north across the north midlands, north wales, and then this whole weather front will pivot northwards to the day, so looking wetter for northern england, northern ireland for a time to the middle of the day and then the rain in southern scotland for the rain in southern scotland for the afternoon but the milder air sits to the south of that weather front and sunspots could even reach up front and sunspots could even reach up to 15 degrees.

hello, you are watching bbc news. these are the latest headlines. unless the government puts further restrictions in place, the uk faces a substantial wave of omicron next month which might overwhelm the nhs. another 633 cases of the new variant have been recorded in the last 2a hours. it's the uk's biggest daily jump hours. it's the uk's biggest daily jump in omicron infections so far. at least 70 people have been killed in a series of devastating tornadoes striking central usa. this has been the most devastating tornado event in the history of the states. forthose tornado event in the history of the states. for those that have seen it, what it's done here and elsewhere, it is indescribable. britain wants russia it will face severe consequences if it invades

ukraine. a meeting of foreign ministers is discussing the rising tensions. much more coming up on those stories but first, it's a very busy weekend so let's catch up with the sport. now on bbc news it's time for sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday, i'm gavin ramjaun. plenty on the way tonight... it's advantage verstappen, in the battle for the fi title he's ahead of hamilton on the grid for the season ending thriller in abu dhabi. england crumble at the gabba... they're thrashed by australia who go i—up in the ashes. and a rousing return for steven gerrard on his return to anfield. .. but did his aston villa side come away with the points against liverpool?

hello and welcome to sportsday. what a finale we have in store tomorrow when the fi season comes to a climax. max verstappen will go into the abu dhabi grand prix on pole after finishing ahead of title rival lewis hamilton in qualifying earlier. it's so finely poised the pair level on points as their rivalry reaches fever pitch. nick parrott reports. as the sun goes down in abu dhabi, the pressure goes up. verstappen is first in the crucial second session of qualifying. the tyre was an driveable, and he was forced to change tactics. he will now start with a less durable soft tyre. the final shoot—out for pole position that really matters. the weekend is being headlined by individuals but

it was a team—mate that got verstappen through. perez provided a slipstream to help the flying dutchman go faster, and it helped. hamilton couldn't catch him. max did a great lap today so i couldn't answer to that lap, it was a fantastic lap from him. we are in a fantastic lap from him. we are in a good position for tomorrow and i hope we can have a good race. so far this weekend, the car was a bit on _ so far this weekend, the car was a bit on and — so far this weekend, the car was a bit on and off but incredibly happy with this — bit on and off but incredibly happy with this. this is of course what we wanted, _ with this. this is of course what we wanted, but — with this. this is of course what we wanted, but it's very easy, especially with their form the last few races — especially with their form the last few races. now i'm just looking forward — few races. now i'm just looking forward to— few races. now i'm just looking forward to it tomorrow because that is most _ forward to it tomorrow because that is most important. irr— is most important. in the _ is most important. in the last six years, it is the person who has sat in front who has gone on to win. verstappen has landed a heavy first blow, leaving hamilton on the ropes. the question is, can he recover?

spoke to the bbcs formula one reporterjenny gow earlier and i asked her how big of a job it would be for lewis hamilton. i think it's going to be tough. obviously everybody wants to start at pole position, especially when it comes to a decider but looking at social media, hamilton has come out and said, i quite like to start from position to because it means i can chase him down. i think there is a real sense of drama and occasion about this. lewis hamilton is going to have to pull out an exceptional performance if he's going to beat verstappen, whojust performance if he's going to beat verstappen, who just seems to be on incredible form today. hamilton is a man who knows all about pressure. what about verstappen? will he be able to handle this huge occasion? the season decider? he has been adamant that he has relaxed and he is calm, not feeling any pressure at all. let's face it, lewis hamilton is the seven time world champion and has done this before. the team have

