Prospective owners of Manchester United have been told they have until 21:00 GMT on Wednesday to submit second, revised bids for the club as the takeover saga accelerates.

Just how strict this deadline is, and whether any other bidders emerge, remains unclear.

But BBC Sport has learned that United officials met eight different potential investors over a 10-day period of high-level meetings recently, and confidence is high that several could make formal offers.

It could mean that a 'preferred bidder' is declared by Raine - the investment bank conducting the sale - very soon, with it then granted exclusivity on the more thorough due diligence process that would take place.

It means the only two publicly-declared bids - Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim and Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe - will have had just a few days to consider the data and information they discovered last week during visits to Old Trafford and the club's Carrington training complex.

Both parties are understood to have held positive meetings with United officials and both are thought to remain committed to a takeover and expected to make improved, more detailed bids.

But while the amount that both have so far offered has not been disclosed (with reports both are in the region of £4.5bn), they are clearly far below the £5-6bn valuation that the club's American owners - the Glazers - have established.

Ineos want .. [read more]

Senor Toba and Russian Emperor appeared in fine condition at Meydan this morning (Tuesday, 21 March) as the pair strode powerfully down the turf straight as one, much to the delight of the grey’s trainer Caspar Fownes, who watched on from the grandstand.

Douglas Whyte trains Russian Emperor and was in the plate today, while Senor Toba was partnered by Alberto Sanna – who reunites with the former this weekend – as preparations continued for their G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) test this Saturday night (25 March).

Equinox – a two-time Group 1 winner with a limited but already towering record – is shaping as the horse to beat in the US$6 million race (approx. HK$47.04 million). The four-year-old – trained by Tetsuya Kimura in Japan – sent cameras into a frenzy as he strutted his stuff in front of the media scrum in the early hours of this morning.

“This is his first overseas trip and he’s still getting used to his new surroundings, although I think he’s getting better day by day and I am happy with how he moved this morning,” Kimura told the Dubai Racing Club.

The Kitasan Black colt is owned by Silk Racing Co Ltd. He boasts four wins from six starts, including victories in the 2022 G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) and 2022 G1 Arima Kinen (2500m) at his most recent outings.

Setting off down the back straight at Meydan, Senor Toba and Russian Emperor motored through their hit out, matching.. [read more]

The Serbian has been charged with violent and improper conduct after a straight red card for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh during Sunday's 3-1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat.

Manager Marco Silva has also been charged with abusive behaviour towards match officials.

Fulham boss Silva will also face an improper conduct charge for allegedly throwing a water bottle in the direction of the assistant referee.

And the club has landed an additional charge of failing to control its players in the Old Trafford encounter.

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton has called for Mitrovic, 28, to be given a 10-match ban, but manager Silva appealed for "fairness" for his frontman from the FA.

A player is typically suspended for three matches after being shown a straight red card for violent conduct, but that ban can be extended, depending on the circumstances.

Paolo di Canio was banned for 11 games in 1998 for shoving referee Paul Alcock when playing in a Premier League game for Sheffield Wednesday against Arsenal.

"The standard punishment which would otherwise apply to Aleksandar Mitrovic for the sending-off offence of violent conduct that he committed towards the match referee is clearly insufficient," the FA said in a statement.

"In addition, Aleksandar Mitrovic's behaviour and/or language was allegedly improper and/or abusive and/or insulting and/or threatening followin.. [read more]

I loved hearing Bukayo Saka say Arsenal don't fear anyone when we asked him what he thinks about the Gunners' title run-in on MOTD2.

It's a beautiful attitude for any side to have, and it's especially important in the situation that Saka and his team-mates are in now, eight points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table with 10 games to go.

I know from my own experiences as an Arsenal player that when you reach this stage of the season with a chance of winning the Premier League, then your eyes are drawn straight to the fixture list. The finish line is in sight and you kind of go into countdown mode, working through your remaining games.

When we spoke to him after the Gunners beat Crystal Palace on Sunday, we asked Saka about their remaining fixtures - but he threw it back at me and asked me what I thought.

I said there were a lot of tough games coming up, especially away from home. They are probably going to have to win at Anfield and St James' Park, and their trip to the Etihad is obviously massive, so there is no time to relax, even with the points cushion they have got. They have to keep going until it is done.

He was like, 'Yeah I'll take that answer', and I am not surprised that he is thinking the same way we did when we won the title under Arsene Wenger in 1998 and 2002, after fierce battles with Manchester United each time.

Arteta urges Arsenal to maintain mindset
.. [read more]

Defying expectation, Voyage Bubble provided trainer Ricky Yiu with one of his greatest victories and jockey Alexis Badel with the perfect finale to a challenging week with an incredible triumph in the HK$24 million Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (19 March).

Starting at 45/1 and from the outside barrier of 14, Voyage Bubble became the Classic’s longest-priced winner since Ivan Allan’s Holy Grail triumphed at 182/1 in 1999 after an audacious ride by Badel, who lost the ride on star sprinter Wellington in the day’s other feature, the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m).

Despite winning the first leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series – the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 29 January – Voyage Bubble was largely shunned in Derby discussions after finishing sixth behind Super Sunny Sing in the traditional Derby lead-up, the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 26 February.

Undaunted, Badel became the first French jockey to win the BMW Hong Kong Derby since Maxime Guyon in 2011 with a nerveless and tactically bold display on the son of Deep Field, who bravely delivered veteran handler Yiu’s first success in the Hong Kong’s most prized race.

Restraining Voyage Bubble to last and dropping to the fence, Badel waited until the long back straight to improve his position, moving immediately outside race favourite Beauty Eternal on the home turn before striking the front in the shadows of the post and.. [read more]

Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool face a "massive task" to be back in the Champions League after their annihilation by Real Madrid - as the feeling grows this might be the end of an era for his side.

The Reds were demolished 5-2 at Anfield three weeks ago and Karim Benzema's late goal at the Bernabeu made this Liverpool's biggest ever Champions League aggregate defeat.

Liverpool, winners in 2019 and beaten finalists just last year, will not even be in next season's Champions League unless their form picks up.

"We prepared for a special performance but we were not able to put it out on the pitch tonight. It was obvious. Nobody is thinking, 'how did Liverpool go out?'" said Klopp.

The front three that took them to three Champions League finals in five years is breaking up. Sadio Mane left for Bayern Munich last summer, and Roberto Firmino is leaving at the end of the season. Only Mohamed Salah is left.

Captain Jordan Henderson turns 33 at the end of the season and James Milner, who started at the Bernabeu, is 37.

Former Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam, who played for Liverpool in 2011-12, said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think Jurgen Klopp has been a little too loyal to these players, especially when you look at what Pep Guardiola has done with the likes of Joao Cancelo at Manchester City and moving players on to bring others in.

"But I think as a manager you also have to respect wha.. [read more]

A Happy Valley quartet crowned by exciting young sprinter Howdeepisyourlove’s blistering victory on Wednesday night (15 March) has fuelled Karis Teetan’s confidence as the Mauritian prepares to chase successive BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) victories when he partners Flagship Warrior at Sha Tin on Sunday (19 March).

Taking his tally of wins to 35 for the season, Teetan revelled in a dominating spree just four days out from the BMW Hong Kong Derby, which he won last season aboard Romantic Warrior.

