Liverpool thrash Arsenal to extend Premier League lead
Arsenal took the lead after only 11 minutes when Ainsley Maitland-Niles slid in at the far post to score from Alex Iwobi's cross - but it was a false dawn for Unai Emery's side.
Liverpool, lifted after title rivals Tottenham's home defeat by Wolves earlier, responded with an explosive display that saw them 4-1 up by the interval and on their way to extending their unbeaten league run to 20 games.
Firmino took advantage of Arsenal's defensive confusion to quickly equalise then slalom past a posse of defenders to put Liverpool in front after Lucas Torreira lost possession, all in the space of two minutes.
Sadio Mane extended Liverpool's lead after 32 minutes when Andrew Robertson's long cross exposed Arsenal after they needlessly conceded a corner.
Mohamed Salah then effectively ended the contest from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time, having been fouled by Sokratis.
Liverpool cruised to close out the win in the second half, Firmino completing his hat-trick from the spot after 65 minutes following Sead Kolasinac's push on Dejan Lovren.
Manchester City, 10 points adrift, will attempt to close the gap at Southampton on Sunday before they meet Liverpool in a pivotal encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, 3 January, 2019.
Gerrard Ends Rodgers’ Old Firm Dominance
Rangers now move level with the Champions at the top of the Scottish Premiership after inflicting Rodgers' first defeat in 13 Old Firm games.
The home side dominated at a raucous Ibrox to defeat the reigning Scottish champions for the first time since April 2016.
An off the pace Celtic remain top on goal difference, and still have a game in hand over Rangers.
Ryan Jack scored the decisive goal during a one-sided first half.
The visitors were indebted to a string of excellent Craig Gordon saves for keeping them in the game.
Celtic did have a Callum McGregor goal ruled out for offside after the break, but otherwise spent most of the contest at Ibrox on the back foot.
Australian Open players to get 10-minute break in extreme heat
Organisers have unveiled a "more extensive" Extreme Heat Policy after temperatures in the shade approached 40C during the 2018 tournament.
A 10-minute break was already in place for women's and junior singles, plus a 15-minute break for wheelchair singles.
The Australian Open gets under way in Melbourne on 14 January.
Tournament director Craig Tiley said the wellbeing of players was the "utmost priority".
Australian Open to play final-set tie-breaks
Organisers were forced to defend their heat policy in 2018 after players, including six-time champion Novak Djokovic, criticised their decision not to stop play during extreme temperatures.
Under the new policy, if a reading of 4.0 is recorded on the Australian Open Heat Stress Scale during a men's singles match, a 10-minute break will be allowed after the third set.
If the reading occurs during a women's or junior singles match, this break will take place between the second and third sets, as will the 15-minute break in wheelchair singles.
If a reading of 5.0 is recorded, the tournament referee can suspend play.
Other changes to the policy for 2019 include more comprehensive measuring of weather conditions and an increase in measuring devices across Melbourne Park.
"The AO Heat Stress Scale takes advantage of the latest medical research into the effects of heat on the human body including the maximum heat stress an athlete can safely withstand, the sweat rate of that person and their core temperature," said Dr Carolyn Broderick, Tennis Australia's chief medical officer.
Rusada appeals to Putin for help
A Wada inspection team was denied full access to a Moscow anti-doping laboratory last week.
Russia must transfer athletes' sample data by 31 December or risk being banned once again from international events.
"We are at the edge of the abyss," said Rusada chief Yuri Ganus.Addressing Putin, he added: "I ask you to protect the present and future of our fair sport, present and future generations of athletes."
Wada lifted a three-year ban on Rusada in September which followed a major scandal over state-sponsored doping.
The decision provoked an outcry but Wada president Sir Craig Reedie defended the move and said the reinstatement was "subject to strict conditions", including access to the Moscow laboratory data and samples before the end of 2018.
However, a team of five experts were unable to complete their mission to extract the data on 21 December because Russian authorities raised an issue that "the team's equipment to be used for the data extraction was required to be certified under Russian law".
Ganus said the situation "requires urgent resolution" in calling on Putin to intervene.
from Bola Esho's Blog
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