done this before. they all know what it's like winning a championship. it will be the first attempt for verstappen, so can he step up? can he almost put up with lewis hamilton in his rear—view mirror, bearing down for potentially 58 laps? it will be thrilling. you can say that again. the whole season has been great to watch. as a rivalry, how does this one go down over the ages? it is one of the best. i sat down with alain prost today and spoke about it and he said, i can't really equate what i went through to others because they are at different points of their career but both men, hamilton and verstappen, stand on the edge of their own history and potential, and i think we are really lucky to be witnessing it. in the premier league, manchester city stay top of the table but the lead

is slim after their rivals all won today. city beat wolves in the early kick off, a penalty proving the difference. as michael redford has more. after going top of the premier league last week, it is full steam ahead for manchester city. a win against wolves would be sixth victory in a row. a drab first half. just before the break, the game sparked into life in a crazy 48 seconds for him and his. first booked for this, then he did this. two yellow cards in less than a minute and wolves were down to ten. this was the last line of defence here, but it was only delaying the inevitable. the breakthrough was controversial. this was deemed a handball by va art. 100 premier league goals for stirling. minutes later, jack greenish still wondering how he missed. he was nearly made to

ny- how he missed. he was nearly made to pay. city held on and continue to lead from the front in this thrilling premier league title race. we played really good. they have ten players _ we played really good. they have ten players in _ we played really good. they have ten players in the 15 metres in the box so the _ players in the 15 metres in the box so the striker dropped and they are close _ so the striker dropped and they are close and _ so the striker dropped and they are close and they are so, so close. nearly— close and they are so, so close. nearly we — close and they are so, so close. nearly we are out. nine players in the box _ nearly we are out. nine players in the box to— nearly we are out. nine players in the box to cross and it's easy. today— the box to cross and it's easy. today may _ the box to cross and it's easy. today may be at up front we missed some _ today may be at up front we missed some chances and are not in good conditions — some chances and are not in good conditions to do it but in spite of that, _ conditions to do it but in spite of that, we — conditions to do it but in spite of that, we won the game and, yeah, we are there _ elsewhere it was an unhappy return for anfield hero steven gerrard whose aston villa side were beaten on his return to liverpool. gerrard, back at the club where it

all began for the first time in 6 years, saw his team go down 1—0, mo salah's penalty giving liverpool all three points. liverpool stay just a point behind leaders man city. and just look at this reaction from liverpool fans as steven gerrard walked out of the anfield tunnel for the first time as a manager. he avoided any sentimentality, but liverpool boss jurgen klopp didn't. they were so much spoken about steven gerrard going back to liverpool. did you want to win to show the current manager is still the top dog? i have no problem with these kind of things— i have no problem with these kind of things and _ i have no problem with these kind of things and i— i have no problem with these kind of things and i know i will not be here forever— things and i know i will not be here forever and — things and i know i will not be here forever and i will be more than happy— forever and i will be more than happy if— forever and i will be more than happy if it's stephen. nobody knows reatiy _ happy if it's stephen. nobody knows really what happens in the future but i _ really what happens in the future but i didn't feel under pressure today~ — today. a - today. a good win for today. — a good win for them. chelsea left it late but secured a dramatic win to stay in the hunt at the top. they had to come from behind to get a result against leeds. they won 3—2 at stamford bridge but these were the scenes shortly

after full time. the two teams clashing after a late penalty from jorginho had secured chelsea's win in stoppage time. leeds had led originally with a penalty of their own before mason mount levelled matters. and after leeds retook the lead, jorginho levelled from the spot before sealing the win late on to leave chelsea two points behind leaders manchester city. we took the control risks that we took in the first half and in the first half of the second half and leeds played stronger and stronger and they were taking the risk because they have nothing to lose until the late equaliser and i'm happy that we turned it around this time. we had to sufferfrom happy that we turned it around this time. we had to suffer from two late goals in the last matches and it was our turn. and arsenal, having lost their last two in the league, bounced back well with a convincing 3—0 win over southampton. alexandre lacazette, martin odegaard and gabriel with the goals. the win moves them a point off the top four. confirmation of those results. the

