in dubai to begin a one—year prison sentence — for having a sexual relationship with a 17—year—old girl. and the welsh government vows to push ahead with plans to introduce a tourist tax from 2027 — we'll look at what impact it could have. now on bbc news, it's sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday. another unwanted record on the line — manchester united have not lost three home league games in a row since 1979. but ruben amorim's side could do so against in form newcastle tonight. australia skipper pat cummins says their boxing day test victory over india was "right at the top"

of the greatest games he has played in. and 12th seed nathan aspinall cruises through the quarter finals at the pdc world championship where he could face favourite luke littler. welcome along. let's start then with the three matches in the premier league this evening. chelsea can go second when they travel to ipswich, while both aston villa and brighton will be aiming to make up ground at the top, as they go head to head at villa park. we'll talk more about those matches in a moment, but let's start at old trafford where manchester united are taking on newcastle with ruben amorim's side facing the potential of a third straight league defeat at home for the first time since 1979.

the manager of manchester united cannot be never, comfortable. i know the reason what i mean. if we don't win, regardless every manager is in danger and i like that. i like that because that is ourjob. so i understand the question. you can say that i am a month ahead for training, but we are not winning. ruben amorim clearly aware of the size of task ahead and the pressure on him. you have to go back a quarter of a century for the last time united finished lower than seventh at the turn of the year. they are currently 14th going into this evenings match. going into this evening's match. simon stone is our chief football reporter. it is defeat after defeat at the moment. players getting sent off.

the big argument, i suppose, with marcus rashford and his exile for six games. these are the big decisions he has got to be making. at the same time he has got to try and win matches. that has not been easy, he is trying to implement a new style of football with players many people don't think are suited to that style. i think most people at manchester united are looking forward now to next season to see what will happen. but clearly we have got half of this season to go yet and anorim has got to try and settle everything down, get some winning form and try to make people feel optimistic about the future. otherwise, when he gets to the summer he will find he is under a huge amount of pressure. you mention the marcus rashford _ huge amount of pressure. you mention the marcus rashford decision, - huge amount of pressure. you mention the marcus rashford decision, it - huge amount of pressure. you mention the marcus rashford decision, it is - the marcus rashford decision, it is one of the landmark statement he has made as a manager but he has a club

where he has to do a lot of that, he has a difficult in tray, doesn't he? we have only got to remember sir alex ferguson to know the manager of manchester united is not supposed to be afraid of making big decisions and exiling very high high profile players. erik ten hag did it with jordan sancho. i am told the situation between anorim and marcus rashford is not as toxic as the one that existed betweenjordan sancho and erik ten hag. manchester united have already brought in a young player into the squad for the defeat against wolves. they have lost two to suspension for this game this evening against newcastle. i think if marcus rashford was missing

tonight there would be major questions over his future. but it is more likely he will be involved tonight than any other games that have previously taken place that he has missed. it is have previously taken place that he has missed-— has missed. it is going to be a difficult task _ has missed. it is going to be a difficult task tonight _ has missed. it is going to be a difficult task tonight because i has missed. it is going to be a i difficult task tonight because you have this in form newcastle united team and they are scoring for fun. it's going to be a tricky night? it is and manchester united are facing a pretty and comfortable record. it is almost 50 years since they last lost three home games, top flight home games in a row. that is what they are facing tonight. on the plus side, they are facing a team that traditionally they beat or don't lose too at home. it is over 50 years, a run that has gone on, apart from one single season when david moyes was the manager, newcastle have never won at old trafford. they did win in the league cup last

season but in the league, they have not been able to do it. in one sense, if manchester united wear wanting an opponent, newcastle would be the one to play tonight. but at the moment every game they play is difficult. every game they play has jeopardy and beyond this, there is a pretty owner is looking fixture at liverpool to come. they really need to be going into that game in good form, not bad. to be going into that game in good form. not bad-— elsewhere, aston villa host brighton, with both battling to move up the table. while for chelsea, despite defeat by fulham on boxing day, enzo meresca's side will go second with victory over strugglers ipswich this evening. the blues have thejoint best away record in the premier league this season. very important, very important. we want to try to prepare the game in which we do always, which is to win the game. we have a bad feeling

about the last game that we lost against fulham. hopefully we can come back with three points after this game. elsewhere in football, it's been confirmed that referees will announce var decisions to supporters inside stadiums in england for the first time. as part of a trial, for the league cup semi finals, referees will announce final decisions following a visit to the pitchside monitor or when rulings are made on matters such as accidental handball by a goal—scorer, or offside offences where the attacker touches the ball. the system has been previously trialled during the 2023 women's world cup. the cliftonville player michael newberry has died suddenly at the age of 27. the english defender, who played for northern ireland at under 21 level started his career with hometown club newcastle united and joined cliftonville from linfield in the summer. in a statement posted on the club's website, cliftonville said they were "devastated" by the news.

