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      in Soccer

      Liverpool vs Man Utd: Reds struggle for top 4 as United target Quadruple.. what a difference a year makes – TV & stream

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      ONE team is fighting for an unprecedented Quadruple while the other scraps for a spot in the Europa League.One team has just lifted their first trophy of the season while the other is embarrassingly far off the pace.
      Man Utd are on a red-hot streak and look more like last season’s Liverpool – while the Reds look like their struggling rivals of a year agoCredit: Getty
      Liverpool have gone from hunting for four trophies last season to prowling for scraps in 2022-23Credit: Getty
      A year ago it was Liverpool who were roaring towards an incredible four trophies, playing every game possible and looking unstoppable.
      A year ago Manchester United looked a disorganised mess without any tactical plan or sense of direction and a disjointed squad.
      Fast forward just 12 months and the roles are completely reversed.
      As Sir Alex Ferguson famously once said: “Football… bloody hell.”
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      Last season, Liverpool were in imperious form, winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, while reaching the Champions League final and missing out on the Premier League after one of the most-outrageous final-day comebacks ever from Manchester City.
      The Reds also spanked United 9-0 across their two Premier League fixtures – with Jurgen Klopp grinning as his side made the Red Devils look like total amateurs.
      This season, the German’s iconic grin has been replaced by a grimace as his Reds fall apart in front of his very eyes.
      Make no mistake, this Liverpool squad needs a huge shake-up this summer with an aging midfield, error-prone defence and injury hit front-line wreaking havoc.
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      But will they be able to attract the likes of Jude Bellingham when they’re increasingly unlikely to grab a Champions League place?
      Liverpool are somehow still within reach of the top four – just six points behind Tottenham with a game in hand.
      At Anfield, the Reds will look to not only get revenge for their 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford in August but also dent United’s shock title hopes.
      The Red Devils haven’t won the Premier League since 2012-13 – in Fergie’s final season.
      For much of this season, Arsenal and Man City were locked in a two-horse race to lift the crown.
      But United’s red-hot form – spearheaded by Marcus Rashford’s outrageous purple patch – has somehow lifted them into contention.
      If Erik ten Hag’s men win their game in hand over the top two, they’ll be just three points off City and eight behind Arsenal, with 13 games still to play.
      The Carabao Cup victory over Newcastle last weekend has only further buoyed an already more unified, happy squad – ending their near-six-year trophy drought.
      The rivalry between Liverpool and Man Utd has always burned strongly.
      After all, they’re not only local rivals but also the two most-successful clubs in English football history.
      With a changing of the guard already taking place, United go into the match at Anfield on Sunday afternoon as undeniable favourites.
      Who would have guessed that last season?
      What is their form like?
      Liverpool: What a mixed bag.
      Every time the Reds’ season looks dead and buried, they put together a string of encouraging results.. and whenever that happens they lose badly and make fans question everything.
      In the league, Liverpool have won three of their last four matches 2-0 – against Everton, Newcastle and most-recently, Wolves.
      However, they were battered 5-2 by Real Madrid and drew 0-0 at Crystal Palace in the middle of all that.
      Man Utd: Absolutely scorching hot…
      United haven’t lost since January 22 – and even that was a 3-2 epic against league leaders Arsenal.
      You have to go back to the 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa on November 6 for their next-most-recent loss.
      Ten Hag and Co are on fire, winning the Carabao Cup as well as their Europa League last 32 tie against Barcelona AND FA Cup fifth round clash vs West Ham.
      What is the team news and any injuries to worry about?
      Liverpool: Some of the Reds’ biggest name injury worries are back on the pitch, including Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk.
      But Thiago is still out, as are Luiz Diaz and Calvin Ramsay.
      Arthur is still likely to miss the match, despite returning to training.
      Joe Gomez and Naby Keita are questionable after missing the win over Wolves with knocks.
      Man Utd: Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek will both miss the clash at Anfield.
      Anthony Martial is unlikely to be fit, with Wout Weghorst set to continue leading the line.
      Ten Hag also has minor doubts over Luke Shaw and Jadon Sancho who missed the FA Cup win over West Ham with an injury and illness respectively.

