes.

Paul Farbrace refused to criticise England's bowlers despite seeing Steve Smith and Mitch Marsh pile on the runs for Australia on the third day of the third Test at the WACA.

Follow all the third-day action with Sportsmail's GLEN WILLIAMS, with PAUL NEWMAN and RICHARD GIBSON providing updates and session reports from Perth.

Frank Lampard returns to old stomping ground for kickabout

As temperatures dipped in and around the zero mark on a bitter Friday afternoon, Frank Lampard was seen donning some shorts and a pair of football boots at his old stomping ground in East London. The Chelsea legend returned to the set of training pitches he used to play on before turning professional, as he was seen having a kickabout with a friend who was given the perilous task stopping 'Super Frank' from scoring. The 39-year-old was filmed taking shots at the bearded keeper, who managed to deny Lampard on more than one occasion, to the disbelief of the former Manchester City midfielder.

Brighton's Chris Hughton insists job is to keep club up

EXCLUSIVE BY CRAIG HOPE: Chris Hughton walked into a packed function room in one of Newcastle’s most storied hotels last month and a crowd of 400 rose to its feet. In the past few years that same room has housed countless dinners with former Newcastle United favourites. Only three have earned a standing ovation before the starters have been served: Alan Shearer, Kevin Keegan and Hughton. That is the regard in which he is held on Tyneside. And this for the manager of a Premier League rival. It is perhaps unprecedented.

Nemanja Matic thinks Manchester United team-mate Scott McTominay can become 'an England star' - a suggestion which may not be welcomed by the Scottish Football Association.

Ahead of last weekend’s Manchester derby, Jose Mourinho suggested Manchester City players dive and also said Pep Guardiola’s men commit tactical fouls to stop counter-attacks.

CHARLES SALE - SPORTS AGENDA: The surprise deal to combine forces against the threat of the streaming digital giants will see Sky and BT able to access and sell their rivals’ football content.

ADAM CRAFTON EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW - As a Catalan coach called Pep, it may be a little surprising to learn where Pep Clotet decided to take his Oxford United players earlier this season.

Sean Dyche's success at Burnley is no way less than what Pep Guardiola has achieved with his record-breaking Manchester City side, Brighton manager Chris Hughton has said.

Slaven Bilic 'I'm not a broken man. I'm ready to go again'

It’s 11am on Thursday and a familiar face enters the Four Seasons hotel near his home in Tower Hill, London. Clean-shaven and carefree, scarf neatly tucked over a dark top, Slaven Bilic picks a table by the grand piano in the lounge, orders a cappuccino and beds in for a long chat. His next appointment isn’t until 4pm, when he has to collect his daughter Sofi from nursery. ‘It is good and necessary to rest,’ he says, almost six weeks after being sacked by West Ham.

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos launches personalised boot

Ramos, who will wear pair No 4 of the special edition 4,000 released this weekend, joins the likes of Ronaldinho, Francesco Totti and Andrea Pirlo in receiving his own player-edition Tiempo boots. Dubbed 'Corazon y Sangre,' which translates as heart and blood, the boots pay homage to the Spanish footballer's values and roots.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho also declared himself ready to grasp the chance to make important signings in the January transfer window.

Arsene Wenger believes supporters of clubs outside the top six are pleased with goalless draws against the bigger clubs, making the Premier League more defensive.

West Brom manager Alan Pardew has claimed defender Jonny Evans could still be playing for Manchester United as the Northern Irishman takes on his former club on Sunday.

Dyche has earned many plaudits for the amazing job he has done at Burnley on a shoe-string budget which coincidentally has seen him linked with several other jobs.

Pep Guardiola has warned the Premier League that his Manchester City side can get even better – although he ruled out going through the season unbeaten like Arsenal's 'Invincibles'.

The out-of-favour youngster, who promised much when he arrived at the Liberty Stadium in the summer, has endured a torrid time in south Wales. He has recently been dropped from the team.

Conte says the defender has a knee injury that the club are monitoring but Luiz is not currently able to train with the team, meaning the manager is unable to put a date on his return.

Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome's spat goes back a way

MATT LAWTON - CHIEF SPORTS REPORTER: Unless Disney are planning yet another remake of The Jungle Book, with Chris Froome cast as the villainous Kaa, the prospective new owners of Team Sky are unlikely to welcome the latest spat between their two most successful riders. Froome and Sir Bradley Wiggins have long been the best of enemies, with their often public disputes normally involving their wives and a trading of blows on social media. But nothing has come close to the vitriol expressed in one particular Facebook post this week, when Mrs Wiggins referred to Froome as a ‘slithering reptile’.

Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris has told his team they will need to reproduce their performance in the victory over Real Madrid if they are to stand a chance of securing a win at Manchester City.

