Sale sack wing Tom Arscott following leak investigation January 19, 2017 Premiership side Sale have terminated the contract of wing Tom Arscott following an investigation into claims that confidential information was leaked to fellow strugglers Bristol. Arscott, 29, has been accused of disclosing details to brother Luke Arscott, who plays for Bristol, the day before the teams met in a match that Sale eventually lost 24-23. [...]
Tottenham receive Jan Vertonghen boost ahead of Manchester City trip – but fears grow for Erik Lamela January 19, 2017 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that defender Jan Vertonghen’s injury is not as bad as first feared, but admits that Erik Lamela’s continued absence is an increasing concern. Pochettino insists he does not plan to sign a replacement for Vertonghen this month as the Belgium centre-back’s knee problem is only likely to sideline him [...]
Sir Andy Murray receives huge Australian Open boost after Novak Djokovic suffers shock defeat to Uzbek wild card Denis Istomin January 19, 2017 Defending champion Novak Djokovic admits he is at a loss to explain his dramatic decline after crashing out of the Australian Open in the second round to wild card Denis Istomin on Thursday. Djokovic lost a marathon contest with the world No117 from Uzbekistan 7-6 (10-8), 5-7, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 – his earliest loss [...]
Johanna Konta sweeps into Australian Open third round but fellow Brit Heather Watson crashes out January 19, 2017 Britain’s Johanna Konta insists she is not looking too far ahead at the Australian Open despite underlining her title credentials while more big names tumbled out on Thursday. Konta, who reached the last four in Melbourne last year, despatched powerful Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-2 to set up a third-round clash with former world [...]
Manchester United replace Real Madrid as richest club in the world in Deloitte Football Money League January 19, 2017 Manchester United have been named the world’s richest club after they ended Real Madrid’s 11-year stranglehold on top spot in Deloitte’s Football Money League. United’s 2015-16 revenues of €689.0m (£515.3) – an all-time record for a football team – lifted them ahead of both Real and Barcelona for the first time since 2003-04. Neighbours Manchester [...]
Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and West Ham make London home to more big clubs than all of Spain or Germany January 19, 2017 London’s claim to being football’s leading city has been lent further weight after four its clubs – more than in all of Spain or Germany – ranked among the 20 richest in the world. Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United all feature in Deloitte’s Football Money League, which is published today and orders [...]
Plymouth Argyle 0, Liverpool 1: Jurgen Klopp affords himself pat on back for giving youngsters their FA Cup wings January 18, 2017 Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hailed his decision to use the FA Cup to blood the club’s youngsters after the Reds progressed to round four at the expense of League Two high-flyers Plymouth. Midfielder-turned-defender Lucas Leiva was Liverpool’s unlikely match-winner as he netted his first goal for almost seven years as the Reds set up a [...]
How England might counter India’s skipper, run-machine and genius Virat Kohli January 18, 2017 India skipper Virat Kohli’s averages over the past year or so are just ridiculous and he’s so consistent that you almost expect him to score a century every time he’s at the crease. The expectation to deliver which he carries on his shoulders each time he bats is phenomenal, just like it was for Sachin [...]
Sir Andy Murray douses concerns over ankle injury after brushing aside Russian teenager at Australian Open January 18, 2017 World No1 Sir Andy Murray played down fears over an ankle injury after cruising past Russian teenager Andrey Rublev to reach the third round of the Australian Open men’s draw. Murray’s ankle gave way at the start of the third set and he visibly remained in discomfort despite showing few ill-effects as he dispatched Rublev [...]
Dominance of the big six has led to lack of spending in January transfer window January 18, 2017 Premier League clubs’ relative restraint during the current January transfer window is a result of the increasing dominance of the leading six clubs, according to a leading football finance expert. Flush from a new £8.3bn, three-year television deal, England’s top-flight teams spent a record £1.2bn on new signings in the summer, yet they have invested [...]