      Who will be the star men?
      Liverpool: Trent Alexander-Arnold.
      Much-maligned defensively, if Liverpool are to get anything out of the game, they’ll need to find a way to stop Rashford.
      Alexander-Arnold will need to be switched on for the full 90 minutes.
      And if he gets a chance to bomb forward or get a set-piece within 30 yards, the England ace could be the most important player on the pitch for Klopp.
      Man Utd: Marcus Rashford.
      How could it not be? The England star has been absolutely sensational.
      Rashford has contributed to 16 goals since the World Cup and defences across Europe have struggled to slow him down.
      Undoubtedly United’s biggest threat and any success they have will stem from the Three Lions star.
      What have the managers said?
      Liverpool: Pre-match press conference to follow…
      Man Utd: Pre-match press conference to follow…
      SunSport prediction
      Liverpool 2 Man Utd 2
      It’s hard to see Man Utd losing but this match won’t be easy in front of a fired-up Anfield and against a Liverpool team desperately fighting for points.
      It should be entertaining – expect goals.
      When is Liverpool vs Man Utd?

      Liverpool vs Man United is on Sunday, March 5th.
      The game will kick off at 16:30 pm UK time.
      Anfield will play host.

      Is Liverpool vs Man Utd on TV?

      Liverpool vs Man United will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event, and coverage starts at 4:00pm UK time.
      If you are not a Sky Sports subscriber, you can follow SunSport’s live blog to keep up to date with all of the action.

      Read More on The Sun
      What are the odds?
      Liverpool – 7/5Draw – 5/2Man Utd – 7/4
      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and correct at the time of publication. More

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      in Soccer

      What does Bukayo Saka’s celebration mean?

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      BUKAYO SAKA continued his excellent goal-scoring form with another goal against Everton last night.The England star opened up the scoring with an emphatic finish, beating England teammate Jordan Pickford at his front post.
      Saka opens the scoring against Everton
      Saka’s goal helped the Gunners to a 4-0 win over Everton, taking them five points clear of Man City in second.
      Why does Bukayo Saka hold the corner flag during his celebration?
      During Saka’s goal celebration, the 21-year-old clutched the corner flag and placed his other hand on his hip as he stares back at the jubilant Arsenal fans.
      The winger revealed that the celebration is actually a homage to Gunners legend Thierry Henry.
      Saka revealed this after doing the same celebration during Arsenal’s 4-2 win a Villa park earlier in the season.
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      Credit: @BukayoSaka87 via Twitter
      Did Bukayo Saka copy Marcus Rashford’s celebration?
      Marcus Rashford is in a rich vain of goalscoring form, with 14 Premier League goals so far this season.
      After scoring, the Mancunian celebrates goals by pointing to his temple.
      This is to indicate that the forward is in a better head space under Eric Ten Hag after struggles with form under previous managers.
      Saka celebrates his goal against Manchester United
      Saka adopted the same celebration when the electric winger scored in Arsenal’s 3-2 win over the Red Devils in January.
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      However, the celebration seemed to be a mark of respect to his Manchester United counterpart. More

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      in Soccer

      What happened to ex Arsenal and Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka and where is he now?

