craig templeton, bbc news.purs of course on goal difference. their home game with wolves won't be allowed fans because the city is in tier 3 and managerjurgen klopp has been very vocal on the debate over the number of substitutes, accusing the fa of "ignoring player welfare" after they refused to increase it to five. it's about all the players. and it's about load management and nothing else, and load management not for getting an advantage, load management for dealing with the problem, what this covid situation is for football, dealing with the situation in the best possible way. and we cannotjust ignore it because some people say that it would be an advantage for others, because it is not about an advantage. i cannot say it often enough. now, let's round up some of today's other football stories. and nice have sacked manager patrick vieira after two and a half years. the former france and arsenal midfielder had watched his side lose their last five games, including thursday's defeat to bayer leverkusen which

craig templeton reports: pep guardiola has made it clear recently that he will not pick players on reputationike city, has had a slow start to the season but he was back in the side and looking to speed things up. this was inside three minutes, sterling and immediately but could only find the fulham keeper. this was inside five minutes, sterling in behind again and this time he found the bottom corner. one nil. and when he started twisting and turning he felt a touch and went down, penalty. kevin went to the opposite corner and doubled city's lead. the belgian really should have stall, scored another. he beat alphonse again but this time not the crossbar. their search for a third would prove to be as pointless one, ruben diaz coming the closest. so, no extra goal but city looked brighter and it was a day when sterling strong. bbc news. so it's the first time this season that city have won two games in a row..... here's their manager pep guardiola we struggled at the beginning of the season we struggled at the beginning of the season for many we struggled at the beginning of the season for man

craig templeton reports.e will not pick players on reputation alone. raheem sterling, like city, has had a slow start to the season but he was back in the side and looking to speed things up. this was inside three minutes, sterling in immediately but could only find the fulham keeper. this was inside five minutes, sterling in behind again and this time he found the bottom corner. 1-0. and when he started twisting and turning he felt a touch and went down — penalty. kevin went for the opposite corner and doubled city's lead. the belgian really should have scored another. he beat alphonse again, but this time not the crossbar. city's search for a third would prove to be a fruitless one,

craig templeton watched this one for us. last time fulham fans were allowed inside craven cottage, they we re allowed inside craven cottage, they were ina allowed inside craven cottage, they were in a different division, so fitting they could be there to pay their respects to a former player who died last month aged a2. in terms of opponents, it doesn't get much tougher than the champions, but fulham started brightly. they had a shout for a penalty as well, but after a lengthy var check, it was decided the player had won the ball. whenever liverpool put attacks together, not even the captain could find a way through. but they were then handed a golden opportunity. the referee said penalty, mo salad at the rest. just. and that is how it finished as liverpool missed the chance to go top. frustration for him, delight for them. it is just it isjust a it is just a tough end to the season for all teams, tough time in the season. for all teams, tough time in the season. we played today, but then you saw yesterday all the teams who

craig templeton has more.a i. this is being called the hottest feet in formula 1. why? because when venues broke that lewis hamilton contracted coronavirus to talk soon turn to who would replace him over the weekend grand prix. we know it will be 22—year—old george russell, a young man with a golden opportunity to drive by the silver arrows. wessel was a junior and reserve driver with mercedes and has been handed the keys to the championship winning car after williams agreed to a temporary loan. he posted on social media saying nobody can replace this guy but i'll give my all for the team in his absence from the moment i stepped in the car. so what are his chances this weekend? the mercedes is a very dominant car in 2020. there is no doubt about that. they have got position won every race so i think it's highly likely that he could finish on the podium could he when? maybe, just maybe we could see george russell in his first race for mercedes winning a race. there space va cates mercedes winning a race. there

craig templeton, bbc news.rd reached a major semi—final for the first time in their history. josh dasilva scored the only goal — as newcastle became the fourth premier league team brentford have knocked out of this year's competition. the manager of league one club ipswich town paul lambert says the lack of testing support lower down the football pyramid is putting people's lives at risk. the efl say they're reviewing and strengthening coronavirus protocols over christmas. lambert is currently in isolation having tested positive for the virus, along with six of his players. i think we've been left out there to fend for ourselves. i think if you have a protocol for the premier league and the championship, everyone else should follow suit. it's one governing body. they're putting peoples lives at risk if they're not getting tested regularly. regardless what team it is, liverpool to ipswich town, it doesn't really matter. it's the same virus everybody is having to fight here. we deserved to be treated the same wit

craig templeton, bbc news.e as brentford reached a major semifinal for the first time in their history. josh dasilva scored the only goal as newcastle became the fourth premier league team brentford have knocked out of this year's competition. coronavirus has claimed its first rugby premiership fixture this season, with leicester tigers' boxing day match at newcastle called off. an outbreak in the tigers squad is to blame, with a number of positive tests and even more players having to self—isolate. anthonyjoshua says he is "certain" that the dream fight with tyson fury will happen next year. the two britons currently hold all four of the world heavyweight titles between them and all the talk has been about a unification fight, afterjoshua knocked out kubrat pulev earlier this month. it's about me challenging myself and getting my hands on the wbc belt. because i want to be an undisputed heavyweight champion. that's the legacy. and also, touching on this subject again, it brings the attention to boxing. i think