cleared, morning it should have cleared, another bright day on wednesday with plenty of sunshine before the next system starts to come into western areas later on. so the clouds thickening up but anotherfine day to come for most of wednesday. around six, 10 degrees. and windy weather with gales heading through thursday and then another one hot on its heels moving in for thursday into friday. and another as we push into friday. and another as we push into the start of the weekend bringing potentially stormy weather but also milder conditions before it tends cooler by the end of the week. thanks, stav. and that's bbc news at six. now it's time to join our colleagues for the news where hello and welcome to sportsday this monday night with me, chetan pathak. coming up on the programme... ..it�*s liverpool's to lose. they're the runaway premier league leaders after beating manchester city, who's best placed to stop them now.

a bright start or a ruud awakening — what's in store for leicester's new manager? van nistelrooy prepares for his first game in charge. hoping to make history — can wales women reach their first major tournament? we'll be with the team ahead of their all—or—nothing match in ireland. also coming up on sportsday before seven... ..the rise and rise of britain's abbi pulling. we speak to the newly crowned f1 academy champion hoping to be the first woman to make it on to a formula one starting grid in 50 years. and from postman to world champion — tributes are paid to snooker great terry griffiths, who's died at the age of 77.

welcome along, thank you forjoining us, as we look ahead to what could be another pivotal week in the premier league title race with all the contenders playing twice across the next few days or so. for now, it's liverpool in the driving seat — nine points clear of arsenal and chelsea and 11 points ahead of manchester city after their 2—0 win over the champions at anfield. just how significant could that result prove to be come the end of the season? two people who felt very different emotions watching that gamejoin me now. stephen mcinerney and neil atkinson. i know you're set on to way to go in the match is not offended yet. we be surprised if liverpool aren't champions come the end of this season? ~ �* ., ., ., season? we're not quite at that point. but _ season? we're not quite at that point. but i _ season? we're not quite at that point, but i wouldn't _ season? we're not quite at that point, but i wouldn't have - season? we're not quite at that point, but i wouldn't have been| point, but i wouldn't have been surprised if you said to me in

august he may well be because they've got excellent players. an excellent manager, it's been proven. the pressure is on, but it was prior to playing manchester city. the manager has been very much all season saying this side should be competing for the biggest honours. not much has changed for me, but the point difference is great and you can only be optimistic at this stage. liverpoolare can only be optimistic at this stage. liverpool are rightly favourites for the title and the gap is in their favour.— is in their favour. stephen, for ou, is in their favour. stephen, for you. has _ is in their favour. stephen, for you, has anything _ is in their favour. stephen, for you, has anything changed - is in their favour. stephen, for i you, has anything changed after is in their favour. stephen, for - you, has anything changed after that result last night? is this city out of the title race or not? definitively is not necessarily the fi l ht definitively is not necessarily the right phrase because you're not really— right phrase because you're not really out — right phrase because you're not really out of it until you're out of it. really out of it until you're out of it but _ really out of it until you're out of it but my— really out of it until you're out of it. but my quotations are shifting because — it. but my quotations are shifting because the form is bad. i can admit that _ because the form is bad. i can admit that i'm _ because the form is bad. i can admit that i'm not— because the form is bad. i can admit that. i'm not angry, it'sjust all part— that. i'm not angry, it'sjust all part of— that. i'm not angry, it'sjust all part of the _ that. i'm not angry, it'sjust all part of the cycle of football. you never _ part of the cycle of football. you never know what january holds. some

players _ never know what january holds. some players return to fitness. it feels almost _ players return to fitness. it feels almost sort of a little bit unfair may— almost sort of a little bit unfair may be — almost sort of a little bit unfair may be to _ almost sort of a little bit unfair may be to ask these players to keep going _ may be to ask these players to keep going again and again again. i don't going again and again again. idon't think— going again and again again. i don't think we _ going again and again again. i don't think we can normalise four times in a row _ think we can normalise four times in a row but— think we can normalise four times in a row. but that's fine if that's the case _ a row. but that's fine if that's the case we'tt— a row. but that's fine if that's the case. we'll see where we're at, but right now. — case. we'll see where we're at, but right now. it— case. we'll see where we're at, but right now, it feels a bit of a tall ask _ right now, it feels a bit of a tall ask. ,, , ., , ., right now, it feels a bit of a tall ask, ,, , ., , ., ., ~' ., ask. stephen, what did you make of pep guardiota _ ask. stephen, what did you make of pep guardiola at _ ask. stephen, what did you make of pep guardiola at the _ ask. stephen, what did you make of pep guardiola at the end _ ask. stephen, what did you make of pep guardiola at the end holding . ask. stephen, what did you make of pep guardiola at the end holding upi pep guardiola at the end holding up his six fingers and five fingers referencing the titles he's won. would you say he was rattled or not? it's football and if you care about that, you're thinking too hard. he's got to turn around and say that's why he's here, because he's won all that. you will do want to see a bit of healthy arrogance when you're a

