The Guardian

⚽ All the latest as we build up to Saturday’s games ⚽ Ten things to look out for | Fixtures | Mail Billy A series of suspicious bets that correctly predicted the exact top-five finishing order of this year’s Ballon d’Or and generated almost $200,000 (£149,000) in winnings is being investigated by the event’s organisers, France Football, who have also contacted the police. It has been alleged that…

World No 10 defeats Matteo Berrettini 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 in quarter-final 27-year-old becomes ninth Australian man to reach 350 tour-level wins Alex de Minaur has enjoyed a landmark 350th tour-level win of his career at the Vienna Open, downing an old rival to set up a semi-final date with the world No 1-elect Alexander Zverev. Australia’s main man defeated Matteo Berrettini, the Italian he’s had plen…

England great talks for first time since surprise dismissal Bowler optimistic about future within or outside sport Jimmy Anderson has revealed the “sadness and shock” he felt at his surprise Lancashire exit while he weighs up whether his future involves playing cricket or “something different”. Speaking for the first time since being told he will not have his county contract renewed, the England …

Iraola’s midfield has rediscovered its aggression and intensity just in time for Sunday’s visit of Arsenal to Anfield Alexis Mac Allister found himself in a strong position to apply pressure on Liverpool over a new contract before Atlético Madrid’s visit to Anfield last month , although only in the physical sense of being up on stage to preview the game in front of a mass audience. In reality, th…

Updates from the final day of the series at Newlands First ball in Cape Town is 10.30am local/7.30pm AEDT/8.30am GMT Any thoughts? Get in touch with an email Now, I bet there is a good chance that you are saying, or that somebody will in your hearing today say, that it’s a tough blow for Australia that they don’t have Steve Smith playing. Their great batting champion, tough chase without him, et …

Updates on the ODI in Lahore. Play starts 8am GMT Eliminated England beat Sri Lanka | Email Tanya 3rd over: Sri Lanka 10-0 (Avishka 6, Kamindu 4) Shaheen, something less than a towel, more like an ironed pocket hankerchief, tucked into his waistband runs in. Kamindu launches into a pull but just collects a single, but Avishka collects the first boundary of the day to short fine leg. 2nd over: Sri…

The leg-spinner’s absence in the final three games of their tri-series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka was puzzling but there’s no need to panic just yet In the end, the beginning was just a little too perfect. When Gus Atkinson struck with the first ball of England’s tour, the rhythm appeared set. They intended to make it four ODI series wins in a row. Sri Lanka had been beaten home and away this…

Updates as the Kangaroos and Cook Islands meet in Townsville Kick-off time is 7.05pm local/8.05pm AEDT/9.05am GMT Any thoughts? Get in touch with an email 1. Valentine Holmes 2. Cameron Brown 3. KL Iro (c) 4. Reubenn Rennie 5. Esan Marsters 6. Maui Winitana-Patelesio 7. Brad Takairangi 8. Davvy Moale 9. Ruatapu Ngatikaura 10. Rhys Dakin 11. Chaev Kolone 12. Delahia Wigmore 13. Mason Teague. Inter…

Joanna Wietrzyk claims victory in first event of season in Hamburg Australian says pre-race that she is ‘truly so sorry’ for events in Beijing The Australian athlete who sparked outrage when winning a Hyrox event in Beijing despite soiling herself during the race has returned in style with victory in the first event of the new season in Hamburg. Joanna Wietrzyk won the endurance sports event in C…

Villa chair announces plan on social media Carragher said club will ‘never be Man United’ Aston Villa have announced plans to take legal action against Jamie Carragher following his “unacceptable insults” about the club and its supporters. Carragher told Villa fans to “shut the fuck up” after facing criticism for suggesting Unai Emery should consider taking the Manchester United job. Villa respon…

USA 12-55 England Claudia Moloney-MacDonald runs in four tries England have seen a lot of records crumble around them in this WXV Global Series but the world champions were not going to let a 35-year winning streak go against the USA. The last time the Eagles claimed a victory over the Red Roses was in the 1991 Rugby World Cup and since then England have won all 22 matches they have played. The R…

‘No discussions about that … Everyone has to be ready’ Brazilian has started only twice in 11 games this season Xabi Alonso has ruled out a January move for Estêvão Willian but has said the Chelsea youngster must adapt to his style of play before earning a regular spot in the team. The debate around Estêvão’s role gathered momentum this week, with the noise growing after the 19-year-old watched a…

Reds yet to concede set-piece goal in Premier League Szoboszlai and Muñoz could return for Arsenal game Andoni Iraola has cited Ronald Araújo as a key factor in Liverpool’s improvement at set pieces but admitted Arsenal pose the “biggest challenge” to his team’s defensive record on Sunday. Liverpool have not conceded a set-piece goal in the Premier League and have shipped only one overall, Conor …

Bristol 16-22 leicester Visitors score four tries in error-strewn game In the end there was a relatively clear winner of this straight shootout for top spot in the Prem. Leicester took the spoils in a error-strewn contest between two sides who began the night in second and third position, scoring four tries to one and being masterfully steered to a bonus-point victory by their alert fly-half Bill…

Bets predicted exact top-five men’s finishing order Organisers France Football have contacted police A series of suspicious bets that correctly predicted the exact top-five finishing order of this year’s Ballon d’Or and generated almost $200,000 (£149,000) in winnings is being investigated by the event’s organisers, France Football, who have also contacted the police. It has been alleged that 12 …