Sam Torrance: Sublime Dustin Johnson is looking hard to beat as The Players Championship and Masters loom February 25, 2019 When Dustin Johnson hit an iron out of bounds at the 14th hole while trying to deny Darren Clarke his Open Championship at Royal St George’s in 2011, we wondered if he would ever do anything. Now look at him. Johnson claimed his 20th PGA Tour title on Sunday at the WGC-Mexico Championship. In doing [...]
Wales 21-13 England: Eddie Jones’s side need to learn how reverse momentum after first Six Nations defeat February 24, 2019 England’s wins over Ireland and France had been defined by well-executed game-plans, taken from the training pitch and implemented effectively under the pressure the Six Nations provides. In Dublin the tactic to send high, hanging kicks down the flanks to test Robbie Henshaw, playing out of position at full-back, was performed to perfection. At Twickenham, [...]
Manchester City’s penalty shoot-out win and Kepa Arrizabalaga’s power-play leaves Maurizio Sarri a step nearer to Chelsea’s trap door February 24, 2019 After 120 minutes of stalemate, the Carabao Cup final crammed all of its drama into some engrossing and bizarre closing stages. Maurizio Sarri’s stifling tactics did exactly that, but the gamble to sit deep, avoid the 6-0 thrashing of two weeks ago, not muster an attempt on target and then triumph on penalties narrowly failed [...]
Has Liverpool’s new-found solidity turned Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal football into pedestrian dad-rock? February 24, 2019 When Jurgen Klopp fine-tuned his Liverpool team in preparation for this season, he focused on making them more robust. Following the January 2018 signing of Virgil van Dijk, last summer saw the arrival at Anfield of an elite level goalkeeper in Alisson and an accomplished defensive midfielder in Fabinho. Until then devastating in attack but [...]
Resurgent England have the edge on Wales in Six Nations Grand Slam decider February 21, 2019 The turnaround in England’s fortunes during the Six Nations has been unbelievable. Before the championship people wondered if they might finish third or fourth, but now they have a trip to Wales on Saturday for what I believe is a Grand Slam decider. It’s not just that England have beaten Ireland and France; it’s the [...]
Horse Racing Betting Tips: George will be doing the Double Shuffle after Kempton highlight February 21, 2019 TOM GEORGE has trained some very decent horses in his career and one of his very best was the dashing grey Nacarat. The son of Smadoun won the Grade One Aintree Bowl in 2011, but he will perhaps be best remembered for his two runaway victories in what was then the Racing Post Chase at [...]
Horse Racing Preview: David Pipe looks at his chances this weekend February 21, 2019 I’M REALLY excited to be launching the City Syndicate this week, so keep an eye out for the adverts in the paper. It seemed a natural progression to expand my association with City AM and what better way of doing so than by forming an exciting race horse ownership syndicate. I am currently scouting for [...]
Premier League title-chasing Liverpool face moment of truth in Manchester United clash February 21, 2019 For a team locked in a battle for a first top-flight title for 29 years every league game has huge significance. But for Liverpool, Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford to play Manchester United is a match which has ascended to even greater levels of importance: it’s a derby against a buoyant and bitter rival and [...]
Liam Williams will be in the spotlight if England continue to kick against Wales with Leigh Halfpenny absent February 21, 2019 England exploited Robbie Henshaw's inexperience at full-back in the win over Ireland and then capitalised on Yoann Huget's inability to lead the backline in the victory against France a week later. Liam Williams will not present such an obvious weakness in the Wales back three for Saturday's Six Nations showdown, but Eddie Jones's side have [...]
Chris Tremlett: Competition for places among England’s bowlers puts them in excellent position for the World Cup February 20, 2019 With 99 days to go until the World Cup England are looking very settled as a side. Eoin Morgan’s team are in the Caribbean for a five-match one-day series which will hopefully build more confidence ahead of the opening game against South Africa at The Oval on 30 May. The batting order is pretty much set [...]