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      NICOLAS Anelka was a prolific goal scorer for some of the Premier League’s biggest teams.He has not featured in English football’s top division since the 2013/14 season. Here’s a reminder of his career achievements, and a look at what he’s doing now.
      Anelka played for six Premier League sides over the course of his career
      Which clubs did Nicolas Anelka play for?
      Nicolas Anelka played for a variety of the world’s top clubs during his career.
      After beginning his career at Paris Saint-Germain, Anelka signed for Arsenal in 1997.
      A successful first season saw Arsenal win a Premier League and FA Cup double in 1998, with Anelka scoring the second goal in a 2-0 win against Newcastle to clinch the cup.
      Anelka scored 17 league goals and was named PFA young player of the year in his second season, but it wasn’t enough to retain the Gunners League and cup crowns.
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      He moved to Real Madrid in 1999, but despite vital goals in EL Classico and in both legs of the 2000 Champions League Semi-final, on route to winning the trophy, Anelka fell out of favour.
      After a short spell back in Paris, Anelka joined Liverpool in the 2001/02 season on loan, contributing to a second place league finish. However, he wasn’t offered a permanent deal.
      He signed for Manchester City, who were then managed by Kevin Keegan, in 2002.
      The Frenchman contributed goals in famous wins against Manchester United in the last Manchester derby at Maine road, as well as two away to former club Liverpool, as newly-promoted City qualified for Europe.
      Most read in Football
      He followed this with an impressive 16 league goals in the clubs first season at what is now the Etihad stadium.
      Anelka handed Jose Mourinho his first defeat as Chelsea manager in 2004, scoring a penalty in a 1-0 win. It was Chelsea’s only league defeat of the season.
      Anelka left City for Fenebache in January 2005, but returned to English football in August 2006 with Bolton.
      After helping Bolton qualify for the UEFA Cup in 2007, Anelka continued his fine scoring form for the club, which attracted interest from Chelsea, who he signed for in January 2008.
      A slow start to his Chelsea career saw him reduced to mostly substitute appearances, and he had the decisive penalty saved in the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final to hand Manchester United their third European crown.
      Anelka bounced back from this by winning the Premier League golden boot in 2008/09, scoring 19 league goals.
      He was also a vital part of Chelsea’s 2009 FA Cup triumph, scoring four goals on the run to the final.
      The 2009/10 season was even more successful, with the Frenchman forming a prolific partnership with Didier Drogba, scoring 15 goals in all competitions as The Blues won their first League and FA Cup double.
      Anelka scored a huge goal in the early stages of the vital match against Wigan on the last day of that season.
      Needing a win to be champions, a half-volley in the sixth minute eased the London clubs nerves, as they raced to victory.
      He also scored in the second half of the 8-0 win, a spectacular volley into the ground that beat Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt as Chelsea secured their fourth league title.
      He played the full 90 minutes as Chelsea retained the FA Cup with a 1-0 win against Portsmouth in the final.
      The 2010/11 season saw Chelsea fair to retain the title, despite being top in November of that year.
      Anelka was Chelsea’s top scorer with 16 goals in all competitions, as they finished second behind Manchester United.
      After scoring in Chelsea’s first home match of the 2011/12 season against West Brom, Anelka failed to score again for The Blues, and joined Shanghai Shenhua on a free transfer in December 2011.
      After unsuccessful spells in China and at Serie A club Juventus, Anelka joined West Brom on a free transfer.
      What happened to Nicolas Anelka?
      Anelka’s spell at West Brom was unsuccessful, scoring only two goals in his 12 appearances for the club.
      In a 3-3 draw away to West Ham, Anelka performed a controversial gesture after celebrating a goal.
      The quenelle gesture was seen by the FA as an anti-Semitic gesture, and was banned for five games and fined £80,000.
      Anelka said the gesture meant anti-establishment, and soon left West Brom.
      Is Nicolas Anelka still playing football?
      Anelka retired in 2015 after a spell with Mumbai City in the Indian Super League.
      In 2020 a Netflix documentary called Misunderstood was released looking at his life and playing career.
      His last role in football was as the sporting director of fourth-tier French club Hyeres. He left in 2021.
      Read More on The Sun
      Is Nicolas Anelka married and does he have any children?
      Anelka has been married to Barbara Anelka Tausia, a Belgian choreographer and dancer, since 2007.
      Together, they have had three children, named Kais, Kahil and Lina. More

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      in Motorsport

      What is a rolling start in F1?