Having missed a large portion of the early part of the season because of illness, Teetan was at his vintage best at the city circuit.

“Of course, it’s nice to have a four-timer. I thought I had some decent rides tonight and it’s not often in Hong Kong that you have nights like this when everything goes to plan. It’s good to build some confidence going into an important weekend,” he said.

Teetan, 32, will team with Flagship Warrior for the fourth time, having partnered David Hayes’ young stayer to a spectacular first-up victory over 1200m before finishing 13th in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) in January and an improved fifth in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) last month.

“I must say his preparation has gone very well. In the (Hong Kong Classic) Mile, he travelled very hard and he couldn’t finish his race. In the (Hong Kong Classic) Cup, we gave him a chance to finish off and he finished.. [read more]

Haaland becomes the fastest and youngest player to reach 30 goals in Europe's elite club competition.

He is also the youngest player to score five times in a single Champions League game, joining Argentina great Lionel Messi and Brazil forward Luiz Adriano as the only players to do so.

The 22-year-old is now on 39 goals for the season in all competitions, the first City player to reach that figure in a single campaign. His five hat-tricks are three more than any other player in the big five leagues.

On any normal day, Ilkay Gundogan's precise low shot into the bottom corner would have merited praise. On this historic night, which matched City's 7-0 triumph over Schalke in 2019, it was nothing more than a footnote.

On this evidence, no-one, not even Real Madrid, will want to be paired with Pep Guardiola's side in Friday's last-eight draw.

Legendary former club captain Vincent Kompany can only hope his old club have got this calibre of performance out of their system when he brings his Burnley side to Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Records tumble as Haaland hits five past Leipzig
Chelsea and Man City await next European opponents
Reaction from Manchester City's record-equalling victory over Leipzig
Haaland haunts former boss Rose
Leipzig coach Marco Rose was Haaland's boss at Dortmund last season. Little wonder he reacted with incredulity on the eve o.. [read more]

Sight Success prepared for his G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) test with a first-past-the-post barrier trial at Sha Tin this morning (Tuesday, 14 March) for trainer John Size.

Pleasing connections with an untested 1m 09.76s effort over 1200m on dirt under Vagner Borges, Sight Success will next feature on the world stage on Saturday, 25 March on Dubai World Cup Night at Meydan.

“He’s done alright. He’s been well, he’s had two trials now after a break. The horse is well exposed, he’s in good shape, he’s healthy and well,” Size said.

The Al Quoz Sprint is a straight dash over 1200m at Meydan. Sight Success is one of two Hong Kong entrants with Duke Wai also lining up for trainer Pierre Ng.

Sight Success has enjoyed a swift but unassuming rise across the last 12 months, improving sharply to return a Group 3 success as well as a pair of Group 1 placings behind Wellington and Lucky Sweynesse this season.

“It looks like a suitable race, he gets an opportunity to win a decent race. He runs well each time, he complies quite well and he’s a willing racehorse,” Size said.

Sight Success is expected to depart Hong Kong this Friday (17 March) for Dubai. British ace Ryan Moore has been booked to ride him in the Middle East.

The Al Quoz Sprint will feature the likes of Al Dasim, The Astrologist, Happy Romance Logo Hunter, Pogo, Flaming Rib, Al Suhail and more.

[read more]

Conte, 53, is out of contract at the end of the season, with Spurs out of all the cup competitions.

They are fourth in the Premier League - the last of the qualifying places for the Champions League.

"It's better for all concerned if he goes now," said Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"I think he will see the season out, but I'm just really confused what is going on at Spurs at this moment.

"Antonio Conte really needs to commit one way or the other and if he says 'I'm here and happy to sign for another year or two' then Tottenham can move on but it doesn't look like he will.

"Therefore if Tottenham want to progress, they are better off making a change now.

"They have regressed from last season, they have been massively inconsistent."

Conte guided Chelsea to the Premier League title in 2016-17 and the FA Cup the following season before he was sacked.

After winning Serie A with Inter Milan in 2020-21, Conte replaced Nuno Espirito Santo at Tottenham in November 2021 and took them to fourth and Champions League qualification.

However, Tottenham, who have not won a trophy since 2008, went out of the Carabao Cup in the third round to Nottingham Forest and fielded an under-strength side as they lost in the FA Cup fifth round to Championship side Sheffield United earlier this month.

Last week they were beaten 1-0 on aggre.. [read more]

The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced this morning (Friday, 10 March) that Mark Newnham will be the newest addition to its training ranks for the 2023/24 racing season.

“Firstly, a big thank you to The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Licensing Committee for this opportunity. It’s something that I have aspired to, even before I took out a trainers’ licence on my own – I have always had a huge interest in Hong Kong racing and to me it is the pinnacle of racing worldwide,” Newnham said.

Newnham has been a regular figure in the Sydney championship’s top 10 since taking out his licence in 2016. His stable has produced standout performers Shadow Hero, Maid Of Heaven, Nakeeta Jane, Splintex and Quackerjack among nearly 400 wins throughout his career as a trainer, including over 40 at black type level.

The Licensing Committee’s decision to license Newnham was announced by Mr Andrew Harding, The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Executive Director, Racing at Sha Tin Racecourse in front of media this morning.

“The Hong Kong Jockey Club has proven to be a world leader in racing for a long time, so as a trainer, to me it’s the top of the tree and is what I have aspired to achieve – for me, personally, it is an achievement getting here but there’s still a lot of hard work to do yet.

“The Club here, obviously has great talent, great facilities and ultra-competitive racing every Wednesday and every Sunday.. [read more]

Mikel Arteta's side responded to Manchester City's narrow victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday night by wrapping up this win by half-time as they opened up a 3-0 lead with a devastating attacking display.

Gabriel Martinelli had already had a goal narrowly ruled out for offside by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), before defender Gabriel headed in Leandro Trossard's corner after 21 minutes - the first of a trio of assists for the Belgian.

Trossard then crossed for Martinelli to beat the static Antonee Robinson to head home at the far post five minutes later, before providing the delivery for captain Martin Odegaard's cool finish in first-half stoppage time.

Fulham mounted a belated threat after the break as visiting keeper Aaron Ramsdale denied Bobby de Cordova-Reid, while Tosin Adarabioyo headed against the woodwork.

Arsenal, however, were always in control and Arteta was able to re-introduce influential striker Gabriel Jesus for the first time since he required knee surgery after being injured playing for Brazil against Cameroon at the World Cup for a 13-minute cameo.

Team news followed by live text coverage of Sunday's Premier League action
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Go straight to our Arsenal content
Trossard stands out as Gunners pass another test
This had all the hallmarks of a hazardous fixture for Arsenal given Fulham's impressive campaign and the pressure on after Manch.. [read more]

Extending a brilliant run of form with a Sha Tin quartet on Saturday (11 March), Zac Purton crowned an ideal preparation for the HK$24 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) next Sunday (19 March) when the Australian partners leading contender Beauty Eternal.

Returning to Hong Kong after a Group 1 double at Randwick in Sydney, Australia on 4 March, Purton swiftly reprised his best form with wins aboard John Size stablemates Golden Express and Red Lion, Circuit Stellar for Tony Cruz and Frankie Lor’s Run Run Cool.