manager. it doesn't particularly bother me. i think he's a serial winner. he's got every right to do it. no van —— no—one has achieved more in football in the last ten years. he knows what he's doing.- football in the last ten years. he knows what he's doing. neil, how are ou doinu knows what he's doing. neil, how are you doing things? _ knows what he's doing. neil, how are you doing things? of— knows what he's doing. neil, how are you doing things? of course - knows what he's doing. neil, how are you doing things? of course city - knows what he's doing. neil, how are you doing things? of course city are l you doing things? of course city are still in this, but nothing is done yet. chelsea, who are you most worried about. ?_ yet. chelsea, who are you most i worried about. ?- because worried about. ? arsenal. because ou feel worried about. ? arsenal. because you feel they're — worried about. ? arsenal. because you feel they're right _ worried about. ? arsenal. because you feel they're right back- worried about. ? arsenal. because you feel they're right back in - worried about. ? arsenal. because you feel they're right back in form| you feel they're right back in form with the last couple of... you feel they're right back in form with the last couple of. . .- you feel they're right back in form with the last couple of... there are coule of with the last couple of... there are couole of men _ with the last couple of... there are couple of men looking _ with the last couple of... there are couple of men looking fully - with the last couple of... there are couple of men looking fully fit. - couple of men looking fully fit. they— couple of men looking fully fit. theyiust — couple of men looking fully fit. theyjust looking good mix. city's players _ theyjust looking good mix. city's players look injured. theyjust look injured _ players look injured. theyjust look injured. kyle walker was players look injured. they 'ust look injured. kyle walkerh injured. kyle walker was walking like me and _ injured. kyle walker was walking like me and i'm _ injured. kyle walker was walking

like me and i'm 43. _ injured. kyle walker was walking like me and i'm 43. he's - injured. kyle walker was walking like me and i'm 43. he's got - injured. kyle walker was walking like me and i'm 43. he's got a i injured. kyle walker was walking | like me and i'm 43. he's got a bit of fluency when he's running, but i'm not messing around. i couldn't believe it. kyle walker walks around like you got an injury because he's got an injury. it was ruben dias's first game. i think ake played well, but look like he carried a knock. i think for me, i think they can win the champions league. right now, they are walking wounded. they might not by the end of january. there is a bit of resolve about where they found themselves. arsenal i think to feel as though they should be competing for this title this season. they've got a bit of momentum behind them. i think they look like more of a package. it's not to say manchester city will never win another title or pep

guardiola is finished. i generally see them galvanising themselves into a champions league push. part of that reason is they may be out of the league pictures so they can target, but still know they will finish in the top three. it is arsenal i am worried about. that could change, but i ultimately think is arsenal who has some momentum behind them. is arsenal who has some momentum behind them-— behind them. neil, 'ust briefly, mohamed h sallah, what's your instinct on this? i know you don't have a crystal ball, but how do you feel this might play out? i crystal ball, but how do you feel this might play out?— crystal ball, but how do you feel this might play out? i think trent and alexander-arnold _ this might play out? i think trent and alexander-arnold will - this might play out? i think trent and alexander-arnold will leave. and alexander—arnold will leave. well, liverpool fans will hold you to that. thank you to both of you

forjoining us. it's over eight years since leicester city's fairytale premier league title. plenty has happened at the club since then, not least relegation and promotion. a third of the way through their return to the top flight, they're just above the relegation zone. the hope is new manager ruud van nistleroy can turn their fortunes around, having replaced steve cooper. he takes charge of his first game tomorrow night, at home to west ham, and spoke to the media for the first time as boss today. adam cottier reports. ruud van nistelrooy sat alongside the leicester owner to watch them lose on saturday — a result that left leicester players in a dark place, according to connor cody. the new man in charge warmly greeted member at his first press conference before giving insight into his philosophy. i’m before giving insight into his philosophy-— before giving insight into his --hilosoh. ., ., ., . philosophy. i'm not the romantic -e of philosophy. i'm not the romantic type of manager _ philosophy. i'm not the romantic type of manager that _ philosophy. i'm not the romantic type of manager that puts - philosophy. i'm not the romantic type of manager that puts style | philosophy. i'm not the romanticl type of manager that puts style in front of result. i love style, i love having the ball, i love

