Luis Suarez scores twice as Liverpool

Luis Suarez scored twice as Liverpool dominated 10-man Tottenham to move second in the Premier League table.

The Uruguayan's 16th goal of the season took him past the total for the whole Spurs side when he found the bottom corner from Jordan Henderson's flick.
Philippe Coutinho hit the bar before the excellent Henderson volleyed in.
Paulinho was then sent off for a high kick on Suarez before goals from Jon Flanagan, Suarez and Raheem Sterling completed Spurs' humiliation.
Liverpool were without injured skipper Steven Gerrard, who last week joined Daniel Sturridge on the treatment table, but they could have easily scored more as they took control early on and never let it slip against a poor Tottenham team, who did not have a shot on target.
This was Liverpool's first victory in seven visits to White Hart Lane, while Tottenham ended a five-game unbeaten run with another disappointing display in front of their home fans.
Andre Villas-Boas's side have now won just one of their last six matches at White Hart Lane and they must seek to overturn that form if they are to establish themselves as Champions League contenders, let alone fight for the Premier League title.
More prominently, this result will lead to further questions about the Portuguese coach's future having already fielded them after a 6-0 loss at Manchester City last month.
Spurs came up against a Brendan Rodgers side led by the irrepressible Suarez, who took his amazing scoring run to 14 goals in eight Premier League games and 17 overall this season.

But the South American, who was captain for the day, was ably supported by the effervescence of Henderson and Sterling, who tore shreds out of Kyle Naughton before the Spurs left-back was replaced at half-time.

Henderson has had his critics at Anfield but appears to be finding consistent form now and he played his part in the opener after almost being played in by Suarez.
But with Michael Dawson sliding in to intercept, the Premier League's top scorer collected the loose ball, danced around Kyle Walker and slotted into the bottom corner.
Suarez, Coutinho and Glen Johnson all went close to doubling the lead before the half hour, with Nacer Chadli heading over from an isolated Spurs attack, but the visitors went 2-0 up before the break with Sterling involved again.
His raking ball from the right found Coutinho, who touched the ball to the onrushing Henderson. His first shot was saved, but then after Hugo Lloris could only push Suarez's effort up into the air, Henderson volleyed in.
Roberto Soldado, who retained his place after a midweek hat-trick against Anzhi Makhachkala, then had the ball in the net but referee Jonathan Moss believed the Spaniard fouled Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet after a poor touch by the Belgian.
As the half-time whistle blew boos echoed around White Hart Lane, reflecting a woeful first period for the hosts.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ezekiel Fryers came on for Naughton but Spurs could not contain Sterling, whose cross was headed against the post by Mamadou Sakho from only two yards out.
And a nightmare afternoon for Spurs continued when Paulinho received his marching orders for a high foot, which connected with Suarez's chest.
A sign of how dominant Liverpool were came when Flanagan smashed in off the bar for his first Liverpool goal, before Suarez chipped in and Sterling steered home a crisp shot.
Liverpool's squad might not be as strong as some of the other title contenders but when they play like this they will not fear upcoming games against Manchester City and Chelsea before the year is out.

South Africa should host Olympics as Mandela tribute

Nelson Mandela: Call to give South Africa the Olympics as tribute

South Africa should be chosen as host for the Olympics as a tribute to the life of Nelson Mandela, according to their first athlete to win an Olympic medal in the post-apartheid era.

Elana Meyer, now 47, won a silver in the 10,000m at the 1992 Games in Barcelona, becoming the first South African athlete to claim a medal since their re-admission to the Olympic movement.
She was denied the chance to compete at Los Angeles in 1984 and Seoul in 1988 by South Africa's exclusion from competition after the 1960 Games, but believes the influence of Mandela, who died last week, aged 95, was crucial from the moment he emerged from 27 years of imprisonment in 1990.

Mandela's coffin arrived in his ancestral home in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa, on Saturday ahead of his state funeral on Sunday.