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      The FORMULA 1 2023 season is set to get underway with the Bahrain Grand Prix.F1 races can start in two different ways, which are the standing start and the rolling start.
      Charles Leclerc leading the start of the French Formula One Grand Prix
      Max Verstappen leading the start of the Dutch Grand Prix
      A rolling start has the cars on the grid in a formation behind a safety car at a pre-determined speed for a number of laps.
      The safety car indicates it’s returning to the pits by turning off the flashing lights.
      When the safety car arrives at the pit and is off the track, the race will return to “green flag” conditions.
      All cars must wait for the green flag to be on show or for the information to be communicated over the radio before they can start accelerating.
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      The race leader will take the first position, and the trailing vehicles must stay in single-file behind.
      No driver can overtake the race leader prior to the race officially beginning.
      When are rolling starts used in F1?
      Rolling starts are typically used when the weather conditions are deemed too unsafe for a standing start.
      They are used more commonly during NASCAR events rather than in F1 Grand Prix.
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      A standing start is a more typical start to an F1 Grand Prix, with drivers starting in a stationary manner in their respective grid spots.
      Which F1 Grand Prix have had a rolling start?
      Last season, the Monaco 2022 Grand Prix had a rolling start, which was due to heavy rainfall.
      Sergio Perez took top spot on the podium that day.
      After several delays at the 2021 Belgium Grand Prix, a rolling start was again needed due to wet conditions.
      The race was then red-flagged and forced to be suspended before the race officially began. More

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      in Motorsport

      What happened to Jules Bianchi?

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      JULES BIANCHI sadly passed away following suffering severe head injuries in a crash during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.Bianchi was tipped to be a top prospect in F1 and had the potential to be the future of Ferrari.
      F1 drivers taking part in a minutes silence before the Hungarian Grand Prix
      Who was Jules Bianchi?
      Bianchi was born in Nice, France, on August 3rd, 1989, making him just 25 years old when he tragically passed away.
      He drove for Marissia for two years and made his debut in the 2013 Australian GP.
      That season, he ended in 19th place after failing to score any points.
      The 2014 Monaco F1 Grand Prix was Bianchi’s best finish as he placed 9th.
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      How did Jules Bianchi die?
      During the 2014 Japanese GP, Bianchi lost control of his Marussia and clashed with a recovery vehicle.
      The weather conditions in Japan during the time of the 2014 Grand Prix were treacherous and delayed the race from getting underway.
      Following the collision, Bianchi suffered a diffuse axonal injury which is caused by severe damage to the head.
      Bianchi spent nine months in a coma before passing away in 2015.
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      He was the first F1 driver to die from injuries that occurred during a Grand Prix since Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna.
      What did his family say?
      In a statement, his family said: “Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end.”
      The Marussia team, now known as Manor, said Bianchi had left an “indelible mark on all our lives”. More

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      in Soccer

      When is FA Cup quarter-final draw? Date, start time, TV channel, stream FREE, ball numbers

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      BRACE yourselves football fans as the FA Cup quarter-final is fast approaching – and SunSport has all the information on the draw.Manchester United continue their quadruple hunt with a fifth-round encounter against London outfit West Ham.
      Clubs will be hoping they can clinch the FA Cup this seasonCredit: Getty
      Tottenham face a tough away test when they take on Championship side Sheffield United.
      And Premier League champions Manchester City set off on their travels to Bristol City.
      But when do the teams that progress find out who are they playing in the quarter-final?
      When is the FA Cup quarter-final draw?
      The draw for the FA Cup quarter-final will take place on Wednesday, March 1.
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      It is scheduled to start after the conclusion of Sheffield United’s mouth-watering tie against Tottenham.
      How can I watch the FA Cup quarter-final draw?
      The FA Cup quarter-final draw will be broadcast LIVE on BBC One in the UK.
      However, the official Emirates FA Cup social media channels are set to stream the entire action.
      Alternatively, fans can follow the draw through SunSport’s live blog.
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      Can I watch the draw for FREE?
      To put it simply, yes!
      Fans can watch the FA Cup quarter-final for FREE on BBC One in the UK as long they have a valid TV license.
      What teams can progress to the quarter-final?
      Below are the allocated ball numbers for each tie:
      1 Southampton or Grimsby Town2 Leicester City or Blackburn Rovers3 Stoke City or Brighton & Hove Albion4 Sheffield United or Tottenham Hotspur5 Fulham or Leeds United6 Bristol City or Manchester City7 Manchester United or West Ham United8 Burnley or Fleetwood Town
      And the quarter-final encounters will be played across the weekend of Saturday, March 18. More

