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⚽ Premier League updates from the 4.30pm GMT kick-off⚽ Live scores | Tables | Follow us on Bluesky | Mail BillyJeremy Boyce writes in: “This should be a good match. Villa are the epitome of ‘quietly going about their business’, winning matches, racking up points and letting others make all the noise and have the focus. Meanwhile, Moyes is back at his spiritual home and has transformed the Toffees from basket cases to solid contenders in his own inimitable style and image. Irresistible force meets immovable object?”I’m mostly with you Jeremy but I think there would be few Everton fans even who would call them an immovable object. Fairly sturdy object prone to a moment of madness? Continue reading...

Newcastle arrived at Molineux in retro shirts to bring back memories of David Ginola and Les Ferdinand but there was no swagger or flair in their goalless draw against Wolves. There was the potential to go fifth in the Premier League with a win for the Magpies but they toiled on their way to a point instead.With two-thirds of possession throughout the game, Newcastle must have expected to come away with more but they possessed neither the creativity nor finishing. Wolves were worthy of the draw, which moves them three points away from Derby’s worst-ever tally of 11, a total many at Molineux feared would not be overcome at Christmas. Continue reading...

Pool 4: Bristol 15-27 BordeauxBielle-Biarrey lights up match to secure top spotThe odds on Bordeaux-Bègles successfully defending their Champions Cup crown shortened considerably on a damp, grey Sunday lunchtime in Bristol. Good sides can adapt their game to suit awkward conditions and, for the second weekend in a row, French class outflanked English energy and optimism with a hat-trick of tries from the spectacularly prolific French winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey.The Bears, seeking to play billionaire rugby on a day crying out for more prudent housekeeping, made far too many unforced errors and duly paid the price against opponents who are now perfectly placed in this year’s tournament. They will have the luxury of playing all their subsequent knockout games either on French soil or, if they reach the final, just across the Spanish border in Bilbao and at this rate it will require something special to prevent them claiming back-to-back titles. Continue reading...

Crisis meeting was held after 3-3 draw against WerderBarcelona, Milan and Roma all in action later on SundayEintracht Frankfurt have fired coach Dino Toppmöller following a string of bad games and poor defending, the club said on Sunday.The decision was based on analysis of the team’s performance over the past few weeks, including the first three games of 2026, the club said in a statement. Germany’s Bild newspaper said a crisis meeting had been held on Saturday to discuss Toppmöller’s future, the day after Eintracht’s 3-3 Bundesliga draw against struggling Werder Bremen.This story will be updated Continue reading...

American becomes oldest singles player at tournamentWilliams led 0-4 in deciding set before stumblingVenus Williams set a record just by starting her first-round match at the Australian Open, a testament to her endurance and longevity at the highest level of tennis.Up two service breaks at 4-0 in the third set on Sunday, she was within sight of victory too. But Olga Danilovic had other ideas, rallying to win six straight games and beat the American 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. Williams served for just shy of 15 minutes in the penultimate game, determined to stay in the match before she finally succumbed to a third break point. Continue reading...

Nacho Elvira takes advantage for Dubai Invitational titleRory McIlroy finishes in tie for third after final-day dramaShane Lowry blew a one-shot lead on the last hole as Nacho Elvira recovered to claim victory in a dramatic finish to the Dubai Invitational.Lowry, who had started the final round in a tie for second, two strokes behind the Spaniard, barged into the lead after a birdie on the 15th and appeared to have the title at his mercy. But the Irishman found both bunker and water on the 18th, finishing with a double bogey that shattered his hopes and allowed Elvira, who had struggled early in the round, to duly par the 18th for victory. Continue reading...

PTPA had launched lawsuit against four grand slamsDjokovic says he still has issue with PTPA leadershipThe civil war engulfing tennis has been laid bare on the opening day of this year’s first grand slam event, with details of Tennis Australia’s peace deal with the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) published for the first time.The PTPA launched an anti-trust lawsuit against the four grand slams, the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, and the International Tennis Federation last year, accusing them of collaborating to reduce prize money, impose a restrictive ranking system and repress player promotional opportunities, but Tennis Australia was dropped from the claim last month after reaching a settlement agreement with the players’ union. Continue reading...

Steve Parish held talks with Austrian on Sunday morningManager said board had ‘abandoned’ him on SaturdayCrystal Palace have decided against sacking Oliver Glasner despite him accusing the club’s board of abandoning him and the rest of his squad by selling captain Marc Guéhi to Manchester City 24 hours before they were due to face Sunderland.Glasner’s outburst after the 2-1 defeat, when the Austrian also admitted he doesn’t care if he sees out his contract until the end of the season having already confirmed he will leave Selhurst Park, is understood to have dismayed Palace’s chair, Steve Parish. He was said to be weighing up if there was any other option than parting company with the manager who led Palace to their first major trophy when they won the FA Cup only eight months ago after Glasner went public over his dissatisfaction in two extraordinary press conferences. Continue reading...

Briton overcomes Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1 Thai opponent shines in first set before falling awaySixteen minutes into her opening match at Melbourne Park, Emma Raducanu was 1-3, 15-40 down and flailing badly. Across the net from a relatively unknown opponent ­playing lights‑out tennis on her grand slam debut, this could have been a moment where panic set in, errors flowed and life became even more difficult.However, Raducanu remained positive and rallied impressively, recovering quickly from her slow start before moving easily into the second round of the Australian Open with a 6-4, 6-1 win against ­Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand. Continue reading...

Former players Scholes and Butt critical before derby‘If he wants to say something … he can come to my house’Lisandro Martínez has criticised Paul Scholes for mocking him on a podcast but not directly to the Manchester United defender’s face, following Saturday’s 2-0 win over Manchester City at Old Trafford.Scholes and Nicky Butt, another prominent former United player, were each scathing about the diminutive Martínez and his ability to mark Erling Haaland, when speaking on the Good, the Bad and the Ugly before the 198th derby. Continue reading...