"If the Olympic Games can come to Africa and South Africa it will be in honour of Madiba [Mandela's tribal name]. I think it's time. It's Africa's time. It would be a fitting way to honour a great leader," said Meyer, talking on Sportshour on the BBC World Service.
"Nelson Mandela played such a significant part in my life. The moment that he was released from prison in 1990 I knew things would change. That really gave me the hope and inspiration that I might have the chance to compete internationally. Barcelona came at just the right time. I was 25 then and certainly I could not have waited a moment later."
Meyer regards the moment she met Mandela during the 1992 Games as one of her career highlights, and says it lifted the whole South African Olympic team.
"It was very special when I met Madiba in the Olympic village in 1992," she said. "He came to wish the team well and the whole team were inspired by his presence and his words. It was a magical moment.
"You could feel the pressure. We only came out of isolation three months before the Games, it's not like I had a wealth of experience racing at that level, and people's expectations were high.
"There was a lot of focus and not just on your athletic performance, but it was still an amazing privilege to be [one of] those first athletes in 30 years to walk onto the track and [I was] inspired by his presence."
Despite the high expectations, Meyer fought through a strong field, which included Britain's Liz McColgan, then the world champion, and eventual winner Derartu Tulu, from Ethiopia, to finish second and win South Africa's first Olympic medal since 1960.
"I didn't get a gold medal, but it was certainly a victory for many many South Africans," she recalled. "That's what I was celebrating. It was the end of years of isolation."
After the race, she embarked on a lap of honour with Tulu, walking hand in hand around the track. It was one of the most enduring images from that Olympics - a black Ethiopian carrying her national flag and a white South African clutching the Olympic flag.
She said: "It was a spontaneous celebration and I probably didn't realise at that moment, but it turned out to be really significant. Even today people keep telling me where they were at that moment."
That medal, and the iconic image of her with Tulu, convinced the Western Cape runner that Mandela's vision for South Africa could be achieved.
"Coming back to South Africa, I was blown away by the reception from South Africans across the board," she added.
"'Soweto loves Elana'... I mean it was still two years before we got a democratic government. It was an incredible and unexpected period for me. It gave me hope that we did have great potential as the rainbow nation."

Shane Shillingford has been banned from bowling at international

WELLINGTON: West Indies spinner Shane Shillingford has been banned from bowling at international level after tests found his action was illegal, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Monday.

An independent biomechanical analysis showed Shillingford's elbow extended beyond the permitted 15 degrees on his standard off-break delivery and his doosra, the ICC said in a statement.

"He is suspended from bowling in international cricket until such time that he has submitted to a fresh analysis, which concludes that he has remedied his bowling action," it said.

Shillingford's teammate, Marlon Samuels, was subjected to similar tests, which showed his standard off-break was legal but his quicker delivery was not, meaning he can only bowl his slower ball in international matches.

The actions of the West Indies pair were reported during their team's second Test against India in Mumbai last month.

The ICC ordered them to undergo independent testing which was conducted in Australia while the players participated in the West Indies' first two Tests in New Zealand.

Both players have previously been banned from bowling because of illegal actions.

Samuels did not bowl for three years after first being reported in 2008, while Shillingford was banned in 2010 and returned a year later after undergoing remedial work on his action.

The ICC said if Samuels was reported again for a suspect action in the next two years and analysis backed up the concerns, he would face an automatic one-year ban.

There was no immediate reaction from the West Indies. The ICC said both players had the right to appeal.

The West Indies' third and final Test against New Zealand begins in Hamilton on Thursday. They trail the series one-nil.

Sergio Garcia claims 2013 Thailand Open title

Sergio Garcia claims first win of 2013 in Thailand Open

Sergio Garcia recorded his first win of 2013 by shooting a final-round 68 at the Thailand Golf Championship.

The 33-year-old, who led from the second round, hit six birdies and two bogeys as he finished on 22 under, four shots clear of Sweden's Henrik Stenson.
Stenson also hit a 68 to finish four ahead of France's Alexander Levy (69).
England's Justin Rose (72) was fourth on 13 under with South Africa's Charl Schwartzel (67), Japan's Yuki Kono (69) and Anirban Lahiri (73) of India.
Garcia's victory was his first since the Johor Open in Malaysia last December.
"I knew Henrik was going to make it difficult for me," said Garcia. "He's been playing so amazingly great, and he did.
"He kept hitting good shot after good shot. And then when I bogeyed seven, I had to make a good par save on nine.
"I made three very important birdies on the first three on the back nine and gave myself a little bit of a cushion."
Stenson, who last month became the first player to win the Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup in the same year, admitted he felt tired during the tournament.
"I've had a great year but coming here really on the fumes left in the tank, not too much going for me to perform in that sense," he said.

Rugby star Sonny Bill Williams loses boxing belts

Sonny Bill Williams: New Zealand rugby star loses boxing belts

Sonny Bill Williams has been stripped of his professional boxing belts after failing to defend his international and New Zealand heavyweight titles.

The dual code rugby star, 28, was part of the New Zealand team beaten by Australia in last month's Rugby League World Cup final at Old Trafford.
He is also being linked with a return to rugby union in 2015 to be part of New Zealand's World Cup defence.
Williams won all of his six professional heavyweight bouts.
His last fight in February saw him defeat South African veteran Francois Botha to win the World Boxing Association  international heavyweight title. But since then he has been playing with the Sydney Roosters, helping them win the NRL Grand Final, before joining the Kiwis' World Cup bid, meaning his boxing career is on hold.
"He's no longer the WBA international champion," said a WBA spokesperson. "He's been stripped."
New Zealand Professional Boxing Association  (NZPBA) has also stripped Williams of his heavyweight belt after he failed to respond to challenges.
"We haven't heard a thing back and, personally, that's rude," said the association's president Lance Revill.
"He's not even said he's received the challenge and that they're going to think about it. If that was the case we'd hold off - but we've got no choice now but to strip the title."