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      in Motorsport

      What is DRS in F1? All you need to know about Drag Reduction System

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      FORMULA ONE cars are packed with gadgets to make them go as fast as possible across the tarmac.But with so much technology to know and understand, fans can easily get confused. Here, we tell you everything you need to know about the Drag Reduction System (DRS).
      Max Verstappen, left, is using Drag Reduction System to overtake Charles Leclerc, who is not using DRS
      The drag reduction system (DRS) is an overtaking aid designed to make racing more exciting using the simple laws of aerodynamics.
      Here is all you need to know about the rear wing system.What does DRS stand for?
      DRS stands for drag reduction system.
      This is a method used by F1 drivers to follow their rivals more closely and therefore overtake them.
      When in a DRS zone, a driver within one second of a rival car may activate the DRS.
      This is not automatic and a driver usually has a button on their steering wheel to activate the system.
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      How does DRS help to overtake?
      Within the push of a button, a driver can open up part of the rear wing.
      It is used to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase the straight-line speed of the car.
      That will allow them to close in on the car in front quicker than they would normally be able to.
      There is at least one DRS zone on each track in F1 but some have as many as three to help to overtake.
      When can they use it?
      The drivers can only use the DRS during designated activation zones.
      To ensure that overtaking is not too easy, the length and location of the zones are carefully controlled.
      They must be within one second of a car in front to be able to use the DRS.
      Most tracks have a DRS zone on their main straight, helping the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen as they look to win.
      Credit: AP
      Everything you need to know about F1 this season

      When was DRS first used in F1?
      The drag reduction system was introduced to Formula One in 2011.
      Regulations in 2013 stated that no item of the body may be adjustable by the driver during the race – with the exception of the DRS. More

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      in Boxing

      Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia: Date, UK start time, live stream, TV channel and undercard for Las Vegas clash

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      BIG time boxing is back as Gervonta Davis gets ready to take on Ryan Garcia in a massive Las Vegas fight. Davis and Garcia have been locked in negotiations for months over a clash set to be fought at a 136lbs catchweight.
      Gervonta Davis beat Hector Garcia via 9th-round TKO earlier this yearCredit: AP
      Ryan Garcia dropped Javier Fortuna multiple times en route to victoryCredit: Getty
      Both men usually fight at the lightweight limit of 135lbs, but with no titles on the line, an extra pound of weight has been agreed by the fighters.
      Davis is coming off a TKO win over Hector Garcia, having stopped Rolando Romero as well in his sole fight of 2022.
      ‘King Ry’ fought twice last year, beating Emmanuel Tagoe on points before bludgeoning Javier Fortuna in the sixth round.
      Known as two of boxing’s most fearsome punchers, Davis and Garcia will put their undefeated records on the line.

      When is Davis vs Garcia?

      Davis’ huge clash with Garcia will take place on Saturday, April 22.
      The fight will be held in Las Vegas, with a specific venue yet to be determined.
      Reports indicate that the Las Vegas Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium could host its first boxing event with Davis vs Garcia.

      Will it be shown on TV in the UK?
      Davis vs Garcia will be shown live on DAZN and Showtime PPV in the US.
      The UK broadcaster has yet to be confirmed, but Garcia’s last three fights have been shown on DAZN in the UK.
      Live streaming will be available through the DAZN app.
      Most read in Boxing
      Davis vs Garcia undercard
      The undercard for Davis vs Garcia has not been announced yet.
      Welterweight star Jaron Ennis and lightweight prospect William Zepeda could feature on the card.
      What has been said?
      Garcia has previously spoken about an incident between the pair came to blows at a nightclub, claiming Davis tried to grab a chain he was wearing.
      “There’s so many security guards there,” Garcia said. “I knew he wasn’t gonna take my chain or do anything really. He just wanted to seem tough.
      “Outside the ring, you can act tough all you want. Inside the ring, it all changes. I’m not with the acting tough. I’m tough only when I need to be.
      “Al [Haymon] told me to leave him be because he went crying to his lawyer,” Davis tweeted in repsponse to the indicent.
      “Al got a little scared because they was going to pull out of the fight.” More