there's a ding—dong nine goal game at the etihad, and manchester city are still merrily on high.a perfect ten for leicester tigers — theyjust don't know how to lose in the rugby union premiership. and no—one forecast this tornado at kempton — there's a shock winner in the king george. hello and welcome to sportsday. england's cricketers are sinking fast in australia, the ashes slipping away. already two down in the series, they were bowled out for 185 on the opening day of the third test in melbourne, a test that they have to win keep the series alive. here's our sports correspondentjoe wilson. a new match, new innings, a new beginning for nine minutes. haseeb hameed out for zero. england recalled zak crawley and pat cummins got him for 12 and that's why he won the toss and bowled. melbourne's boxing day test is a spectator occasion. it is a huge ground. proof of vaccination was required. no restrictions on the capacity. and no limits on pat cummins who got dawid malan for 14. butjoe root had the touches which put him in a different class, which took him to 50, which made the nex

there were plenty of goals at the etihad.f the table to 6 points. they beat leicester city 6—3. pep guardiola's side were a—nil up at halftime, kevin de bruyne scoring in the fifth minute and the goals

there were plenty of goals at the etihad. manchester city stretching their lead at the top of the table to 6 points. they beat leicester city 6—3. pep guardiola's side were a—nil up at halftime, kevin de bruyne scoring in the fifth minute and the goals followed from riyad mahrez, ilkay gundogan and raheem sterling. leicester threatened an extaraordinary turnaround after the break. maddison, lookman and ihaenacho with three goals in the space of io minutes, but laporte and sterling got city over the line. for one and two, my god, the game was over but it definitely was not over but at the end we could win the game and leicester is always difficult for us. always have been. yes, another win. we difficult for us. always have been. yes, another win.— yes, another win. we obviously -la ed yes, another win. we obviously played man _ yes, another win. we obviously played man city _ yes, another win. we obviously played man city as _ yes, another win. we obviously played man city as well- yes, another win. we obviously played man cit

dropping points over the last two nights, it's starting to look like the title may be going back to the etihadreports. in 2021 and they have 136 games in the premier league it's the most in one calendar year. so in 2022, manchester city start. they have 110 in a row and they are a point clear. the question for the rest is who can see them zipping up. with phil foden's gold baby 1—0. they found a way to win. with five months ago may not be caught. in way to win. with five months ago may not be caught-— not be caught. in december no one is chamions not be caught. in december no one is champions so — not be caught. in december no one is champions so many _ not be caught. in december no one is champions so many things _ not be caught. in december no one is champions so many things will - champions so many things will happen. we lose games. i can imagine right now i'm thinking of chelsea and southampton so so we can say congratulations to the team but we have to follow. for congratulations to the team but we have to follow.— have to follow. for now the party sta s in have to follow. for now the par

we've had a glut of goals in the premier league, nine of them at the etihad, where manchester city stretched6—3. pep guardiola's side were 4—0 up at half—time, kevin de bruyne scoring in the fifth minute, and the goals followed from riyad mahrez, ilkay gundogan and raheem sterling. it should have been game over, but leicester threatened an extraordinary comeback after the break, with james maddison, ademola lookman, and kelechi iheanacho scoring in the space of ten minutes, before sterling again and laporte got them over the line. for one and two, my god, the game was over but it definitely was not over but at the end we could win the game and leicester is always difficult for us. always have been. yes, another win. chelsea came from behind to win 3—1 at aston villa. twojorginho penalties either side of a romelu lukaku goal gave them the three points, after a reece james own goal had given villa the lead. chelsea are in third level on points with second placed liverpool. very good reaction after the own goal, super complicated for us, but the reaction was very good. second half was very stro

morning to you from the etihad.g the christmas eriod, here? with it being the christmas period. wanted — here? with it being the christmas period, wanted to _ here? with it being the christmas period, wanted to get _ here? with it being the christmas period, wanted to get in - here? with it being the christmas period, wanted to get in and - here? with it being the christmas period, wanted to get in and get. here? with it being the christmas| period, wanted to get in and get it done _ period, wanted to get in and get it done so _ period, wanted to get in and get it done so i — period, wanted to get in and get it done so i can protect everybody around — done so i can protect everybody around me _ done so i can protect everybody around me during christmas. monday morning. _ around me during christmas. monday morning. a _ around me during christmas. monday morning, a bit of last christmas shopping — morning, a bit of last christmas shopping to do, sol morning, a bit of last christmas shopping to do, so i wanted to get i

leaders manchester city ran riot in the premier league last night — hammering leeds united 7—0 at the etihad brilliant best, this thunderbolt his second of the evening as city ran riot. they're four points clear at the top of the table. leeds slip to 16th. aston villa moved up to ninth with a 2—0 win over former manager dean smith's norwich at carrow road. jacob ramsey gave villa the lead before ollie watkins sealed the three points. after the game, smith said he doesn't know if he'll have enough players for their weekend fixture, with covid ruling out a number of his squad. our concerns oui’ concerns have our concerns have been, obviously, we have just played tottenham and i have had an outbreak, we have played manchester united, they have had an outbreak and we just wanted some guidance because would it be fair on aston villa, as well, as our own players of staff, we have symptomatic players around us. i have seen the new premier league protocols coming out there where we will be tested every day and pcr twice a week, so the heat is on at the moment, i think across notjust football but acr

he was speaking after they ran riot last night — hammering leeds united 7—0 at the etihad. £100 million the best football we have played since _ the best football we have played since i_ the best football we have played since i was here. in terms of consistency, it is always one day, another— consistency, it is always one day, another one, another one. we are solid _ another one, another one. we are solid and — another one, another one. we are solid and behind, we create chances, solid and behind, we create chances, so the _ solid and behind, we create chances, so the team — solid and behind, we create chances, so the team is performing really welt _ there are four premier league matches tonight and these will be the first big sporting events where spectators will need to show a covid pass or negative lateral flow test for entry into the stadium. fans are also being asked to complete a covid status declaration before attending, and shuld not go to the games if they are feeling unwell meanwhile newcastle manager eddie howe says covid protocols could even impact on transfer business they

well, manchester city fans last night at the etihad were treated to an array of goals, as they hammeredle. leeds slip to 16th. i would say the last two months, two months and a half, is the best months we have played football since i'm here, in terms of consistency — so it's one day, another one, another one. so, yeah, we are solid in behind, we concede few, we create chances. so, the team is performing well, really well. aston villa moved up to ninth with a 2—0 win over former manager dean smith's norwich at carrow road. jacob ramsey gave villa the lead before ollie watkins sealed the three points. after the game smith said he doesn't know if he'll have enough players for their weekend fixture, with covid ruling out a number of his squad. arsenal manager mikel arteta has stripped pierre—emerick aubameyang of the club captaincy and accused him of lacking commitment and passion. he won't be considered for selection against west ham tonight. aubameyang was dropped for saturday's win over southampton, for what manager mikel arteta described as a "disciplinary breach". reports suggest he re