with the australian open just a few weeks away the warm up events are well under way. britain have beaten argentina in their group f opener of the united cup. britain led 1—0 after katie boulter beat nadia podoroska in sydney, but argentina hit back when tomas martin etcheverry overcame a stomach issue to see off billy harris by 2—1. but boulter teamed up with charles broom to seal a 2—1 victory, winning their mixed doubles rubber against maria lourdes carle and etcheverry in straight sets. britain meet australia in their next group f encounter on new year's day. boulter could face her fiancee alex de minaur in the mixed doubles. a few years back there was little love lost between novak djokovic and the australian nick kyrgios, but all appears sweetness and light between the two after they teamed up to play doubles in the brisbane international. 2a time major winner djokovic and the 2022 wimbledon runner—up joined forces to defeat

austria's alexander erler and germany's andreas mies. they even shared a chest bump and a warm embrace on match point. kyrgios was back on a competitive court for the first time in 18 months following a wrist ligament injury let's have a quick look at some of the day's other sports stories. wales captain dewi lake has been ruled out of at least the first part of the six nations after undergoing bicep surgery. ospreys head coach markjones said the hooker could be out for up to 12 weeks, going beyond the last game of the tournament. glamorgan have sacked head coach grant bradburn following a recent charge of misconduct by the independent cricket regulator. the club referred bradburn after receiving allegations of inappropriate behaviour. having completed their own internal investigation, glamorgan said it became clear bradburn's position was untenable. england battersjoe root

and harry brook have been shortlisted for the icc men's cricketer of the year award. former captain root is the number one—ranked test batter in the men's game, but was briefly displaced by team—mate brook earlier this year. the pair played a starring role in the third test in pakistan in october, scoring england's highest—ever test partnership of 454. australia test captain pat cummins said their win over india was "right at the top" of the greatest games he's played in for australia. the boxing day test at the mcg came down to a thrilling late finish on day five, with australia winning by 184 runs to go 2—1 up in the series. joe wilson has the story of how it unfolded. when australia began the final session of this test, melbourne's first cricket ground was nearing capacity again. but they still

needed seven wickets. india just needed seven wickets. india just needed to be patient. that has never been his strength. yes, that was just the start. india six down. was nathan lion into it? don't stop believing. he never needs to be told. but they were still batting on 84 and was given not out. australia called for the review and then it got really interesting. there is the technology showing no contact. there is a replay showing he hit it. that was enough for the decision to change. gone. the crowd roared to victory. nathan lion sealed it, lbw. 155 all out and one session of play that expressed all of test cricket. when you take it all into account it is probably the best test match i have been involved with. 80,000 fans, the crowd was huge. it felt like it was swinging a lot. without

a doubt, if — like it was swinging a lot. without a doubt. if you — like it was swinging a lot. without a doubt, if you have _ like it was swinging a lot. without a doubt, if you have come - like it was swinging a lot. without a doubt, if you have come here i like it was swinging a lot. without l a doubt, if you have come here and you want_ a doubt, if you have come here and you want to — a doubt, if you have come here and you want to come here and try and do successfully _ you want to come here and try and do successfully what you are supposed to and _ successfully what you are supposed to and if_ successfully what you are supposed to and if those things don't fall into place, that is a big disappointment. into place, that is a big disauointment. , . . ' ., disappointment. australia 21-macro u - , want disappointment. australia 21-macro up. want us — disappointment. australia 21-macro up. want us to _ disappointment. australia 21-macro up, want us to come _ disappointment. australia 21-macro up, want us to come in _ disappointment. australia 21-macro up, want us to come in a _ disappointment. australia 21-macro up, want us to come in a series - disappointment. australia 21-macro j up, want us to come in a series that feels like the world title decider. joe wilson, bbc news. there's another big evening ahead at the darts, where we now know there will be a new world champion after the exit of luke humphries last night. luke littler and three time world champion michael van gerwyn are in action tonight at alexandra palace, while this afternoon, 12th seed nathan aspinall secured his place in the quarter—finals. our reporterjames gregg is there. he was the headline act of that afternoon session. the crowd treated it in a good—natured way, england versus germany. and aspinall, the number 12 also good against riccardo jess kerr. he had no chance, the

german despite his good form and good results up to this point to get to this post—christmas stage. you have got to have played some good darts. but he cruised into the last eight and he did look very good indeed. we should make mention of the two boys from the north—east. callum riggs and chris dobey. riggs is ranked outside of the top 40 in the well. it is something even the top players is the benchmark because of his high averages, his checkout ability his flairfor the of his high averages, his checkout ability his flair for the crowd and the big stage, he looks very comfortable. he beat the welshman, robert owen in a nailbiter. but still averaging over 100 in the tournament. and chris dobey getting the best of the dutchman early on. we are set for a big evening. we certainly are and everyone knows luke a little it will be taking to the stage. and the defending

champion luke humphreys going out and that spells danger of being at this stage of the tournament? it doesn't every match is a tough match. lots of people talk about the fact that before christmas for the big names it is a case of getting through, just do enough. get yourself into the last 32, the last 16 and then you have to try and unlock something from the treasure chest of, you know, potentially and a game, b+ game. luke humphreys last night played ok, didn't pull any trees up but peter, who were writing him off, as somebody who may be over the hill. do that at your peril because as we have seen, so many big names all gone. so now it is all about players like michael van gerwen and luke littler. luke littler is odds—on favourite to claim the trophy on the 3rd of

january. he is up against ryan joyce. joyce has two of the antei and find the level he has never found before if he is to beat luke later on. stephen bunting gets the evening session going, the world number eight and with his walk on song, titanium, ithink number eight and with his walk on song, titanium, i think this arena will be rocking. that's all from sportsday. have a lovely evening. let's return to our top story this hour. edinburgh's famous new year's eve celebrations, known as hogmanay, have been cancelled due to bad weather. strong winds, rain and snow are forecast in the scottish capital. the festivities were due to feature a huge street party, a concert and midnight fireworks display above edinburgh castle.