Manchester United beat Aston Villa to end losing run

Danny Welbeck scored twice as Manchester United avoided a third Premier League defeat in a row by overwhelming Aston Villa.

Welbeck's goals came in the space of three minutes - his opener coming when he slotted in after Adnan Januzaj's header rebounded off the post.
The England striker then slid in to score from Antonio Valencia's cross.
Villa struggled to cope with the visitors and Wayne Rooney set up Tom Cleverley to drive in a third.
United had picked up just two points from their previous four league matches but the style with which they saw off Villa hinted at a return of form and confidence.
The Red Devils are still 10 points behind top-flight leaders Arsenal and seven points adrift of the top four, but they made sure they did not lose a third Premier League game in succession for the first time since December 2001.
Villa had not beaten United at home since 1995 and that record only ever looked like being extended as they lost for the fifth time in eight league outings at their Midlands base.
The home side were hoping to take capitalise on United's poor form and applied some early pressure, with winger Marc Albrighton twice shooting from distance, only for his efforts to be comfortably saved by keeper David De Gea.

However, the visitors responded in emphatic fashion, with two goals from Welbeck putting them firmly in command by half-time.

Rafael's determination helped him cross from the right and, after the unmarked Januzaj's header came back off the inside of the post, Welbeck reacted quickest to side-foot in the rebound from six yards.
The home side barely had time to recover before falling further behind. Villa defender Nathan Baker gave the ball away and Welbeck laid a pass off to right-winger Valencia before charging into the area and beating Januzaj to slot in the Ecuadorian's low cross.
The uplift in United's demeanour from the two goals was palpable and they slickly scythed through Villa with a regularity and ease that threatened more goals.
The pace and trickery of Valencia was particularly potent, and he pulled the ball back for Rooney to drag a shot wide before threading a pass through to Welbeck, who angled his effort beyond Villa keeper Brad Guzan's right-hand post.
Villa rarely troubled De Gea as striker Christian Benteke continued to look out of sorts and notched up a 10th game without scoring.
And United wrapped up the win when the impressive Rooney slid a lovely weighted ball into the path of Cleverley, who scored his first league goal a year to the day since his last one.
Another positive note for United was the 70th-minute introduction of midfielder Darren Fletcher, who returned to first-team action for the first time since Boxing Day last year as he continues his recovery after bowel surgery.

Stuart Broad foot scans reveal no fracture

 

 

 

 

Ashes 2013-14: England's Stuart Broad has not fractured foot

England's Stuart Broad will not bowl again in the third Ashes Test after injuring his right foot while batting.

Broad, 27, limped off after being dismissed lbw by Mitchell Johnson as England collapsed to 251 all out, and did not take the field as Australia reached 235-3 for a lead of 369.
He went to hospital for an X-ray and scans, which were analysed in the UK but revealed no fracture.

It was announced that Broad will bat in England's second innings if required.
He will be reviewed ahead of the fourth Test, which starts in Melbourne on 26 December.
Speaking before the scan results were announced, Broad said: "Something showed up on the X-ray that was inconclusive. Whether I bat depends on the match situation.
"It's part and parcel as a bowler to get injuries so it's frustrating to get hit batting.
"The details are all gobbledygook to me. All I want to know is the treatment so I can get it fixed."
Broad was hit on the top of his right foot by a yorker from Johnson to depart for five as England, who started day three on 180-4, were all out before lunch - 134-runs adrift of Australia's first innings total.
When England went out to field, the Nottinghamshire man took part in a fitness test in the nets, before going to hospital.
At the close, he appeared on crutches while wearing a protective boot and may now be a doubt for Melbourne.
"I was desperate to get out there and bowl, so I had to try it out in the nets," said Broad, who missed the final three Tests of the 2010-11 tour down under with a stomach strain.

"Normally, with a bruise, you'll get a bit of blood to it and get going - and the pain decreases. This actually increased quite a bit.

"Even if there's a small crack there and my symptoms aren't painful, I see no reason why I can't continue to play.
"I've got 10 days until Boxing Day. I see no reason why I can't get myself back in the frame for the Melbourne Test."
Broad has been England's leading wicket-taker with 14 victims and, in his absence, Australia piled on the runs on another desperate day for the tourists.
England, who have not made more then 312 in five innings, are now likely to have to bat for at least five sessions to save the game and avoid surrendering the Ashes by going 3-0 down in the five-match series.
"We've had numerous Tests over the past four years that we've managed to save when we had no right to," said Broad.
"There is a lot of belief in that changing room that we're certainly due a score; there's a lot of guys with great Test records in there, who haven't delivered in this series so far and are desperate to.
"We know, if you keep working hard on your game, things change for you - and we're hoping it does for us in the second innings."
But Australia batsman Chris Rogers, who made 54 on day three, said the deterioration of the Waca pitch could make batting "scary" for England.
"Today was amazing, as good as we have had in the Ashes so far," said the left-hander.
"If these cracks keep widening, it's going to be very hard to bat on - and a little bit scary.