first away match for manchester united against norwich. it is still 0-0 united against norwich. it is still 0—0 in the second half. tottenham's decision to postpone their europa conference league game against rennes could mean they're out of the competition. the clubs couldn't find a new date for the match so it won't be rescheduled and the result will be decided by uefa. it was called off when eight spurs players and five members of staff tested positive for coronavirus. rennes are already through to the last 16 but tottenham needed a win to secure a play off spot. rangers and celtic both have games tomorrow in the scottish premiership. in today's games, back to back wins for livingston they won 1—0 against dundee united. struggling ross county came from behind to beat dundee, in a vital win for them. aberdeen won for their third time in a row, getting the better of bottom side stjohnstone. and hibs drew 1—all with st mirren. there was a shock defeat for last week's fa cup winners chelsea in the women's super league this afternoon. they lost 1—nil away to reading. chelsea could have gone top of the league for the first time

this season but it was the royals that went ahead after four minutes deanne rose breaking away and combining with emma harries to score from their only shot on target. emma hayes' chelsea domiated the game but failed to score leaving them a point adirft of arsenal at the top of the wsl. reading move up to fifth. if the first ashes test is anything to go by, england have long few weeks ahead of them down under in australia. joe root�*s side were outclassed on the fourth day crumbling at the gabba to lose by nine wickets. joe wilson reports. this is only fancy dress, just a humorous excursion in brisbane. but who strikes back? look what happened next. gone! a captain only added three runs on saturday. ollie pope did this. build a winning position? england crumble. the tv pictures

disappearfor a bit but england crumble. the tv pictures disappear for a bit but then england crumble. the tv pictures disappearfor a bit but then ben stokes, where has that gone? court. getting to 23 forjust butler. —— forjust butler. ollie robinson departed like this. going past 400 career test wickets during the course of the day. all dressed up with the match running out. quick, you'd better dance or something. chris works felt when england were done and they were all out by lunch. australia just needed 22 win in theirsecond innings. normalservice resuming. outplayed. we put a lot of good work in and we built up a good partnership so it was on me to make most of that opportunity. credit to australia, they were bowling in good areas. they've had four days of cricket to

acclimatise, for test matches to come and for opportunities. they were still trying to see it that way. it must have been hot in the fancy dress! to rugby union now and there was a great win for leicester tigers who beat bordeaux 16—13 in france on the opening weekend of the european champions cup. leicester currently lead the english premiership with 9 wins from 9 and guy porter was first across the line in france. there was cause for concern when harry potter suddenly vanished before magically re appearing moments later. but bordeaux struck back with a try before the break after which penalties were exchanged and it was 13 all with a few minutes on the clock. one more followed from the boot of george ford , leaving leicester to celebrate victory on their return to the european elite. toulouse began the defence of their title with a 39 points to 7

thrashing of cardiff. a superb kick from world player of the year antoine du pont found artur bonnevalfor the bonus point winning fourth try. disappointment for bath who were outplayed by leinster at the aviva stadium. jamison gibson park went over twice in a seven—try thrashing that earned the four time champions a bonus point. bath scored two tries and gabe hamer webb's late consolation meant they avoided their biggest ever defeat in european compettion 45 20 the final score. european competition. 45—20 the final score. coole cody took the headlines at cheltenham as he won the racing post gold cup. the 12—1 shot ridden by adam wedge held his nerve to hold off zanza and midnight shadow to finish two lengths clear. the victory is a moment to remember for coole cody who had led at the paddy power gold cup last month but fell at the second last fence. and four time world championjohn higgins continued his recent superioirty over ronnie o'sullivan beating him 6—1 at the scottish open. higgins barely allowed o'sullivan at the table in a one sided semi final and continued his dominance over the six time world champion, the wizard of wishaw has now beaten the rocket in five

of their six meetings this year. having lost three finals in 2021 higgins will be looking to make