nick parrott reports.1 world title is almost in lewis hamilton's hands. 0nly mercedes team—mate valtteri bottas can keep him waiting. but the finn has his work cut out because he must win in austin or it's all over. in a colder than usual texas, he kept the heat on in qualifying, claiming pole position at the circuit of the americas for the first time. this is one of hamilton's favourite tracks, having won here more than anyone else. but he could do no better than fifth, more than a quarter of a second off the pace. obviously not great, but it is what it is. we have another day to fight tomorrow, so just try and focus on tomorrow. valtteri did a greatjob, so congratulations to him. it should be a fun day. there's all the possibilities still in the world, so let's see. even if bottas wins, hamilton will become champion if he finishes eighth. it would see him move above juan manuel fangio in the all—time list. next season he could equal michael schumacher‘s seven titles and surpass his 91 race wins. and he a

nick parrott, bbc news.and winger mark cueto says this england team may never get a better chance to win a world cup than the opportunity which missed against south africa in yokohama yesterday. they went down 32 points to 12, in what was their world cup final appearnce since losing to south africa in paris in 2007. the frustrating thing for me, in 2007 we are busily got beaten in the final, i think we actually did well to get to the final considering what happened prior. this team will never have a better opportunity to win a world cup. on paper, they are the best tea m world cup. on paper, they are the best team that england has had for a long time. the performance against new zealand was at the best most com plete new zealand was at the best most complete performance we have seen forever probably. i don't think it will hit home. even for me, it sounds ridiculous but it is 12 years on, the first time that england have got her world cup final yesterday since 2007. i was sat in the kitchen and it brought bac

nick parrott reports.ger of that happening to chelsea. watford we re that happening to chelsea. watford were up at the table because they struggled to clear goals. the striker has more than their whole tea m striker has more than their whole team put together. and added to his tally injust team put together. and added to his tally in just the fifth minute. watford can get forward, but the hornets have lost their sting. fortu nately, hornets have lost their sting. fortunately, they have a top glass goalkeeper to limit the damage. if it hadn't been for ben foster, they would've been for down by half—time. anything from distance wasn't getting past him. but when chelsea got closer, there was little he could do to stop it. that second goal proved crucial when the video assistant referee was called upon to check this challenge by giorgio. after a couple minutes, a penalty was given, and watford surged forward in search of an equaliser but were denied equal time. once again, foster attempting some heroics, but h

nick parrott, bbc news.esterday, the former winger mark cueto says that the england team may never get a better chance to win a world cup than the opportunity missed against south africa in yokohama. they went down 32—12 in what was their first world cup final appearance since losing to south africa in paris since 2007. the frustrating thing for me, we were beaten in 2007, we did well to get to the final considering what happened prior. this team will never have a better opportunity to win a world cup. on paper they are the best team that england has had for a long time. last week against new zealand, the best most complete performance we've seen best most complete performance we've seenin best most complete performance we've seen in forever, probably. but i do not think it hit home. even for me. it sounds ridiculous but it is 12 yea rs it sounds ridiculous but it is 12 years on. the first time england got toa years on. the first time england got to a world cup final was yesterday, since 07. i am sat in the

nick parrott reports.efeat against new zealand three days ago, england we re new zealand three days ago, england were threatening to do it again, but jonny bairstow‘s early exit did not point to what was to come. pressure can bring the best out in some people and captain eoin morgan and dawid malan were thriving under it. eoin morgan racing to the fastest half—ce ntu ry eoin morgan racing to the fastest half—century for his country. dawid malan going one better, claiming the bigger century, and only the second scored by an england player. together they were rewriting england's twenty20 record books, hitting the highest partnership and total. chasing 242, new zealand were quickly up and running. martin guptill clearing the grandstand and threatening to hurt england. but david mallan came to the rescue, sending him packing before he could do much more damage. and injust his second match, matt parkinson was turning the screw, taking three wickets in just five balls. turning the screw, taking three wickets inj