creating lots of opportunities, i love pressing the team—high because you have more of the ball. as a staff, we started to make the changes necessary. is staff, we started to make the changes necessary.— staff, we started to make the changes necessary. is first given charue changes necessary. is first given charge will _ changes necessary. is first given charge will come _ changes necessary. is first given charge will come less _ changes necessary. is first given charge will come less than - changes necessary. is first given charge will come less than a - changes necessary. is first given i charge will come less than a month after his successful interim spell, when he admits may have helped them secure the leicesterjob. the when he admits may have helped them secure the leicesterjob.— secure the leicester “0b. the amount of interest that — secure the leicester “0b. the amount of interest that was _ secure the leicesterjob. the amount of interest that was all _ secure the leicesterjob. the amount of interest that was all of _ secure the leicesterjob. the amount of interest that was all of a _ secure the leicesterjob. the amount of interest that was all of a sudden . of interest that was all of a sudden they are for me and the options that came along, i was astonished a little bit by it. apparently it provokes these reactions and i was happy with that. and be able to make a decision that felt really good for me. ., , , ., , me. van nistelrooy's illustrious career stalled _ me. van nistelrooy's illustrious career stalled him _

me. van nistelrooy's illustrious career stalled him rising - me. van nistelrooy's illustrious career stalled him rising with i me. van nistelrooy's illustrious l career stalled him rising with psv eindhoven before scoring 150 goals in five years. he became the first player to score in ten successive for merely matches — a record that stood untiljamie vardy broke it in 2016. iii stood untiljamie vardy broke it in 2016. , ., , ., stood untiljamie vardy broke it in 2016. , ., , ., 2016. if the problem of course that he broke my _ 2016. if the problem of course that he broke my record. _ 2016. if the problem of course that he broke my record. that's - 2016. if the problem of course that he broke my record. that's what i i he broke my record. that's what i told him straightaway. i said we have a big issue here. it's how things go sometimes, but good stories. great striker and great to have him in the squad. 25am have him in the squad. van nistelrooy _ have him in the squad. van nistelrooy has _ have him in the squad. van nistelrooy has had - have him in the squad. van nistelrooy has had only one full season as manager. the new boss is aware that only survival or suffice as he gets to work in the east midlands. he's got work to do. wells women have work to do. wales women are 90 minutes away from their first appearance at a major tournament. if they beat ireland tomorrow night they'll be at the euros finals in switzerland next summer.

both sides are level at 1—1 going into the second leg of their play off qualifier. jo currie is in dublin for us. whatever emotions are bubbling under the surface, there was a sense of calm this afternoon for the press conference. wales need no reminder that they have never qualified for a women's major tournament. many players who take to the pitch tomorrow night have been part of several unsuccessful heartbreaking qualifying campaigns. but with this now delicately poised at 1—1, they know they've never had a better chance of getting the job done. i think it's probably the biggest game we played. it's a huge moment for welsh football. as a group of staff as well, they've worked really hard to make sure that we are focused on our own individual performance and collectively as a group, if we deliver our plan, i have every confidence in this group that will not get the result tomorrow. there's ve little not get the result tomorrow. there's very little to — not get the result tomorrow. there's very little to choose _ not get the result tomorrow. there's very little to choose between - not get the result tomorrow. there's very little to choose between these i very little to choose between these

sites. they have the experience of qualifying lease for world cup in 2023, but this would be their first european championship. the captain says she hopes the 25,000 fans expected here tomorrow night will give them the edge that they need. look, when we're pushing out the bitch. _ look, when we're pushing out the pitch. we've — look, when we're pushing out the pitch, we've heard and seen it. we played _ pitch, we've heard and seen it. we played here — pitch, we've heard and seen it. we played here before against england, sweden, _ played here before against england, sweden, and the driving energy it gives— sweden, and the driving energy it gives you — sweden, and the driving energy it gives you wanting to go forward and put your— gives you wanting to go forward and put your body on the line for your country - — put your body on the line for your country — and i know every single one of— country — and i know every single one of my— country — and i know every single one of my team—mates want to do that - it's _ one of my team—mates want to do that - it's kind _ one of my team—mates want to do that - it's kind of— one of my team—mates want to do that — it's kind of nonnegotiated. now my team-mates — — it's kind of nonnegotiated. now my team—mates have that in abundance. this once _ team—mates have that in abundance. this once hard to predict. many are accepting a cajee affair. if you want to follow the game, full coverage all at the bbc sport website. kick—off is at 7.30.

northern ireland have a mountain to climb to reach the women's euros next summer, they are 4—0 down to norway after the first leg of their play—off qualifier. but for scotland, they're potentially a goal away from the finals after their first leg against finland ended goalless. what they need now is their big players to step up in helsinki tomorrow night. chris mclaughlin reports. in the finished capital, the markets are out, reparations for christmas ongoing —— finnish. a festive are out, re