“It’s been a good day. It’s nice. I thought I had some handy rides today. It’s been a little bit frustrating but I’ve still had a few winners, so it’s okay,” Purton said after sealing the four-timer on Golden Express in the Class 3 Tak Ku Ling Handicap (1200m).

“He (Golden Express) has shown what he is made of today. He just needed a bit of tempo in his races at 1200m to allow him to use the beautiful action that he’s got. He’s always travelled like the winner and I just had to navigate the right path and he did what he had to do – he’s a nice horse.”

Purton’s haul propelled the five-time Hong Kong champion jockey to 105 wins for the season – 53 wins clear of nearest pursuer Vincent Ho. Purton has ridden four or more winners on six occasions in the 2022/23 season – topped by a seven-timer on 9 October.

Circuit Stellar provided the second leg of Purton’s latest .. [read more]

Mercurial talents Super Sunny Sing and Beauty Eternal crown an intriguing band of 14 selected runners for the HK$24 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, 19 March.

Dominant winner of the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) last month, Super Sunny Sing will bid for a fifth successive victory for Chris So when he attempts to add his name to the honour roll of Hong Kong’s most coveted race.

In a field headed by Frankie Lor’s 99-rater Keefy, Beauty Eternal (94) will bid to give 11-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer John Size his fourth BMW Hong Kong Derby success after Fay Fay (2012), Luger (2015) and Ping Hai Star (2018).

Touted as a rising star of Hong Kong’s equine ranks, Beauty Eternal has posted four wins from five starts in his debut season and caught the eye with exceptional acceleration during an arrogant Class 2 victory over 1600m last month.

Size’s contingent is bolstered by the presence of Tuchel, who was second to Voyage Bubble in the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) in January, and Sweet Encounter, who won four of his first five starts in Hong Kong.

First contested in 1873, the BMW Hong Kong Derby is restricted to four-year-old runners over 2000 metres. Past winners of the sought-after crown include global superstars River Verdon (1991), Oriental Express (1997), Vengeance Of Rain (2005), Viva Pataca (2006), Ambitious Dragon (2011), Designs On Rome (.. [read more]

France defender William Saliba put the Premier League leaders ahead with a towering header before Sporting took advantage of poor defending to score either side of half-time through Goncalo Inacio and Paulinho.

An own goal by the hosts' Japanese midfielder Hidemasa Morita ensured Arsenal will start on level terms when the teams meet in the return leg at Emirates Stadium next Thursday (20:00 GMT).

However, Arteta was unimpressed his side had conceded two goals for the second successive game.

"It's true that it's something that we must improve massively if we want to keep winning games," said the Spaniard.

"When you concede two poor goals like we did away from home in Europe it's very difficult to get a positive result.

"We gave too many simple balls away. We need to defend our box much better."

In an absorbing game in the Portuguese capital, Arsenal's first-half lead lasted just 12 minutes before Inacio nodded home the equaliser after hesitancy from keeper Matt Turner.

Paulinho fired Sporting ahead from close range only for Arsenal to equalise through a wicked deflection off Morita.

Both teams created numerous chances in a free-flowing encounter.

Sporting's former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards was denied by Turner when the score was 1-1, while Paulinho wasted a great opportunity to make it 3-1.

Arsenal had a chance to take a le.. [read more]

Spurs paid the price for another passive start that allowed Milan to settle into their task - the misery complete when defender Cristian Romero was sent off late on after receiving a second yellow card for a wild challenge on Theo Hernandez.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg tested AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan with a powerful second-half shot and Harry Kane headed wide, but Spurs failed to mount sustained pressure on the Italian defence.

A late Kane header was brilliantly kept out by Maignan before Divock Origi struck the post for the visitors as Spurs went out tamely, their season now resting on the battle for a top-four place in the Premier League.

'End of Conte's loveless Spurs reign surely a formality'
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Reaction from all Wednesday's Champions League action
Spurs simply not good enough
Spurs fans reacted angrily as their Champions League campaign came to a conclusion and their discontent was understandable after such a dismal performance.

The lack of urgency that has marked so much of their season has never been more stark than in the first 45 minutes when Spurs played as if they were barely aware they needed to score to keep their ambitions alive.

Manager Antonio Conte returned to the technical area after recuperating from gallbladder surgery but this did not spare him the wrath of the Spurs support mystified by such .. [read more]

Catapulting Vincent Ho to the brink of 500 Hong Kong wins, Gold Gold Baby has continued a meteoric rise with devastating victory in the second section of the Class 3 Russell Handicap (1200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (8 March).

Gold Gold Baby has now won five of seven starts at the city circuit this season, rising from a rating of 38 to 70 before tonight’s success while earning HK$3.81 million for Francis Lui and Ho, who has 498 Hong Kong wins – and is on the verge of joining Tony Cruz (946) as the only home-grown jockeys to ride 500 winners or more in the jurisdiction.

Deflecting attention from his imminent milestone, Ho focused on Gold Gold Baby, who unleashed trademark blistering acceleration and weaved his way past tiring rivals to down Xponential after being second last at the top of the straight.

“Last time, he was a bit unlucky. He got a check but he got a smooth run tonight,” Ho, 32, said. “When everything goes smoothly, he will give a good turn of foot. Even at Sha Tin, he can do it too, but at Happy Valley with his short sprint, he’s suited better.”

Ho and Lui have combined for 21 wins this season and that haul includes Brave Star’s success in the first section of the Class 3 Russell Handicap (1200m), the gelding’s second win over the course and distance this season.

Making up for lost time after being sidelined for almost two months with injury in December and Janu.. [read more]

Potter's Chelsea were charged with turning around Borussia Dortmund's 1-0 lead from the first leg of this Champions League last-16 tie and Raheem Sterling's first-half goal put them halfway there.

Here, however, was Havertz standing over a re-taken penalty with tension at such a boiling point around Stamford Bridge that Potter simply could not bear to watch as the German stepped forward.

The thunderous roars and the bearhugs from his backroom staff delivered the good news and Chelsea went on to close out a win that was, without question, the finest night of Potter's troubled time at Stamford Bridge.

Relive Chelsea's win against Borussia Dortmund
Chelsea reach Champions League quarter-finals - report
Make no mistake, the 47-year-old has not only struggled to convince many Chelsea fans of his suitability to tackle this occasionally dysfunctional football beast but has also felt the fierce heat of their criticism since he arrived from Brighton to succeed Champions League winner Thomas Tuchel in September.

Potter faced a potentially defining week only months into his reign after a home defeat by strugglers Southampton and another away at Tottenham turned up the volume on whispers about his future.

Chelsea's new owner Todd Boehly, whose remarkable spending spree only added to the pressure and expectations surrounding Potter, has always insisted he was sticking by his manager but any slips at h.. [read more]

Following a smart victory last month, Astrologer will step back in distance as he looks for consecutive wins in the Class 2 Wong Nai Chung Handicap (1000m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (8 March) under Alexis Badel for trainer Pierre Ng.

An impressive last-start winner at Happy Valley over 1200m, Astrologer (132lb) returns to the iconic city course tomorrow night, however, this time with an added 17lb assigned from gate 10 under the Frenchman Badel.

“It was a great win last time. I had the advantage of the weight (115lb), we know he is a talented horse but he is a bit tricky in the gates. Everything went smoothly and he was able to use his ability – he did everything ok and hopefully he can repeat. If he maintains his form, he should be running well,” Badel said.

