"noise that we don't need" — thomas tuchel hits back at an interview from romelu lukaku in which he suggestedunhappy. and we look ahead to one of the big events of 2022, the winter olympics in beijing, with former ski racer chemmy alcott giving us her tips for team gb. hello, and welcome along to sportsday. we're ending the year with yet another game of football called off due to covid. the latest fixture to fall is sunday's match between southampton and newcastle at st mary's. eddie howe�*s side are unable to fulfil the fixture because of covid cases and injuries in the sqaud. their match at everton on thursday had already been postponed because of the issues, issues that many football clubs across the leagues have been facing all month. ourfootball reporter simon stone has more. this had been kind of flagged up by eddie howell earlier this week when he suggested that newcastle were struggling for players after the united game. they had a midweek match called off and i think it was just a matter of time in the premier league agreeing to end a request from newcastle. so that brings to 17 now

thomas tuchel�*s side fought back and regained the advantage with goals from romelu lukaku, and a seconds scored by magomed ozdoev and it finished 3 all while juventus went top after a 1—0 win over malmo. it's very easy, we need a higher level, higher level of sprint, a higher level of run, higher level of intensity concentration level. it's as easy, it's the basics, the basics need to be pushed up to a higher level while we are in the lead and it cannot drop just because we are in the lead. and this is what's happening right now to us. in group f — manchester united were held to a 1—1 draw at old trafford by swiss side young boys having already qualified top heading into the last 16. a much—changed united side took the lead through an acrobatic effort by mason greenwood. but a lapse in concentration at the end of the first half saw fabian reeder score for the swiss side with the second half failing to provide a winner. barcelona have failed to make it into the knockout stages of the champions league for the first time in 21 years after they lost 3—0 to bayern munich. two goals in the fi

themselves level by the break through a jorghino penalty and then took the lead the lead thanks to romelu lukakuh. lukaku then won an injury time penalty, that gavejorghino the chance to make sure of all three points. cheslea are still third, level on points with second placed liverpool. tottenham's fixtures have been badly hit by covid over the past fortnight. crystal palace tried to have today's game called off as well, but the premier league vetoed that. spurs winning 3—0 to move up to fifth. drew savage reports. pre—match talk in the palace camp was whether the game should be played at all with news that manager patrick vieira was isolating because of covid, his assistant was in charge. it took spurs more than half an hour to break them down but when they did it was quick and it was decisive. harry kane scores again on boxing day! lucas moura, having set up the first, scored the second. lucas moura coming in! a masterclass in the art of the flying header. when you are 2—0 down this is the last thing you want one of your senior players to do, a second yellow card ended wilfried zaha's afterno

thomas tuchel has responded to striker romelu lukaku's comments in an interview in which he said he wasweeks ago, but it's not gone down well with his boss. i don't like it, of course, because it brings noise that we don't need and is not helpful, but on the other side we don't want to make more out of it than it actually is. you know very well how it is, it is very easy to take lines out of context. it is very easy to shorten lines, make headlines, and then later realise that it's not so bad and may not be what he meant. but let's be honest, we don't like it, i don't like it, because it's noise that we don't need. we need a calm environment and focus and it doesn't help. manchester city defender joao cancelo says he suffered cuts to the face after attempting to fight off a gang of robbers at his home. cancelo posted an image of his injuries on instagram, claiming "four cowards" took all his jewellery and left him with a facial injury. he will be part of the squad for city's game against arsenal on new year's day. former england all—rounder adam hollioake has been drafted into england's

thomas tuchel has spoken out on striker romelu lukaku after he gave an interview in which he said hew is understood to have taken place three weeks ago but did not go down well with tuchel, who's been speaking ahead of his side's home game against liverpool on sunday. i don't like it. of course, because it brings noise that we don't need and it is not helpful. 0n the other side, we don't want to make more out of it than actually is. you know very well how it is. it is very easy to take lines out of context, it is very easy to shorten lines, make headlines and then later realised that it headlines and then later realised thatitis headlines and then later realised that it is not so bad. and maybe not what he meant. but let's be honest, we don't like it, i don't like it, like i said because it is noise that we don't need. we need a calm environment and focus and this does not help. australia batter travis head has tested positive for covid and will miss the fourth ashes test against england in sydney, which starts late tuesday. he'll remain in melbourne and isolate for seven days in lin

they�* re playing brighton, with romelu lukaku making his first start since october.ve manchester city the chance to extend their lead to nine points. they're at brentford in an 8.15pm kick off. city's next game after tonight 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 media duties ahead of the game. chris woakes has given his backing to england captainjoe root after their hopes of winning back the urn ended in melbourne. both root and coach chris silverwood are thought to be under pressure after the abject display in australia, for which woakes has admitted the side were underprepared. england are 3—0 down in the series with two to play, and woakes says now is not the time to feel sorry for themselves. as a group of players, we have to take pride in what we do. obviously, no—one means to perform badly, no—on

chelsea went into the lead just before the half—hour mark when romelu lukaku headed home his second goal equalise. they finally took one in the 91st minute. chelsea are a point ahead of liverpool. the night's other game still has more than half an hour to go. manchester city leading by one goal to nil. phil foden gave manchester city the lead after 16 minutes. an eight—point gap is on offer if they manage to see that one through. city's next game after tonight 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

romelu lukaku put them ahead against brighton. so far, so good. but the visitors came roaring back.en 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 — nine points behind the leaders, but they do have a game in hand. the way we played, the game we should play, that'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.— the way we should play. absolutely not riaht, the way we should play. absolutely not right. they _ the way we should play. absolutely not right, they

