Games for children to play

T he question at full-time that hung over an empty Anfield echoing to the whoops and shrieks of celebrating Chelsea players is whether a home defeat any longer counts as a shock for the team still known as defending champions by convention alone. Currently they are defending nothing of what they won last season - beaten again, for the seventh time in 13 league games, and this the unprecedented fifth in a row at home. A game that was lost to a Thomas Tuchel team that is resurgent under their new German manager, while in the other technical area the greatest German manager that the English game has known seemed to be running out of options. His team looks crushed. They cannot dominate opponents as they did and the goals that once rained in from the Premier League’s most dangerous forward line feel like a faint memory. Sadio Mane missed a first half bouncing ball in front of Chelsea’s goal by such a considerable margin that it was hard to call it a shot. Mohamed Salah was replaced … [Read more...] about Liverpool lose five league games in a row at home for first time as Chelsea climb into top four

Rangers have been crowned Scottish Premiership champions for the first time since 2011 after Celtic were held to a goalless draw at Dundee United. The club's fans flouted lockdown rules at Ibrox to celebrate the 55th crown for the second day running . However, Rangers were keen to focus on the positive after Steven Gerrard claimed the first major league title of his managerial career. A club statement celebrated their unassailable 20-point lead in the league table. "After a superb campaign so far, Gers' win over St Mirren yesterday put them on the verge of glory, with results elsewhere today meaning they can mathematically no longer be caught, with incredibly six matches still to play. Advertisement "It's title number 55 for the club - the most of any football club in the world - and the first in 10 years following one of the most arduous decades in the club's history." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player … [Read more...] about Rangers crowned Scottish Premiership champions for first time in a decade – with six games to spare

Rio Ferdinand has praised his wife Kate's homeschooling skills during lockdown as he admitted his kids find him a "stern teacher". The former England footballer told how he is a "three out of 10" as a teacher due to his "lack of patience" but gives Kate a "nine out of 10". He also admitted as he discussed the new football-themed Numbers Game on the online education platform, Twinkl that his children think he's 'hard' and even 'grumpy'. The Man United legend, 42, applauded Kate as he showed his appreciation for teachers across the UK, saying: "I have so much respect for what teachers do. It's a hard job. "The thing I've noticed is how intense it can be and how the teachers manage it all day and the pressures of managing all these different kids who have different ideas with the ways they want to learn. "But one of the biggest things we've learnt to respect from teachers is their patience to deal with the kids. "As a teacher I'm a three out of 10 because of my lack of … [Read more...] about Rio Ferdinand praises his wife Kate’s homeschooling skills during lockdown

BILLIONAIRE Bernie Ecclestone proved he is 90 years young when he announced he was going to become a father for the fourth time last year. There was already a yawning age gap between his first daughter Deborah, 66, from his first marriage to Ivy Bamford, and his other girls Tamara, 36, and Petra, 32, who he had with second wife Slavica. In July 2020, Bernie, who is also a grandad and great-grandfather, welcomed son Ace with his wife Fabiana Flossi, 44, at the  age of 89. While some have questioned whether the former chief executive of Formula One should be having more kids so late in life, Tamara has defended him. She said: “He’s a young soul and has an amazing energy. And with what’s going on (in the wider world), some baby news is good news.” So what will it be like to be old enough to be her brother’s mum? Here, women with big age gaps to their siblings tell Jenny Francis all about their unusual relationships. 'My boyfriends were more scared meeting Joanne than … [Read more...] about My sister is 21 years older and had a daughter before I was even born – boyfriends were more scared to meet her than mum

T he thing about this Manchester City team at the moment is that every few weeks another player seems to be spurred on to new heights. For a good while, it was Ilkay Gundogan and, before him, Kevin De Bruyne. Then Phil Foden took over. Thereafter, Raheem Sterling hit the goal trail again and Bernardo Silva’s renaissance gathered pace. Joao Cancelo ? How could we forget about him? And that’s just offensively. On Tuesday night, it was the turn of Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus to step it up another notch. Wolverhampton Wanderers, somehow, were actually threatening to steal a point here for all of 18 minutes in the second half but, for the majority of this game, the threats to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were constant and widespread; so many good players, full of confidence, playing so well within a system that, on occasions such as these, looks almost impossible to stymie. By the end of an exhilarating night at the Etihad Stadium that really did warrant a full house, the scoreline … [Read more...] about Manchester City march on with Gabriel Jesus scoring two to dispatch dogged Wolves