The Star Turn speedster clocked 1m 09.04s last start for his first win in Class 1. The four-year-old is a four-time winner at Happy Valley including once over 1000m when he triumphed at odds of 133/1 in Class 3.

“The draw is a bit awkward, there’s a bit of pace in the race but not overly, it’s just a quick race but sometimes they can go a lot quicker. I think, this time, a lot of horses will be just behind the speed, so the draw makes it a bit more awkward,” Badel said.

The bay faces 11 rivals including Carroll Street – a tidy last-start winner – with Karis Teetan, who steps away from barrier five for trainer Douglas Wh.. [read more]

The Portuguese, who deputises in the absence of club captain Harry Maguire, was criticised for his behaviour and attitude in the game.

"There are people that are far better qualified to be captain," Sutton said.

"Fernandes is not their best leader. There are more suitable candidates than him, Casemiro being one."

Speaking on BBC 5 Live's Monday Night Club, former Premier League striker Sutton, who also suggested Raphael Varane as another option, added: "I think he should never put on the armband again for Manchester United."

Fernandes, 28, has 57 goals and 50 assists in 166 games for the club in all competitions, but his body language at Anfield was called "disgraceful" by former United captain Roy Keane, while another former skipper Gary Neville said he was "embarrassing at times".

He also appeared to push the referee's assistant in the 81st minute. No action was taken by the referee at the time and the incident is not being investigated by the Football Association

BBC Sport has also been told he did not ask to be substituted towards the end of the match, after questions were asked about a gesture he made to the bench.

At one point, when Liverpool's Stefan Bajcetic went past him by the touchline, Fernandes stopped rather than giving chase to the midfielder.

"That was a standout moment yesterday," added Sutton.

"However bad United were, you ca.. [read more]

Pierre Ng hopes Duke Wai’s victory in the Class 1 Devon Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (5 March) will pave the way for a start in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) on 25 March, when the veteran could clash with fellow Hong Kong speedsters Sky Field and Sight Success.

“If we get an invitation from Dubai, we’ll go to Dubai. I would love to see him run in a straight 1200m race because, in the past, he’s run very well in straight 1000m races here, but there’s no straight 1200m races here,” Ng said of the seven-year-old, who took his career earnings to beyond HK$18 million with his ninth win from 42 starts.

“If he doesn’t (go to Japan), we’ll go through the motions again, going for the Group 2 and the Group 1 races here because he wasn’t invited to Japan.”

Given an uncomplicated run from barrier one under Jerry Chau, Duke Wai claimed leader Nervous Witness in the last 100m before fending off Courier Wonder to win by half a length in 1m 08.26s.

“He got the inside draw this time. Jerry knows him well. He just had to wake him up in the early stages and let him travel. Around the bend until the 300m, he was travelling quite strongly, and he finished off very well. After the race, Jerry told me Courier Wonder was never going to get past him,” Ng said.

Chau slotted his 15th win of the season with his third success aboard Duke Wai.

“I have ridden this horse before and .. [read more]

United's renaissance under manager Erik ten Hag already has the tangible reward of the Carabao Cup but Liverpool unleashed a brutal reality check on their progress with a severe thrashing.

Liverpool took control of what had been a tight game, with Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford missing presentable chances, when former Old Trafford target Cody Gakpo applied a smooth finish to Andy Robertson's perfect pass two minutes before the break.

The second half was a tale of sheer joy for Liverpool and unrelenting misery for United, starting after 47 minutes when Darwin Nunez's header diverted Harvey Elliott's driven cross past goalkeeper David de Gea.

Salah bamboozled Lisandro Martinez to play in Gakpo for another classy finish three minutes later before the Egyptian resumed his long-time role of United tormentor by getting on the scoresheet himself.

Salah ended a swift counter-attack by lashing a finish high past De Gea and the rout continued as Nunez flashed another header in from Jordan Henderson's cross.

Salah then scrambled in the sixth to become Liverpool's highest Premier League goalscorer with 129, passing Robbie Fowler. He is also Liverpool's highest marksman against Manchester United with 12 - and 10 of those have come in his past five encounters.

And in a fitting finish, Roberto Firmino - who has announced he is leaving Anfield at the end of the season - completed a remarkable game .. [read more]

Hong Kong’s Russian Emperor has stamped his G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) credentials with a charging fifth in the G1 Jebel Hatta (1800m) at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday night (4 March), delighting trainer Douglas Whyte with the performance.

“It was very pleasing, he got knocked down on the turn. I was hoping he would run fourth or fifth – and he ran fifth,” Whyte said. “We got a little further back than expected but that’s what happened due to circumstances but the way we really accelerated down the straight, it was pleasing to watch – so he’s on song.”

Winner of the QAT G1 H.H. The Amir Trophy (2400m) on 18 February at his previous start in Qatar, Russian Emperor was freshened by Whyte for his Dubai debut and Hong Kong’s Champion Stayer underscored his form by storming from second last at the 400m to close to within two and three quarter lengths of Alfareeq, who won the G1 Jebel Hatta for the second year in a row under Dane O’Neill.

Forced further back than planned under Alberto Sanna, Russian Emperor fanned to the outside of the 14-horse field to close impressively ahead of the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on 25 March.

Caspar Fownes will study replays of Senor Toba’s eighth behind Charlie Appleby-trained Global Storm in the G2 Dubai City Of Gold (2410m) on Saturday (4 March) to gain further insight into the performance.

Ridden by Alberto Sanna, Senor Toba settled midfield but, .. [read more]

An Eder Militao own goal separated the sides at the Bernabeu despite the hosts having more possession and chances.

It is a welcome result for Barca after they lost to Manchester United in the Europa League and Almeria in La Liga.

Xavi's side defended deep after taking the lead and their discipline earned a narrow advantage to take into the second leg at the Nou Camp on April 5.

Defensive Barca dig deep
Barca are top of La Liga but Xavi's side will have gone into the game feeling fragile after their elimination from Europe and a shock league defeat at the weekend.

The former midfielder made five changes to his starting team, including an entirely new back four.

The opening moment of noteworthy action was Vinicius Jr throwing Frenkie de Jong to the turf via a headlock, but it was the visitors who took the lead - and in farcical circumstances.

In Barca's first attack of the game, Franck Kessie's shot was saved by Thibaut Courtois but ricocheted back off Militao and rolled into the net.

His fellow centre-back Nacho attempted to clear the ball off the line but was unable to save his team-mate's embarrassment.

It was initially ruled out for offside but stood after the video assistant referee indicated that, while Raphinha had moved early, he was not interfering with play and Kessie was level.

Barca's defence has conceded just eight goals in 2.. [read more]

Douglas Whyte will continue a measured approach with Russian Emperor towards the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) on 25 March when Hong Kong’s Champion Stayer tackles the G1 Jebel Hatta (1800m) at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, on Saturday (4 March).

Triumphant in the QAT G1 H.H. The Amir Trophy (2400m) at Al Rayyan Racecourse, Qatar on 18 February, Russian Emperor has settled into his new surroundings well, according to Whyte, who exercised the six-year-old in Dubai on Wednesday morning (1 March).