Ronaldo's commercial pull means Perez will not let his star leave on the cheap but Perez would demand the player buy his way out of his contract should he want to force an exit.

Tis the season to be jolly. But it does not take the calendar to provoke a Barry Hearn grin. He is the sort of character who provides salvation when Santa delivers toys without batteries.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho - who holds an interest in Arsenal's Mesut Ozil and Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann - revealed he will do business if the right deal becomes available.

Lemieux strips naked to make the cut for Saunders fight

The former IBF middleweight champion challenges for Saunders' WBO strap in his hometown on Saturday night but needed to shed his pants to make the weight. And Saunders' trainer Dominic Ingle was incensed as he thought Lemieux was allowed to jump off the scales before the weight had settled.

Sevilla 0-0 Levante: Berizzo returns for goalless draw

Boss Berizzo, back on the touchline on Friday night following prostate cancer surgery, was a frustrated observer after Sevilla were humbled 5-0 at Real Madrid last time out in La Liga. The draw, coincidentally, saw Sevilla miss out on a chance to draw level with Real, who jetted off to Abu Dhabi for the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this week, in the final Champions League spot but wastefulness saw them remain fifth.

Portugal Under-20 international Domingos Quina is viewed as one of the most exciting young prospects in the Premier League but he will find it difficult to enjoy regular football this season.

Sunday night will see the winner of Sports Personality of the Year 2017 crowned at Liverpool's Echo Arena. Here, Sportsmail reporters choose their standout performer...

It's Tottenham's turn to try to stop the Man City juggernaut. Here's the best bets for the big game at the Etihad plus the top picks for the rest of the Premier League this weekend.

Newcastle United’s players have cancelled their own Christmas party in light of the team’s losing run. Rafa Benitez's side have taken one point from eight matches and have fallen from fourth to 16th.

The broadcasters had replayed the footage more than a dozen times and, still, nobody was sure. They had even checked, Hot Spot and Snicko.

Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Wolves: Neves strike seals win

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 0-1 WOLVES - ALAN BIGGS AT HILLSBOROUGH: It leaves Carlos Carvalhal without a win in six matches as pressure mounts on the Wednesday manager but his side deserved more for their performance here. Wolves were aiming go seven points clear at the top after having a six-match winning streak checked by a surprise goalless draw with Sunderland.

RORY KEANE: Jack Nowell knew he was in trouble after Chris Harris’ elbow caught him. He's been involved in many on-field collisions but the most innocuous resulted in a horror injury.

ULSTER 52-24 HARLEQUINS: Ulster stayed in the race for European Champions Cup qualification by delivering a six-try thumping of Harlequins.

WILL KELLEHER: Charlie Ewels spent this week wearing a suit after arriving three minutes late for Bath’s bus last Saturday.

Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi will make his latest comeback from injury on Saturday against Munster in the Champions Cup. 

Taylor beats Dobey to progress in World Darts Championship

KIERAN GILL AT ALEXANDRA PALACE: Phil Taylor's flirtation with a 17th world title continued on Friday as he survived a scare to progress to the second round of the World Championship. The 57-year-old, who is retiring after this tournament, made it through with a below-100 average as the 16-time world champion beat Chris Dobey 3-1 at the Alexandra Palace.

St Etienne 0-4 Monaco: Jardim's side record emphatic win

Djibril Sidibe fired the visitors Monaco ahead after just three minutes against St Etienne on Friday night when Keita Balde's shot rebounded into his path. Then Thomas Lemar doubled the lead in the 32nd minute, shaking off several defenders to break into the box and power home a left-footed shot.

That means Sky will be able to sell BT's sport channels - which include the Champions League, Premier League football and Ashes cricket - through their own services.

On Wednesday night against West Ham, there was a rather rare sight – Arsenal were chasing a win they desperately needed and so Alexis Sanchez was hooked. For some, it was overdue.

It's Hot or Not time again as Sportsmail's RIATH AL-SAMARRAI reveals what's been making him feel warm and what's been leaving him cold in the world of sport this week... 

Ivan Rakitic stuns Barcelona team-mates in precision test

The likes of Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Ivan Rakitic put their accuracy skills to the test and their was one Barcelona star in particular that left everyone speechless for all the right reasons. In a video for Gillette, called 'Precision Play', Croatian midfielder Rakitic stunned his team-mates by incredibly sinking a football through a basketball hoop from literally an 'Impossible Range'.

Pep Guardiola gets 3rd PL Manager of the Month award

Pep Guardiola has been awarded Premier League Manager of the Month for the third consecutive month after his Manchester City side won all four of their matches in November.  The City boss scooped the gong in September and October as his side embarked on their record-breaking run of 15 successive league wins.  Guardiola beat out competition from Antonio Conte, Sean Dyche, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Arsene Wenger for the November award. 