twojorginho penalties either side of a romelu lukaku goal gave them the three points, after a reece james placed liverpool. very good reaction after the own goal, super complicated for us, but the reaction was very good. second half was very strong. when we went up, we had a bit of trouble in the next ten minutes, but we defended strong through the whole match, did not allow big chances and created many of them, so a deserved win, but it was hard work. elsewhere, fourth—placed arsenal were 5—0 winners over norwich. bukayo saka scored twice. southampton beat west ham 3—2. jan bednarek with the winner. spurs were 3—0 winners over crystal palace and are up to fifth, with lots of games in hand. brighton are beating brentford 2—0 — trossard and maupay with the first—half goals. there's been another covid postponement in the premier league. wolves still have a number of positive cases as well as injuries and their game at arsenal on tuesday has been called off. wolves' game against watford today was also postponed. 15 premier league matches have been called off in december so far. australia are

chelsea head coach thomas tuchel has responded to striker romelu lukaku after the striker gave an interview is understood to have taken place three weeks ago but it's not down well with tuchel, who's been speaking ahead of his side's home game against liverpool on sunday. i don't like it. of course, because it brings noise that we don't need and it is not helpful. 0n the other side, we don't want to make more out of it than actually is. you know very well how it is. it is very easy to take lines out of context, it is very easy to shorten lines, make headlines and then later realise that it is not so bad. and maybe not what he meant. but let's be honest, we don't like it, i don't like it, like i said because it is noise that we don't need. we need a calm environment and focus and this does not help. chelsea v liverpool is one of nine premier league matches scheduled over the first three days of the new year. the last of those on monday sees manchester united host wolves. last night they finished 202i unbeaten in the premier league under manager ralph rangnick. they beat burnley 3—1 at old tr

a number of high profile footballers have posted tributes to morgan online — romelu lukaku said: "ripuld meet! totally shocked' the danish golfer thorbjorn 0lesen has appeared in court today, accused of committing a number of offences, including sexual assault, on a flight between the us and the uk in 2019. the ryder cup winner has denied the charges. here's our senior sports news reporter laura scott. element on the 31st ofjuly, he had been travelling first class for nashville to london on been travelling first class for nashville to londor- been travelling first class for nashville to london on the flight after competing _ nashville to london on the flight after competing in _ nashville to london on the flight after competing in a _ nashville to london on the flight after competing in a golf- nashville to london on the flight - after competing in a golf tournament in memphis. women on the flight say the danish golfer had been unsteady on his feet before he kissed her hand, and nuzzled her head into the nape of her neck and then grabbed her breasts and a member of the cabin and crew

substitute romelu lukaku and two penalties from jorginho gave them the points, after villa took an earlyruggling norwich, bukaya saka getting two of them. emile smith—rowe added a fifth in injury time to give them the convincing win. the goals kept coming at the london stadium too as southampton got a much—needed win. they beat west ham 3—2 after the home side twice came from behind. however, that header from jan bednarek sealed all three points for southampton. tottenham moved up to fifth in the table after a convincing 3—0 win over crystal palace. both sides had been hit by positive covid tests in their squads, with palace even asking for the game to be postponed. harry kane scored the pick of goals for spurs to leave them unbeaten in six league games under antonio conte. brighton picked up theirfirst win since september after beating brentford 2—0. leandro trossard and neal maupay with the goals. meanwhile, all matches were effectively back being played from behind closed doors in scotland, with only 500 fans allowed in outdoor stadiums from boxing day. the lack of fans didn't put ran

thomas tuchel�*s side fought back and regained the advantage with goals from romelu lukaku, and a secondd up to a higher level while we are in the lead and it cannot drop just because we are in the lead. and this is what�*s happening right now to us. in group f — manchester united were held to a 1—1 draw at old trafford by swiss side young boys having already qualified top heading into the last 16. a much—changed united side took the lead through an acrobatic effort by mason greenwood. but a lapse in concentration at the end of the first half saw fabian reeder score for the swiss side with the second half failing to provide a winner. barcelona have failed to make it into the knockout stages of the champions league for the first time in 21 years after they lost 3—0 to bayern munich. two goals in the first half from thomas muller and leroy sane were added to byjamal musiala after the break to see the germans to a sixth successive win in group e — while the catalans drop into a europa league play off game. in the women�*s champions league chelsea consolidated first place in group a after a

romelu lukaku put them ahead against brighton. so far, so good. but the visitors came roaring back.chance for the visitors but that equalizer 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. arsenal manager mikel arteta will miss his side's match against manchester city on new year's day after testing positive for covid again. arteta first contracted the virus in march last year, prompting the shutdown of football at the start of the pandemic. he's now isolating but he's still expected to undertake media duties today, ahead of the game. and england's cricketers will be flying to sydney for the fourth ashes test without head coach chris silverwood. he's in isolation after one of his family tested positive for covid. they'll have to stay in melbourne for ten days. that's the seventh positive test in the touring party — t

substitute romelu lukaku and two penalties from jorginho gave them the points, after villa took an earlyy time to give them the convincing win. the goals kept coming at the london stadium too as southampton got a much—needed win. they beat west ham 3—2 — after the home side twice came from behind. however, that header from jan bednarek sealed all 3 points for southampton. elsewhere, wins the spurs and brighton. meanwhile, all matches were effectively back behind closed doors in scotland, with only 500 fans allowed in outdoor stadiums from boxing day. the lack of fans didn't put rangers off though. they're six points clear at the top of the table, going into the winter break after a 2—0 win over st mirren. wright and morelos with the goals. celtic had a comfortable 3—1win over bottom side stjohnstone. liel abada scored twice in the first half to put celtic in control, before nir bitton added a third to seal the win. all the support and a good day in the ashes today. i all the support and a good day in the ashes today.— the ashes today. i always en'oy talkin: to the ashes today. i always e