“He’s fine, he went around the track on Wednesday and just did a striding canter and he took a bit of knock for the first couple of days with the travel from Qatar but he’s looking better now.

“He was on a plane pretty much straight after the race and he flew to Dubai, so it took a bit out of him, but nothing of any significance. His weight is back up to WHERE we like it, he’s bright – I’m very happy with him.”

Dropping in distance and facing high-class opposition, Russian Emperor will seek success in his fifth different jurisdiction after previous wins in Ireland, England, Hong Kong and Qatar, but Whyte will use this weekend’s outing as a springboard into the Dubai Sheema Classic.

“This weekend’s race is not the main goal. Obviously, our main goal is the Sheema Classic but I wanted him to go around this weekend, have a look at the track and hopefully be competitive but I can’t see him wi.. [read more]

Rovers, fourth in the table and aiming for a return to the top flight WHERE they have not played for more than a decade, were more than a match for 2021 cup winners Leicester.

Their dynamic display, in which they should have scored more goals, gave them a place in the last eight for the first time in eight years.

Having been denied by Daniel Iversen's flying save, Tyrhys Dolan curled past Leicester's Danish goalkeeper for the opener.

Ryan Hedges then missed a gilt-edged opportunity to double the visiting side's lead at the start of the second period when he failed to hit the target from 10 yards out.

It didn't prove costly as Sammie Szmodics wriggled clear to convert Rovers' second in the 52nd minute, while the midfielder also had a goal ruled out for offside.

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho pulled one back for the Foxes by slotting in from close range, but a dull and dreary night ended in disappointment for Brendan Rodgers' men.

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Dynamic Rovers maintain run
This was the first meeting between the two sides since they played in the Championship nine years ago, when the Foxes finished top of the table with a tally of 102 points.

They shocked the footballing world by winning the Premier League just two seasons later, as well as winning the FA Cup only two ye.. [read more]

Zac Purton will pursue a memorable 100th win this season when he heads to Happy Valley tomorrow night (Wednesday, 1 March) armed with a full book of rides.

Aiming to unseat Joao Moreira as the quickest jockey to reach a century of wins in a Hong Kong racing season, Purton is relying heavily on trainer Jamie Richards for the victory with his last four rides on the nine-race fixture coming in tandem with the New Zealander.

“He’s (Jamie Richards) built the momentum as the season has gone on, although his stable lacks a little bit of quality, he’s been able to turn out regular winners – he’s getting the most out of the horses he has got. He’s doing a good job and hopefully he can carry that through to the end of the season and beyond,” Purton said.

Moreira set the record for the fastest 100 wins in the 2016/17 season, accomplishing the feat in 413 rides. Purton has 99 wins from 399 rides ahead of tomorrow night’s card as he aims to reach the 100-win mark for the eighth time since arriving in Hong Kong at the start of the 2007/08 racing season.

“My rides are sort of so-so on Wednesday – there’s nothing there that stands out. I’ve got some bad barriers to go with it, so I’m going to need things to go my way, but it is what it is. Hopefully one of them can win and we can just tick that off,” Purton said.

The last start-winning Hoss kicks off Purton and Richards’ pairings when he .. [read more]

The 35-year-old beat French forwards Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema to the prize.

Messi captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, and scored 27 goals in 49 games for club and country in 2021-22.

Barcelona's Alexia Putellas was named women's player of the year.

Wiegman and Putellas win major women's honours
Messi, who won the award for a second time, said: "It's amazing. It's been a tremendous year and it's an honour for me to be here and win this award. Without my team-mates I wouldn't be here.

"I achieved the dream I had been hoping for for so long. Very few people can achieve that and I have been lucky to do so."

At the ceremony in Paris, Lionel Scaloni, who led Argentina to their third World Cup title, was named men's coach of the year.

Scaloni beat Pep Guardiola - who guided Manchester City to a sixth Premier League title - and Real Madrid's Champions League-winning boss Carlo Ancelotti to the honour.

England manager Sarina Wiegman was named women's coach of the year after leading the Lionesses to European Championship glory on home soil last year, the team's first major trophy.

Aston Villa and Argentina's Emiliano Martinez was recognised as the best men's goalkeeper, while England's Mary Earps won the women's award.

Martinez, 30, helped his country win the World Cup, saving four penalties along the way including in the s.. [read more]

Exultant after sealing a memorable feature double with Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) triumph aboard Super Sunny Sing at Sha Tin on Sunday (26 February), Vincent Ho wasted little time in identifying the principal contenders – and opponents – for the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 19 March after a defining afternoon.

After Super Sunny Sing claimed the traditional BMW Hong Kong Derby lead-up in dashing fashion and Caspar Fownes anointed another leading Classic aspirant with Super Arron’s maiden Hong Kong win, Ho declared Beauty Eternal as the horse to beat.

Marvelling at Super Sunny Sing’s fourth successive win, Ho lavished praise on the Nicconi gelding just over 70 minutes after partnering 2020 BMW Hong Kong Derby champion Golden Sixty to a stirring win in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m).

Contemplating Super Sunny Sing’s worthiness as a Derby candidate, Ho said: “He’s getting more mentally mature and he’s relaxing so well, so he can hopefully go to the Derby. I think Mr Size’s horse will be very hard to beat, but let’s see.

“I was always confident today and Chris and his team did an extraordinary job to keep the horse well and now, aiming for the Derby, we have to get him recovered. This horse has improved so much – it’s like he knows how to win and when we stepped up to 1600 metres, there was no problem and he had a great turn of foot. He’s a very smart horse. We have something speci.. [read more]

First-half goals by Brazil midfielder Casemiro and an own goal from Dutch defender Sven Botman secured the Red Devils a first trophy in six years.

"We have been searching for this moment," Fernandes told Sky Sports after the 2-0 win at Wembley.

"I am satisfied now because I get my trophy but I want more."

Portugal international Fernandes added: "It's the first trophy of the season but we want more and need more. This is not enough for this club."

Sunday's victory was the first time the club had lifted a trophy since the 2016-17 season, when they won both the EFL Cup and Europa League under Jose Mourinho.

Manchester United are still chasing more domestic and European honours this season.

Erik ten Hag's side defeated Barcelona to reach the last 16 of the Europa League while they face West Ham United at Old Trafford in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday (19:45 GMT)

The Red Devils are third in the Premier League table, eight points behind leaders Arsenal with 14 games to play.

'We are still at the start of restoring Manchester United'
The turnaround at Old Trafford since Ten Hag's arrival has been remarkable.

They have gone from being a club in crisis, who lost their first match of the season at home to Brighton and then shipped four goals in a humiliating first half at Brentford the week after, to one still in two cup competitions .. [read more]

Golden Sixty overhauled Romantic Warrior in a gripping finish to the HK$12 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin this afternoon (Sunday, 26 February) – the second leg of Hong Kong’s Triple Crown – under Vincent Ho for trainer Francis Lui.

Sporting the familiar white, blue and gold silks of owner Stanley Chan, Golden Sixty handed Romantic Warrior his first defeat over the course and distance to assert his dominance as he edged past his rival by a head in a winning time of 1m 59.98s.

Victorious in the 2021 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup as well, Golden Sixty broke cleanly under Ho before restraining to sit fifth. Money Catcher took up his customary spot in the lead, while Ka Ying Star sat to his outside with Romantic Warrior in between the lead duo.