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been crowned Premier League player of the month for November after scoring seven goals in four matches.

EXCLUSIVE BY IAN HERBERT: Only three of Aluko’s eight complaints about former England women’s manager Mark Sampson were addressed in a flawed internal inquiry report.

COMMENTARY: Dan Ashworth was supremely confident about his entitlement to act as both witness and judge on the inquiry into Eniola Aluko’s complaints about Mark Sampson.

Spain's involvement at the 2018 World Cup is under threat after FIFA warned the Spanish football federation against political interference. The 2010 World Cup winners race missing out on Russia.

Spaniard Rafa Benitez met Newcastle's managing director Lee Charnley this week to discuss what he may or may not be able to do to strengthen his squad during the winter window.

Ozil is reportedly favouring a move to join Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford if he does not agree a new deal with his current club, a prospect growing increasingly unlikely.

Jurgen Klopp has defended his player rotation and scoffed at suggestions they are 'in the dark days'. Liverpool have drawn their past two matches - against Everton and West Brom,

Tottenham boss Pochettino: No problem with Pep Guardiola

Mauricio Pochettino insists there is no lingering bad blood with Pep Guardiola after the row sparked by the Manchester City manager labelling Tottenham ‘the Harry Kane team’. Pochettino was angered by the remarks in October and called Guardiola ‘disrespectful’.

The England midfielder has endured a difficult campaign after rupturing a thigh muscle in pre-season, but he now looks set to return once more. He could play against Bournemouth on Sunday.

Ahead of this weekend's matches in the Premier League, Sportsmail brings you the latest squad news, odds and stats on every top flight fixture as it breaks.

Yannick Bolasie could make his long-awaited return to Everton’s first team squad on Monday after Sam Allardyce gave the most upbeat bulletin of the past 12 months.

The Potters boss has found himself under pressure following four defeats from their last five Premier League games, leaving them just two points above the relegation zone.

Everton star Wayne Rooney awarded goal of the month

Wayne Rooney has been awarded the Premier League Goal of the Month trophy for his wonderful strike against West Ham. The former England captain finished November in stunning style, scoring a hat-trick against West Ham at Goodison Park that was capped off by a wonder strike from his own half. And he has rolled back the years since, scoring against Newcastle in mid-week and in the Merseyside derby last weekend. 

IAN HERBERT: Tottenham intended the one-hour film, entitled 'The Lane', to be a celebration, though the pathos is all-pervasive. For Perryman nothing will ever match playing at the Lane.

Crystal Palace are targeting Monaco's Guido Carrillo to solve their striker shortage. Roy Hodgson hopes to recruit a new goalkeeper, central midfielder and goalscorer in January.

Oliver Kahn claims Sir Alex Ferguson is still mad with him for not joining Manchester United towards the end of his glittering career. Kahm admits not giving the Premier League a try.

Nothing seems to be able to stop this Manchester City juggernaut. They have already broken Premier League records and are storming their way towards the title. But every team has a weakness.

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FOOTBALL NEWS
 

'Man City's winning run is lucky': Chelsea boss Conte

City are running away with the Premier League title, but the manager of the current champions insists Pep Guardiola's side have been fortunate. Conte said: 'But, at the same time, Manchester City are a really good team. To have these 15 wins in a row, you must be also lucky because, in many games, they won at the last minute, or with minutes to go. 'When you have this type of run, for sure, you must also be a bit lucky. But I repeat: they are deserving this. We must have great respect but, at the same time, we must find the right solution to contend.'

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale train with Real Madrid

After overcoming a resilient Al Jazira side on Wednesday, Real Madrid's attentions have now turned to this weekend's FIFA Club World Cup final. The Spanish giants scrapped past their UAE opponents 2-1 thanks to a late Gareth Bale goal - with the substitute scoring with his first touch after coming on in place of Karim Benzema. Real face Brazilian outfit Gremio on Saturday and preparations are already underway for that showpiece.

Arsene Wenger and Bob Wilson have hailed the work of The Arsenal Foundation ahead of the club's annual tradition of players and their French donating a day's wages to the cause.

Marco Silva has dismissed suggestions the decline in Watford's form owes to Everton's attempts to recruit him. A promising start to the season contributed to Everton's attempts to appoint him.

Frankie Bunn, who had been at Huddersfield in 2012, was told the news on Wednesday, with first team-manager David Wagner becoming an increasingly influential figure.

Diego Simeone has assured striker Antoine Griezmann that he will eventually be allowed to leave Atletico Madrid. The striker was strongly linked with Manchester United last summer.

The Ivorian defender was injured while on international duty and last played for Manchester United in the game against Chelsea, which his side lost 1-0, on November 5.

