Author: INDEPENDENT

Moment Manchester City lift Club World Cup trophy after thrashing FlumineseEverton host newly crowned world champions Manchester City at Goodison Park as Pep Guardiola’s side return to Premier League action.City defeated Fluminense in Saudi Arabia on Friday to lift the Club World Cup for the first time but return to the Premier League with ground to make up in the title race. The defending champions not only find themselves eight points adrift of leaders Liverpool in the table, but behind Arsenal, Aston Villa and Tottenham too.Guardiola’s side have games in hand on those teams above them, but their domestic form…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsIsrael has begun the third stage of its ground offensive in Gaza, launching an attack in areas densely populated with refugee camps as aid agencies warned Palestinian civilians are running out of safe spaces.Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said they have expanded their operations into the centre of Gaza having spent months fighting against Hamas in the north, before moving into the main southern city of Khan Younis in November. Its forces are now active…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Jamaal Lascelles has played himself into Eddie Howe’s long-term plans at Newcastle after stepping back into the firing line amid an injury crisis.The 30-year-old defender found himself part of the supporting cast as head coach Howe, armed with the spending power of the club’s new Saudi-backed owners, embarked upon a spending spree which has to date seen them invest around £400million in the squad.Sven Botman’s £32million arrival from Lille in particular left the Magpies’ club captain largely…

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the US President Joe Biden has ordered retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed militia groups after three U.S. servicemembers injured in a drone attack in Northern Iraq.National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said one of the U.S. troops suffered critical injuries in the attack that occurred earlier Monday. The Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups, under an umbrella of Iranian-backed militants, claimed credit for the attack.Biden, who is spending Christmas at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland,…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter When Sir Jim Ratcliffe was born, Manchester United were champions of England. If that was an unusual status for them then – Sir Matt Busby’s triumph in 1952 was United’s first in 41 years – the chances are that Ratcliffe hopes their 21st title will come with him in the boardroom. It has taken him seven decades to travel the seven miles from his Failsworth birthplace to Old Trafford and a status as co-owner of United. That,…

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USA father and daughter may have died of hypothermia after their truck crashed on the way to visit the man’s mother, a coroner has ruled.Jason Murph, 42 and his six-year-old daughter Michelle, were found close to the vehicle last Monday in Richland County, South Carolina.The Richland County Sheriff’s Department said the truck was found in a field damaged and burned. Police K-9 units found the father and daughter’s bodies about 50 yards away.According to the Calhoun…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter It was an unashamedly ambitious acceptance speech. When Jude Bellingham received the Golden Boy award, he declared: “I want to win everything”. Given the sense of boundless possibility that surrounds him, he just might. England will enter Euro 2024 after 58 years of hurt, a wait for a trophy that has lasted almost three times as long as Bellingham’s lifetime, but his progress has been swifter and his prowess greater even than expected. Triumph in Berlin in…

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USAn American jailed in Russia has issued a desperate message to President Joe Biden pleading for his freedom. Paul Whelan, 54, is nearing the five-year anniversary of his detainment in Russia. The security contractor was arrested in 2018 and sentenced to 16 years in prison on disputed espionage charges. On Christmas Eve, Mr Whelan reached out to Maryland news outlet WTOP with his message for Mr Biden: “Mr President. You promised to bring me home. I’m…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Mauricio Pochettino lamented Chelsea’s lack of ruthlessness in front of goal after a flurry of missed chances contributed to a 2-1 defeat to Wolves at Molineux.Mario Lemina headed the hosts into the lead early in the second half, rising to nod Pablo Sarabia’s corner into the far corner after the visiting defence had failed to make a serious attempt to clear the ball.It was fair reward after a first half in which Gary O’Neil’s side held Chelsea…

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USMarjorie Taylor Greene says that a local police officers arrived at her house on Christmas Day once again, following another apparent “swatting” incident.The Republican firebrand has previously claimed left-wing activists have staged multiple similar attacks against her by placing calls with local law enforcement that have prompted officers to visit her residence in Rome, Georgia.On Monday, Ms Greene posted on X: “I was just swatted. This is like the 8th time. On Christmas with my family…