Ho stalked the pace aboard Golden Sixty before stoking Hong Kong’s champion up at the turn for home – trailing Karis Teetan as he did the same atop Romantic Warrior. The pair tore clear in the straight with Golden Sixty reeling in his rival, much like he did in the first leg of the Triple Crown – the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) at the end of last month.

“He was very relaxed today, I even had to ask him a little to keep up today in the back straight and, of course, I had another great horse to follow through and ask for the full effort at the 200 (metre mark),” Ho said. “I just had to stay close with him (Romantic Warrior) and don’t let him get .. [read more]

Erik ten Hag's side thrashed Nottingham Forest 5-0 on aggregate over two legs in the semi-finals, while Eddie Howe's team reached their first domestic final since 1999 with a 3-1 aggregate victory over Southampton.

The Red Devils, who are fighting for success on four fronts with the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League as well, have not won a trophy since 2016-17, when they claimed the EFL Cup and the Europa League under former boss Jose Mourinho.

Newcastle, who were beaten by Manchester United in the 1999 FA Cup final, will be attempting to win their first major trophy in almost 54 years, with their most recent coming in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969.

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Manchester United travel to London having lost just once since 6 November and on the back of a nine-game unbeaten run.

That sequence includes Thursday's rousing victory over Spanish giants Barcelona, which saw Ten Hag's team progress into the last 16 of the Europa League, although with French striker Anthony Martial already ruled out the fitness of top scorer Marcus Rashford is a major concern.

The England forward was substituted in the 88th minute against Barca and later posted on Instagram an .. [read more]

Karis Teetan hopes the HK$12 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (26 February) will be run at a strong pace to enable Romantic Warrior to showcase world-class talent – and sap Golden Sixty’s withering acceleration.

Warning against the perils of allowing Golden Sixty to saunter through the first 1600 metres before Vincent Ho unleashes the champion miler’s terminal sprint in the straight, Teetan wants a genuine contest.

“We can’t make it a canter-sprint race because then Golden Sixty is just going to come and beat all of us,” Teetan sid. “So, I’m going to have to keep in mind how fast we are going and we’re going to have to make it a truly-run 2000-metre race – and let him feel the 2000 metres.”

Teetan sat outside leader California Spangle when aboard Romantic Warrior in the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) on 29 January, only for Golden Sixty to take a split between the pair before surging away to a famous victory.

Confident the return to ten furlongs will help BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m), G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) and G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) victor Romantic Warrior offset Golden Sixty’s dash, Teetan is hopeful Money Catcher and Ka Ying Star will ensure a decent clip.

“I’m very happy with my horse. I worked him on Friday morning and he’s feeling good, he’s in good shape,” Teetan said. “In a small field like that, it’s all about the tact.. [read more]

The away side were in complete control in the first 45 minutes and got the breakthrough midway through the half when Ilkay Gundogan pounced on a mistake in defence and fed Riyad Mahrez to drive into the back of the net.

But RB Leipzig came out in the second half with more ambition and twice went close to equalising early on through Benjamin Henrichs, who first headed just over before then sweeping wide with just Ederson to beat.

The Manchester City goalkeeper was called upon again to deny Andre Silva at his near post but the hosts were finally rewarded for their mounting pressure when Josko Gvardiol headed in following a short corner.

Janis Blaswich denied Gundogan from restoring the visitors' lead moments later with a reflex save from close range, while City had a penalty shout denied late on when Henrichs appeared to handle inside the area, but Leipzig held on to secure a draw.

City, bidding to end their wait for a first Champions League trophy, will look to get the job done in the return leg on Tuesday, 14 March.

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Tony Cruz vaulted back into the top five of the 2022/23 Hong Kong trainers’ championship and maintained hopes of a third title when Beauty Charge earned a rise in grade with a stylish win in the Class 3 O’Brien Handicap (1200m) under Matthew Chadwick at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (22 February).

Cruz, who was champion trainer in 1999/00 and 2004/05 after a distinguished riding career, secured his 30th win for the current season with Beauty Charge’s success to maintain touch with John Size (37 wins), Frankie Lor (33), Ricky Yiu (31), Danny Shum (30) and Francis Lui (30).

Famed by his association with Hong Kong champion sprinter Silent Witness and several other top-liners including Exultant and Bullish Luck, Cruz holds more modest ambitions for Beauty Charge, a two-year-old winner in Ireland before export to Hong Kong.

“I think he can be competitive in Class 2 and let’s see WHERE he goes from there,” Cruz said after the four-year-old’s bullocking win. “He’s a nice horse but I don’t think he’s a Group horse.”

Chadwick, who is making impressive headway after recovering from an ankle injury, agrees with Cruz’s assessment of the Havana Gold gelding, who carried 132lb to victory after steaming between runners: “I think he’s shown he can be competitive in Class 2, he’s run and won against decent horses, especially last season.

“He’s run well and if he runs to his normal .. [read more]

Holders Real - who beat Liverpool in last season's final in Paris - became the first side to score five at Anfield in Europe despite going two goals down early on as Liverpool made a dream start to this last-16 tie.

Darwin Nunez's brilliant flick put Liverpool ahead after only four minutes before Mohamed Salah cashed in on Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois' poor clearance to double their advantage 10 minutes later.

Liverpool's supporters, who had vented their fury at being wrongly blamed for the chaos at last season's final by holding up a flag emblazoned with "Uefa Liars" and loudly jeering the Champions League anthem, were soon to have their thunderous celebrations silenced in emphatic fashion.

Vinicius Junior's brilliant 21st-minute strike pulled a goal back before Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson followed Courtois' lead by hacking a clearance straight at the Brazilian, holding his head in anguish as the ball looped behind him into the net in front of a disbelieving Kop.

It changed the whole emphasis of the contest, Real going ahead two minutes after the break when Eder Militao headed in Luka Modric's free-kick.

Real then rammed home their superiority as Karim Benzema's shot deflected in off Joe Gomez, the French striker then coolly adding a fifth after more brilliant work by the ageless Modric.

Liverpool have pulled off spectacular comebacks before, but it would be truly extraordinary if .. [read more]

Romantic Warrior is looking to level the score with Golden Sixty when the pair meets for the second time across their respective careers in Sunday’s (26 February) HK$12 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin.

Defeated by Golden Sixty in the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) last month, Romantic Warrior this weekend returns to his optimum distance which he boasts four victories over last year in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m), G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m), G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m).

Golden Sixty is a two-time winner over the trip having triumphed in the 2020 BMW Hong Kong Derby and 2021 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup. Trainer Danny Shum is under no illusion of the task at hand as he attempts to unseat Hong Kong’s current champion.

“I think Golden Sixty will be hard to beat – we have to respect him. He’s a genius horse and it’s a hard race, for sure,” Shum said. “We’ll keep it simple – fingers crossed.”

Karis Teetan hops aboard Romantic Warrior again this weekend, while six others are set to feature including Money Catcher, Tourbillon Diamond, Ka Ying Star, Glorious Dragon, Savvy Nine and Panfield.

“He’s (Romantic Warrior) good, he’s happy – there’s been no problems. It all depends on the draw, but he should be able to sit third, fourth or fifth (in the run),” Shum said.