The England international has not kicked a ball for Everton this season, with his campaign decimated by a hamstring injury that was so bad it required surgery to be corrected in August.

Sunderland have not won at the Stadium of Light for a year

Sunderland must beat Fulham on Saturday if their winless run at the Stadium of Light is not to extend beyond a year. It was on December 17 last season that home fans celebrated as David Moyes’ side beat Watford 1-0 in the Premier League. One relegation, another experienced manager in Simon Grayson, 364 days and a new English record of 21 matches later and supporters are still waiting for that winning feeling.

Middlesbrough give Tavernier new contract to stop Arsenal

Middlesbrough have secured the future of Arsenal target Marcus Tavernier by handing him a new three-and-a-half-year deal, Sportsmail can reveal. The 18-year-old has broken into the first-team this season and has attracted interest from the Gunners, whose scouts have checked on the talented winger. But Boro have rewarded his emergence with a new contract, which will run until the summer of 2021.

Michael O'Neill has warned the Scottish Football Association they may struggle to prise him away from the Northern Ireland job. O'Neill says discussions have yet to even begin with the SFA.

Rafa Benitez's side have fallen from fourth to 16th and are now just one point above the bottom three ahead of Saturday's trip to Arsenal. Their latest reverse came at home to Everton on Wednesday.

Diego Maradona has made the sensational claim that he would have won more Ballon d'Ors than both current stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Leicester boss Claude Puel has offered no guarantees record signing Islam Slimani will stay with the Foxes. The striker has played just 10 minutes since Puel was appointed manager in October.

EXCLUSIVE: German defender Marvin Compper is poised to become Celtic's first signing of the January transfer window after the Parkhead club gave him a VIP tour of their facilities.

Barcelona are reportedly preparing a shock bid to secure the services of Manchester United defender Daley Blind. Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde is keen to bolster his defensive options.

OTHER SPORTS NEWS
 

World champion Joshua shows off slick robotic dance moves during filming

Is there nothing this man can't do? The insane knockout power Anthony Joshua carries in his fists has earned him the right to be the unified champion in boxing's grandest division, his charming charisma has seen him nominated for the BBC Sports Personality 2017 award and now it's emerged that the 28-year-old is also a smooth mover, too. Joshua did not scruple to flaunt the fact he can dance and took to Instagram to show off his slick robotic dance moves.

Jonnie Peacock: I am still an athlete, not a celebrity

EXCLUSIVE BY RIATH AL-SAMARRAI: It was on a train to London in October that Jonnie Peacock realised he was getting a little more attention than usual. He had just started out on Strictly Come Dancing and was heading for another eight-hour practice session when he spotted something out of the corner of his eye.

Former UCI president Pat McQuaid has called Chris Froome's adverse drugs test "a disaster" for cycling and claimed Team Sky could lose all credibility as a result.

We're still a number of months away from the start of the inaugural NBA 2K League, but we now know all of the teams, their names, and their logos. 

EXCLUSIVE BY MIKE DICKSON: Laura Robson has been reunited with the coach who took her to a Wimbledon junior title triumph in 2008 as she bids to revitalise her senior career.

The Champions Cup pool stage is reaching boiling point with some intriguing contests in store this weekend. The English sides will look to put themselves in position to battle for a last-eight spot.

DECLAN TAYLOR IN MONTREAL: So confident he is of beating the former IBF middleweight champion, Saunders has vowed to pay £372,360 to charity if he loses on Saturday night.

Higgins punished O'Sullivan's mistakes to run out a 5-0 winner and book his place in the semi-finals, where he will face Neil Robertson, who beat Xiao Guodong 5-4 in Glasgow.

RACING
 

Sportsmail's racing expert Robin Goodfellow dishes out his tips ahead of Saturday's meetings at Cheltenham, Doncaster, Hereford and Wolverhampton.

Sam Twiston-Davies will make an unexpected return to partner The New One in his attempt to win the £130,000 Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham for an unprecedented fourth time.

THE BEST WRITING IN SPORT
 

Wilshere, Sturridge, Draxler... Stars who may leave clubs

The World Cup is on the horizon, with a mere five months until managers choose their 23-man squads. Those international bosses have just a handful of games between now and the end of the season to fine-tune their squad ahead of the finals in Russia.  Here, Sportsmail look at 10 players who may use the January transfer window to salvage their place at football's biggest competition.

DOMINIC KING - MERSEY BEAT: Wayne Rooney returning to Everton sounded like a story from a different era, an old professional going back to his first love for one last hurrah

Our scout is a top football expert who attends matches each week searching for the next star. This week the Secret Scout checks in on defender Ben Gibson.

5 POINTS: Journalists are biased. Where have we heard that before? Well, it's here again, with the Manchester derby fallout, smug cricket fans and a famous comedy character from a few years ago.

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