nick parrott, bbc news.the 50—year—old scot led her team to victory over the united states on home soil at gleneagles in september. she will be captain again at inverness golf club in ohio, in 20—21. that's all from me. bye for now. hello. the weather caused yet more flooding and disruption across parts of the uk during thursday. for a few it was no that fell from the sky, that i lived in staffordshire doing thursday evening over high ground. for many more it was rain that fell, that rain falling on saga on ground, so no suppose we had more flooding problems. check the warnings for where you are on the bbc weather website —— sodden ground. the low pressure is the culprit, it's been spinning around the continent, this particular stripe of cloud here is what brought persistent rain to the midlands, northern england, a little bit of snow as well. that particular whether feature is moving westwards and weakening but the low was still in charge. there will be more outbreaks of rain pushing from the east towards t

nick parrott reports. it is a fixture that has seen controversy off the pitch and intensity on it.ty were fearing a hostile welcome, there were jeers and gestures, but nothing more. liverpool haven't lost in the league since january, but that was at manchester city. while anfield is a fortress which hasn't seen a defeat for two and a half years. there was drama from the start when a city penalty appeal was waved away. the report launched a counterattack and found the net. this could turn out to be one of the most important goals of the season. while the champions were feeling hard done by the video assistant referee, liverpool made the most of the disarray. mo salah making the most of it. less than 15 minutes gone, the game already felt up. last weekend, city manager pep guardiola accused sadia manet of being a diver. early in the second half, the striker gave his emphatic reply. his revenge served cold, liverpool on fire. but city managed to douse it thanks to silva and for the first time in the match, anxiety crept in as a city tried to fight back. it was a nervy ending after suc

nick parrott reports. fleet of foot and shop of mind, sam kerr is one of the worlds best strikers. 3-1. this is the first hat—trick. she is on her way to england. if she can reproduce that form on these shores, chelsea fans will be in for a treat. i have come here to lift trophies with the club, and there is no denying that i have come to score goals, so hopefully i can keep my goal—scoring record up, and help the team if those trophies. chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and once i had my mind set on europe, it was an easy decision to choose chelsea. everyone has been watching the growth in england. i think it will be up there as one of the best leagues in the world. kerr is a household name in australia, and with a new tv deal she could become a ratings winner as well as a matchwinner. it's been a tricky couple of days for the england manager gareth southgate after he dropped raheem sterling for tomorrow's euro 2020 qualifier against montenegro. it was after a bust up with his team—matejoe gomez, and today southgate has admitted that he "wouldn't imagine" that ster

nick parrott was watching. to get him back was all roger federal described taking on novak novak djokovic and who could blame him and after the final, the swiss had plenty of motivation. he sees the early initiative by breaking the surface. calling on his full repertoire, he was amazing the crowd and dominating nevada novak djokovic to take the first set. and he felt something go. but roger federer was soon on the back foot having to save break point for the first time. the feeling that he perhaps is not going to be beaten with most of the crowd on the site, the emotion was bubbling away and soon the emotion was bubbling away and soon roger federer was roaring to victory and a place in the semifinals for the 11th year in a row. let's have a look at some of the other sport new stories from today. lewis hamilton says he wants to stay in formula one beyond next season. but admits that he will take his time over finalising a new contract. his current deal runs until the end of next year's season. he is though almos

nick parrott reports.zealand three days ago, england we re new zealand three days ago, england were threatening to do it again. but jonny bairstow‘s early exit did not point to what was to come. pressure can bring the best out in some people and the captain eoin morgan and dab in the land were thriving under it. morgan racing to the fastest half to do for his company —— country and that would malan claiming the quickest term and only the second to be scored by an england player. they were rewriting england's t20 record books, hitting the highest partnership and total. chasing 242, and zealand were quickly up and running. this clear in the grandstand and threatening to her england. but that would belen came to the rescue, sending him packing before he could do much damage. an injustice just packing before he could do much damage. an injusticejust his second match, matt parkinson was turning the screws. taking three wickets in just five balls. ending the new zealand innings with three overs to spare, england