Francis Lui has indicated Golden Sixty – .. [read more]

The club have spent £583m on new players in the past two transfer windows under owner Todd Boehly, with eight new signings arriving in January.

They have won just two of their past 14 games but Potter retains the support of Boehly and the club's board.

"With the amount of players there, it's an unmanageable situation," said Green.

Potter still has backing of Chelsea board
Potter moved to Chelsea from Brighton in September on a five-year deal following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel.

The Blues have won nine of their 25 games under Potter and sit 10th in the Premier League, 10 points off the Champions League places.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Green said: "Once the crowd turns, it starts to get ugly and the players get affected and go into their shells.

"You can already see it from the players, from an attacking perspective and then it gets harder."

Chelsea have not scored twice in a game since the start of November and despite all of their new arrivals in January, they were unable to sign a recognised striker.

Former Blues striker Chris Sutton said Potter "has had a lot to deal with".

"With so many players coming in, he is uncertain on his starting line-up so he has chopped and changed and you never get continuity when you do that," Sutton said on the Monday Night Club.

"Goalscoring is a problem. But I.. [read more]

The abuse occurred during Sunday's 2-0 Premier League victory over West Ham, during which substitute Son scored Spurs' second goal.

Tottenham posted on Twitter saying they had reported the abuse towards Son.

"We stand with Sonny and once again call on the social media companies and authorities to take action," they said.

Tottenham added: "We have been made aware of the utterly reprehensible online racist abuse directed at Heung-Min Son during today's match, which has been reported by the club."

Anti-racism group Kick It Out earlier this month demanded "meaningful reforms" after Brentford striker Ivan Toney was subjected to racial abuse on Instagram.

Toney was targeted after his controversial equaliser against Arsenal, which should have been ruled out by VAR for offside against team-mate Christian Norgaard.

The Brentford forward revealed in October last year he had been abused on Instagram after scoring both goals in a 2-0 league victory over Brighton.

Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, condemned the abuse at the time, but said it could not take take action because the message had not been reported within the app.

Police investigated and Antonio Neill, 24, of Blyth, Northumberland, admitted a charge of sending an offensive message to Toney at Newcastle Magistrates' Court in January.

Read more : https://bit.ly/3unOEL4.. [read more]

David Hall plans to run Atullibigeal in the HK$24 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 19 March after victory this afternoon (Sunday, 19 February) under Hugh Bowman in the Class 3 TVB Midlife, Sing & Shine Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin.

Stepping up to a mile for the first time in his career, Atullibigeal raised the bar once more with flying colours to cap a sparkling day for Hall who reaped a four-timer, while Bowman collected a running treble to close out the 10-race fixture.

“Definitely, the Derby will be the aim. I think he’ll run the distance and he’s got enough points there – he’s a worthy runner.

“I think today’s win will just about guarantee he gets a run (in the BMW Hong Kong Derby). He won’t run in the (Hong Kong) Classic Cup and what path we take to get there – I am not sure of yet,” Hall said.

Atullibigeal – rated 78 prior to this afternoon’s win – captured his second triumph in Hong Kong for Hall and Bowman after arriving as a two-time winner from New Zealand.

“He’s shown a lot at home – he’s loaded with raw ability and today it was a tricky draw and there was a fair bit of pressure early on which we didn’t quite expect.

“I had visions about riding a more positive race on him but that was taken out of my hands, so I just let him find his rhythm and he just came through his gears really well, I had a smooth passage and he let down really w.. [read more]

Jurgen Klopp's side, who secured their first league win of 2023 in the Merseyside derby against Everton on Monday, took control with two early goals from Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo.

Newcastle's miserable night worsened with a first-half red card for goalkeeper Nick Pope, ruling him out of next Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley.

Nunez powered home the opener from Trent Alexander-Arnold's pass after 10 minutes, then Gakpo scored for the second successive match seven minutes later, pouncing on Mohamed Salah's piece of creation to beat Pope.

The Newcastle keeper then left referee Anthony Taylor with no option but to send him off after 22 minutes when he misjudged a dash from goal in an attempt to challenge Salah. He slipped and had to handle to stop Liverpool's Egypt forward from racing clear.

Ironically, Pope's replacement Martin Dubravka is cup-tied for Wembley having played for Manchester United in an earlier round, leaving former Liverpool keeper Loris Karius as the most likely contender to face Erik ten Hag's side.

Newcastle were unable to overcome the handicap as they went down to only their second league defeat this season, the first also coming against Liverpool at Anfield in August.

It capped a disappointing build-up to Newcastle's first Wembley final since the FA Cup in 1999, but they still showed plenty of spirit despite their numerical disadvantage,.. [read more]

Russian Emperor landed a famous victory for Hong Kong in the QAT G1 H.H. The Amir Trophy (2400m) for trainer Douglas Whyte and jockey Alberto Sanna on Saturday afternoon (18 February) at Al Rayyan in Doha, Qatar.

Settled at the rear of the field throughout against runners from Ireland, France, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Sanna bided his time aboard last season’s Hong Kong Champion Stayer (2021/22) before peeling out on the turn for home to loom large with 300m left to run.

Surging with unanswerable late burst, Russian Emperor made history as the first winner for Hong Kong in Qatar by taking the US$2.5 million (approx. HK$19.6 million) contest as he defied Warren Point for Godolphin and the French-trained Bolthole in 2m 25.46s.

“It’s amazing – it’s the first time I have travelled a horse abroad and I’m only new to the training ranks but he’s a special horse to me,” Whyte said.

The win was Russian Emperor’s fifth of his career having prevailed in Ireland and Great Britain for Aidan O’Brien prior to transferring to Hong Kong. The Galileo gelding won the 2022 G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) and 2022 G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) last season in Hong Kong – his only wins in the city.

“I’ve won two Group 1 races with him in Hong Kong and I just thought he was the right horse to travel with temperament-wise. I must say that he’s really blossomed sin.. [read more]

City's 3-1 win at Emirates Stadium saw them swap places with the Gunners, returning to the top of the table for the first time since 5 November.

The gap may seem like the smallest of margins, City at the summit on goal difference having played a game more than Mikel Arteta's side. But this win - plus the manner of it and WHERE it was achieved - made it feel much more than that.

Scratch beneath the surface and it is hard to escape the sense that this highly-charged encounter in north London might just have been the night when the momentum in the title race shifted decisively.

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Arsenal have been outstanding this season, showing steel and character to pass the sternest tests placed in front of them - Liverpool and Manchester United beaten at home, Chelsea and Tottenham overcome on their travels.

When Arsenal won at Spurs on 18 January, they were eight points clear of City with both having played 18 games. They had momentum as well as a formidable advantage.

City, by contrast, have been short of their imperious best despite the avalanche of Erling Haaland goals - losing at home to Brentford, drawing with Everton and recently slipping up at Spurs.

For all that, for all the feeling that City were missing the old spark and fluency, an.. [read more]

Mental health was a key focus topic during the 39th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) in Melbourne on Thursday (16 February) with Mr. Andrew Harding, Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Director, Racing calling for greater attention on the issue in the face of the significant demands placed on racing participants.

Chairing a session titled ‘The Mind,’ Mr. Harding said athletes from all disciplines had played a crucial role in building awareness around mental health wellbeing but more needs to be done.

