with phil foden's gold baby 1—0. they found a way to win. with five months ago may not be caught.e 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 party stays in the _ have to follow. for now the party stays in the stands. _ have to follow. for now the party stays in the stands. city - have to follow. for now the party stays in the stands. city faced . stays in the stands. city faced arsenal at 12:30pm on new year's day. chelsea will look for a slip—up they are now the closest chasers but not the way they wan

phil foden had given city an early lead before jack grealish doubled the advantage with his first headed extended the lead either side of half—time before de bruyne's second was an absolute stunner from distance. john stones made it six before nathan ake added a seventh on a night pep guardiola saw his team score for the 500th time in the premier league under him. meanwhile, steven gerrard's aston villa travelled to norwich, with jacob ramsey opening the scoring at carrow road. ollie watkins added a second three minutes from time for a fourth win in six under their new manager taking them ninth, while dean smith sees his side remain bottom, three points from safety. thought it was really strong performance. first half we were outstanding and played well in pockets of the half but played our way at times was up you want the players before the game can we come here and when it came to control part of the game and deliver a clean sheet? players developed in every department and is in the back of a really challenging week. one game in scotland, too, as the managerless hibernian hosted dundee

phil foden gave manchester city the lead after 16 minutes.ight is on new year's day against arsenal, who will be without their manager. mikel arteta has tested positive for covid for a second time, having first contracted the virus in march 2020, which prompted the shutdown of football at the start of the pandemic. he's now isolating, but is still expected to undertake his media duties ahead of the game. covid also causing problems in the championship and in leagues one and two. four games postponed tonight. just three matches under way. blackburn rovers lead barnsley 2—1, ben brereton diaz with his 20th league goal of the season. elsewhere, middlesbrough 1—0 up at blackpool and millwall1—0 up at coventry. england cricket coach chris silverwood will miss the fourth ashes test in sydney after being forced to isolate for ten days after a member of the touring party tested positive for covid—19. silverwood will isolate with his family in melbourne as the england squad travel to sydney via a chartered flight later in the week. the touring party h

phil foden gave them a 1—nil win at brentford last night and guardiola was very happy with his side'sthat's why it was a perfect performance for us because i know how the other teams come here, they suffer, how many chances they create, so we did not concede once in the second half, and that is because the team played perfectly, the way we should play. there's just one game tonight, with manchester united hosting struggling burnley. united are unbeaten since interim boss ralf rangnick took over at the start of the month. but they've scored just once in each of their three league games against crystal palace, norwich, and newcastle on tuesday night. so is this a good time for sean dyche to be taking his side to old trafford? they have found ways of finding moments that counts, even if they may be are not purring, but we cannot be naive enough, and we would not be, to think there is to a perfect time to play them, you can only say that after the time. they had a quite small, partly it was that we had a better game, sometimes you need to against the superpowers. england's crickters will

coming up on the bbc news channel: manchester city players phil foden and jack grealish have been warnedending a night out after a win over leeds earlier this month. a whistleblower has spoken to the bbc about the "neglect" of an autistic man, who's been detained in a specialist hospital for more than 20 years. last month, after a court order was lifted allowing reporting of the case, it was revealed that tony hickmott, who's 44, had been held since 2001 after being sectioned under the mental health act. now a former carer has told bbc breakfast that tony was "fed and watered, almost like an animal" with only his basic needs being met. here's jayne mccubbin. i do believe tony was probably the loneliest person living in that hospital. i watched myself and staff become resigned to the fact that nothing was going to happen with tony. i love you. i love you, too, tony. last month we overturned a court order to tell you about tony hickmott, an autistic man detained under the mental health act 20 years ago, 100 miles from his brighton home. he has been in a secure hospital ever since. he's liv

phil foden and jack grealish have been warned about their behaviour after being left on manchester cityrlier — pep guardiola said he pays a lot of attention to behaviour on and off the pitch, and when it is not proper they won�*t play. australia have added uncapped fast bowler scott boland to their squad for the third ashes test in melbourne. boland comes in as cover, while fellow pacemen pat cummins and josh hazelwood also return. as for england, they�*ll need to regroup after going 2—0 down yesterday. australia�*s stand in skipper says his side have no intention australia have added uncapped fast bowler scott boland england are a good side and capable of playing really good cricket, we have to keep working hard as a group and gelling together and playing well for the rest of the series, it will be a great occasion as it always is when you play for your country, a boxing day test match, the guys are really excited and hopefully we can keep the momentum we have created in these first two test matches and keep moving forward. ., test matches and keep moving forward. . ., ., forward. engl