nick parrott reports.le has often been the saviour of his country, he scored the winner against azerbaijan back in september but today it was emerging talent playing a vital role. on his fourth appearance this link and the midfielder came close to his first international goal. kieffer moore is having an even bigger impact. this his second goal infourgames, bigger impact. this his second goal in four games, more than is managed for wigan this season. harry wilson came to attention with spectacular strikes for his clubs and he was just as happy with a simple finish for his nation. for us should have had more. you thought he scored until it was ruled out for a file on the goalkeeper and wilson might kick himself for not getting a second. gareth bale was taken off, saving him from the disk of a yellow card oi’ him from the disk of a yellow card or suspension that would rule him out of being the hero against hungary on thursday. scotland went into their qualifier in cyrpus knowing that they couldn't make the eu

nick parrott, bbc news.d what it was meaning to south africa to be in that final. and, to be perfectly honest, not only did they win the physical battle, but the tactics that south africa deployed yesterday we re that south africa deployed yesterday were first class. they played brilliantly. 1—15, plus all of their bench. might rally from what i‘ve seen bench. might rally from what i‘ve seen of england players and managers, they know they were beaten bya managers, they know they were beaten by a better team. but hey i‘m not sure there needs to be an inquest, really. maybe lessons learned going forward. it is interesting to hear what eddiejones forward. it is interesting to hear what eddie jones had forward. it is interesting to hear what eddiejones had to say. he was fairly circumspect about the whole thing as well. he felt the preparations were good but he said they just didn‘t manage preparations were good but he said theyjust didn‘t manage to produce theyjust didn‘t manage to produce the goods on the day.

nick parrott, bbc news. the intensity of the game was incredible. it was pretty wild.wild. city, and enjoys the teamwork... they were good. we had to defend with all we have. and that is called incredible. so confirmation of that important win for liverpool. in the day's other games — wolves are back in the top half of the table — after their 2—1 win over west midlands rivals aston villa. and manchester united moved up to seventh, with a 3—1victory, over brighton at old trafford. excellent performance by the lads. i thought they were right on the front foot attacking. when you see these boys going forward as they did today, it is a joy to watch. we need today, it is a joy to watch. we need to keep on improving, winning games, and see where it takes us. now celtic remain top of the scottish premiership following a 2—0 victory at home to motherwell.... but rangers kept up the pressure on their old firm rivals by winning 2—0 away to livingston. joe aribo and alfredo morelos scored for rangers. it's tight at the top rangers are level on points with celtic, but are behind o

nick parrott reports.y and were threatening to do it again. jonny bairstow‘s early exit did not point what was to come. pressure can bring the best out in some people and they were thriving under it. morgan raced to the fastest half—ce ntu ry morgan raced to the fastest half—century for his country. david mallan scored the second only to be scored by an england player. rewriting england‘s history books. chasing 242, new zealand were quickly up and running. injust his second match, parkinson was turning the screw, taking three wickets in just five balls in the new zealand‘s innings with three overs to spare, england will hope for a repeat performance in the decider on sunday. 0ur sports correspondent was watching at the for athletics today. how did kate do? not quite gold this evening. she had to settle for bronze. she came in as defending champion, actually qualified into the final in first position. she was hoping maybe she had a chance but there was some very tough competition from the chinese who eventu

nick parrott reports. more. liverpool haven‘t lost in the league since january, but that was at manchester city. while anfield is a fortress which hasn‘t seen anfield is a fortress which hasn‘t seen a anfield is a fortress which hasn‘t seen a defeat for two and a half yea rs. seen a defeat for two and a half years. there was drama from the start in there! when a city penalty appeal was waved away. the report launched a counterattack and found the net. this could turn out to be one of the most important goals of the season. while the champions were feeling hard done by by the video assistant referee, liverpool made the most of the disarray. mohamed salah making the most of it. let stand 15 minutes gone, the game already felt up. last weekend, city manager pep guardiola accused sadia manet of being a diver. early in the second half, the striker gave his emphatic reply. his revenge served cold, liverpool on fire. but city managed to douse it thanks to bernardo silva man for the first time in the match, anxiet