“Athletes bring a unique perspective to the issue (mental health), living with constant pressure to perform at the highest level, regardless of what else might be happening in their lives. They are simply expected to put it all aside and go out there and win. Because that’s their job,” Mr. Harding said.

“But with depression or anxiety affecting over 5% of the population worldwide at some point in their lives, and suicide being the fourth leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds globally, it is critical that we all bring greater attention to these issues.

“This is highly relevant for racing, a sport that places significant demands on its participants in what are often high-intensity, seven days a week jobs, year-round.

“Jockeys, for one, face not just the unrelenting pressure of winning every time they saddle up a favourite, they do so knowing the potentially life-altering consequences o.. [read more]

Injuries to Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur, alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's suspension, meant Oliver Skipp and Pape Matar Sarr were handed their first Champions League starts for Spurs at the San Siro.

And while the Premier League side may have suffered a 1-0 loss against reigning Serie A champions AC Milan, Skipp and Sarr justified their manager's praise and gave Spurs belief they can overcome that deficit in the second leg on 8 March.

"I am really satisfied for both players because Pape Sarr and Skippy played a really good game and showed the trust we have in them, they repaid this," said Conte.

"Don't forget we are now with three midfielders and have to continue maybe until the end of the season with three midfielders, but this kind of performance makes me more relaxed because I know I can count on them 100%."

Skipp and Sarr 'stand tall'
Sarr, 20, underlined the maturity of his display by having more touches (76) and playing more passes (59) than any other player on the pitch including Milan's Italian international midfielder Sandro Tonali.

The Senegal international Sarr also defended doggedly throughout, while Skipp, who was helping Norwich win the Championship two seasons ago, was not far behind and looked at ease in front of 74,320 fans in a high-pressure atmosphere.

"Me and Pape did our jobs in midfield, there were things we did well and things we could have done bet.. [read more]

The 39th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) had its official opening during a ceremony in Melbourne last night (Tuesday, 14 February), marking the fifth time Australia has hosted the event since the first ARC in 1960.

Delayed by a year because of the COVID pandemic, the 39th ARC began with a ceremony at Crown Palladium in Melbourne WHERE Asian Racing Federation (ARF) Chairman and Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Mr. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges welcomed approximately 700 guests from 35 countries.

Delivering the opening address to the three-day Conference (15-17 February), Mr. Englebrecht-Bresges said: “We are delighted with the exceptionally strong turnout for the conference and look forward to our three-day Business Programme beginning tomorrow (Wednesday, 15 February). The ARF has worked very closely with our host, Racing Victoria, to curate an excellent business and social programme, which will ensure that the 39th ARC continues to build on the strong foundation of previous conferences.”

The Melbourne conference theme – Breaking Barriers – features a dynamic and highly interactive three-day programme of guest speakers from around the globe who will examine critical issues including the evolving racing and wagering landscape, fan engagement, integrity, horse ownership, equine and human welfare, and will extend further to explore climate change and sustainability and technological disruptors.

“We h.. [read more]

Sean Dyche's reign as Everton manager got off to the perfect start with a win over league leaders Arsenal at Goodison Park, but the task he has taken on after succeeding sacked Frank Lampard was laid out before him in graphic detail as they remain rooted in the bottom three.

Everton had actually kept Liverpool at arm's length before they were caught by a devastating counter-attack after 36 minutes, defender James Tarkowski's header hitting the post at one end before Darwin Nunez raced clear, squaring for Mohamed Salah to take advantage of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's poor positioning with a simple finish.

Liverpool snuffed out any hopes of an Everton recovery four minutes after the break.

And it was a special moment for £45m January signing Cody Gakpo, as he tapped in Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross at the far post for his first goal since arriving at Anfield from PSV Eindhoven.

"The result is massive relief," added Klopp to BBC Match of the Day.

"The better you play the more likely you will score. The whole performance was extremely important for us because we needed to make a statement."

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Those allegations have made it a testing week off the pitch for the defending champions but they responded in impressive style with some vibrant early attacking play, and were able to survive a slightly nervy finish.

It was not quite a vintage display by Pep Guardiola's side, who will go top of the table if they beat leaders Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, but they were much more like their old selves.

The noisy atmosphere certainly helped. Guardiola had issued a defiant response to the charges before the game, and City's fans reacted in similar fashion at a vibrant Etihad Stadium, singing songs about their situation and in support of their manager, and also the club's owner Sheikh Mansour.

City's players appeared galvanised too, and made the perfect start when Rodri headed home Riyad Mahrez's corner, but they had to wait until just before the break to add to their lead.

Calum Chambers' attempt to cut out a Kevin de Bruyne through-ball saw him head the ball beyond his on-rushing keeper Emi Martinez and, although Erling Haaland could not convert from a tight angle, he had the composure to look up and find Ilkay Gundogan for a tap-in.

Mahrez made it 3-0 from the penalty spot soon afterwards, after Jacob Ramsey had clipped Jack Grealish inside the box.

That should have been the end of Villa's hopes, but they were gifted a way back into the game just after the hour mark.
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Tony Cruz has edged higher into Hong Kong’s pantheon of racing immortals by becoming only the third trainer to post 1,000 winners at Sha Tin, joining fellow legends John Moore and John Size in a select club after Circuit Stellar’s success in the Class 2 Belcher Bay (1400m) on Sunday (12 February).

Joining Moore (1,204) and Size (1,104) as the only trainers to reach the 1,000-win mark at Sha Tin, 66-year-old Cruz took his total number of Hong Kong victories to 1,442 – a tally bettered by only Moore (1,735) and Size (1,449).

Zac Purton, who partnered Circuit Stellar to the landmark triumph, described Cruz – a six-time Hong Kong champion jockey and dual Hong Kong champion trainer – as “the biggest personality and the biggest legend in Hong Kong.”

“He’s had an amazing career – he’s a legend of Hong Kong racing, really. He’s home-grown, came through the Hong Kong Jockey Club Apprentices’ School, he was champion jockey in Hong Kong and rode all over the world, for the Queen and the Aga Khan, and won some big races,” Purton said.

“He then turned his hand to training and he’s been equally impressive – he’s won every big race here – and in every season, he’s right up in the top echelon of the trainers. He’s very consistent and he always turns his horses out well. I enjoy riding for him and the best way to sum him up is that he’s the biggest personality and the biggest legend in Hong.. [read more]

A new-look European Super League would be a competition with no permanent members and based on sporting performance, says A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart.

A22 Sports Management is a company promoting a revamped European league.

The company backed a 12-club ESL proposal in 2021 that failed to materialise after protests against it.

"The foundations of European football are in danger of collapsing," Reichart told German newspaper Die Welt.

"It's time for a change. It is the clubs that bear the entrepreneurial risk in football.

"But when important decisions are at stake, they are too often forced to sit idly by on the sidelines as the sporting and financial foundations crumble around them."

European Super League timeline - football's volatile 72 hours
The original plans for the ESL in 2021 contained 20 teams - 12 founding members and three unnamed clubs they expected to join later, plus five clubs who would have qualified annually based on their domestic achievements.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham backed out of the project within 48 hours following widespread condemnation.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, however, are still pushing for an ESL.

Reichart says the new ESL would contain 60 to 80 teams, each guaranteed a minimum of 14 matches per season and continue to play in their domestic.. [read more]