the crispest of moves and a finish to match from phil foden, city in front and proving once again justquite find a second. kevin de bruyne hit the post. and even when aymeric laporte finally found the net in the closing minutes, var ruled it out for offside. still a 1—0 victory for city and it wasn't the only result that went their way. their closest rivals, chelsea, are now some eight points adrift after a dramatic night at stamford bridge. romelu lukaku put them ahead against brighton. so far, so good. but the visitors came roaring back. adam lallana went close before the break. after it, neil maupay went even closer. chance after chance for the visitors but that equaliser seemed just out of reach. until the first minute of stoppage time when the pressure finally paid off. and it's welbeck! danny welbeck sparking last—gasp delight for brighton. 1—1 the final score. there's still a long way to go, of course, but could it be a telling blow to chelsea's title hopes? andy swiss, bbc news. so that is now ten wins in a row for manchester city, with chelsea second — and liverpool in third —

manchester city's phil foden and jack grealish have been warned about their conduct after being picturedcastle on sunday, were effectively dropped. the england fast bowlerjofra archer will miss the whole of the winter schedule after a second operation on a stress fracture in his right elbow. england are due to tour the west indies in the new year. archer, who last played for england in march, will now target a return next summer how england would wish archer was with them in australia, the wheels have already come off in the ashes series. a nine wicket defeat in brisbane, yesterday they went down by 275 runs in the second test in adelaide. by all accounts, captainjoe root gave the players some home truths, angry that they have been making the same mistakes, but the head coach chis silverwood says that given a chance to rewind, he would select the same teams again looking at the experience they were having out there, i'm happy with the skill set of the tests and there'll always divided opinion. and not everyone is going to agree with you. and so, yeah, i've got no problem with that. and w

phil foden had given city an early lead before jack grealish doubled the advantage with his first headedaw his team score for the 500th time in the premier league under him. meanwhile, steven gerrard's aston villa travelled to norwich, with jacob ramsey opening the scoring at carrow road. ollie watkins added a second three minutes from time for a fourth win in six under their new manager taking them ninth, while dean smith sees his side remain bottom, three points from safety. i thought it was really strong performance. i thought first half we were outstanding. we played well in pockets of the second half but found our way at times. i asked the players before the game can we come here and and control part of the game and deliver a clean sheet? players delivered in every department and on the back of a really challenging week. one game in scotland, too, as the managerless hibernian hosted dundee. hibs narrowed the gap on sixth—placed aberdeen to a point with a paul mcmullan own goal the difference between the sides, leaving dundee tenth and just two points off the bottom. premier league p

phil foden with a cool finish. how the other teams come _ because i know how the other teams come here _ because i know how the other teams come here and how they suffer. how many _ come here and how they suffer. how many chances they create from corners — many chances they create from corners and free kicks and throw ins and we _ corners and free kicks and throw ins and we did — corners and free kicks and throw ins and we did not concede once in the second _ and we did not concede once in the second half— and we did not concede once in the second half and not one shot on target _ second half and not one shot on target and — second half and not one shot on target and that is because we played perfectly. _ target and that is because we played perfectly, the way we should play. second—placed chelsea could only manage a draw at brighton. romelu lukaku put them ahead but in stoppage time, substitute danny welbeck sparked jubilant scenes as he found the equaliser — leaving chelsea boss thomas tuchel very bitter. absolut

phil foden and jack grealish have been warned about their behaviour, after being left on manchester city'ss cricketers as they gear up for the next test after the disappointment yesterday. all eyes on what is your route is going to do. is on what is your route is going to do. . . , on what is your route is going to do. , ., , ., , on what is your route is going to do. , ., , you on what is your route is going to do. , ., , . you have do. is there any way back? you have to have hepe- _ do. is there any way back? you have to have hope. but— do. is there any way back? you have to have hope. but it's _ do. is there any way back? you have to have hope. but it's not _ looking good. i'm sorry. ever the eternal optimist. until it is impossible, it is always possible. there you go. it's red, its white and it delivers your presents — yes, it's the post office. today is your last chance to send first class post before the 25th. ben boulos is in central london this morning. he has saved a few. i have saved a few. i have a confession to make a bit later. that is coming up in a moment. yes, good morning