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2020 Premier League team of the year: Bruno Fernandes, Mohamad Salah, Harry Kane..

Our choices for the best performers over the past year.

2020 is finally coming to an end after a long, bizarre and extraordinary – for all the wrong reasons – 12 months.

It’s been a unique year of football. The suspension of the Premier League for a number of months, Liverpool’s first league title in 30 years and the absence of fans in football stadiums made for one of the most peculiar Premier League years in recent memory.

There have also been several key performers over the past year, but which of those make our Premier League team of 2020?

GOALKEEPER

ALISSON – LIVERPOOL

Alisson has proven himself as an indispensable member of the Liverpool squad since joining from Roma in 2018.

The Brazilian’s importance was not only demonstrated as he helped his team to a league title for the first time in 30 years, but also during his absence. Backup keeper Adrian came into the team on several occasions to replace the injured Alisson, but despite his best efforts, he was unable to emulate the latter’s performances.

Known for not only his excellent shot stopping skills, but also his elite distribution among other attributes. He displayed his goalkeeping acumen against Newcastle on Wednesday as he made a number of important saves.

Alisson is still only 28, also, meaning he could continue to dominate for years to come.

Honourable mentions: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa/Arsenal), Nick Pope (Burnley).

RIGHT-BACK

TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD – LIVERPOOL

Although Alexander-Arnold hasn’t been quite as good this season as he was last thus far, but his worth to the Liverpool squad is still invaluable.

Alexander-Arnold contributed to the 2nd most assists in the league last season, only topped by Kevin De Bruyne. His passing range is undoubtedly one of the best in the league, and inarguably the best in his position.

His performances last year earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year. He was also honoured as PFA Young Player of the Year.

At only 22, Alexander-Arnold has a long and decorated career ahead of him. We could be looking at a Liverpool captain in the making.

Honourable mentions: Tariq Lamptey (Brighton & Hove Albion), João Cancelo (Manchester City).

LEFT-BACK

ANDREW ROBERTSON – LIVERPOOL

Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold make up the best full-back pairing the league so it would be unfair not to include Robertson, especially considering his consistency over the past year.

Robertson put up 12 assists in the league this season on his way to a PFA Team of the Year inclusion. The Scottish international has started this season in a similar vein of form, coming up with 5 assists so far.

Not only is Robertson masterful in his attacking output, he’s also one of the most defensively accomplished left-backs in the league.

He has arguably been Liverpool’s most consistent player this term in a season riddled with injury problems and surprise results – despite sitting 1st in the table.

Honourable mentions: Lucas Digne (Everton), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea, Leicester City).

CENTRE-BACKS

JAMES TARKOWSKI – BURNLEY

This might come as a strange selection to some, but James Tarkowski has quietly proven himself as one of the best centre-backs in the league over the past few seasons.

Tarkowski joined Burnley in 2016 and has been ever-present since.

Burnley rely very much – maybe overly so – on their defensive quality and Tarkowski, along with his partner Ben Mee, have that in abundance. In fact, no defender has kept more clean sheets in the league this year than Tarkowski.

The centre-back helped Burnley to a respectable 10th place finish last season. Burnley have struggled so far this season but have showed signs of a resurgence in recent weeks.

VIRGIL VAN DIJK – LIVERPOOL

Van Dijk has barely featured in the Premier League this season due to an ACL injury suffered in October. His form before the injury, though, more than warranted an inclusion in this team.

Van Dijk was key in ensuring Liverpool captured the evasive Premier League trophy last season after coming so close in 2018/19.

His performances earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year alongside fellow Liverpool defenders Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Van Dijk has all the attributes of a world-class defenders. His positional awareness, physicality and elite tackling ability make him one of the best defenders in recent memory. He also possess one of the best passing ranges of any centre-back worldwide which compliments Liverpool’s style of play to a tee.

Van Dijk has been sorely missed for Liverpool so far – despite Fabinho filling in capably – and his return will be a massive boost to members of the club and fans alike.

Honourable mentions: Michael Keane (Everton), Fabinho (Liverpool), Çağlar Söyüncü (Leicester City), Jannik Vestergaard (Southampton).

MIDFIELDERS

KEVIN DE BRUYNE – MANCHESTER CITY

Kevin De Bruyne arguably had his best season in a Manchester City shirt last season which is no mean feat considering his displays in previous seasons.

De Bruyne won PFA Player’s Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season last term in a spectacular season.

The Belgian equalled Thierry Henry’s long-standing record for most assists in a Premier League season as he finished with 20 assists. He also surpassed his career best for most league goals in a season, scoring 13.

Manchester City have failed to live up to their remarkably high standards this season and De Bruyne’s form has also dipped as a result. He is still, however, one of the best players in the league and it’s only a matter of time before he gets back to his best.

BRUNO FERNANDES – MANCHESTER UNITED

Bruno Fernandes only arrived at Manchester United in January but has already established himself as one of the best players at the club, if not the best.

Nobody was quite sure how Fernandes would fare in the Premier League given the jump in quality but he has proved his doubters wrong and has taken to the league like a duck to water.

In fact, Fernandes has contributed to more Premier League goals (32) than any other player in the league, despite missing the first month of the year.

He has completed transformed the fortunes of Manchester United since joining and is very much the focal point of the squad. They currently sit 2nd in the table with much thanks due to the creativity and goalscoring instincts of the Portuguese international.

A Premier League Player of the Season award – as well as other honours – is very much in sight for Bruno Fernandes if he continues his impressive form.

JORDAN HENDERSON – LIVERPOOL

Jordan Henderson should be a shoo-in for any team of the year.

The Liverpool captain’s ability has been called in question numerous times over the year but he has proved his doubters wrong time after time.

Last season he captained his side to their first Premier League title in 30 years. This season the responsibility upon his shoulders has increased tenfold given the absence of several key players and the introduction of numerous youth players into the first team, a pressure which he has taken into his stride.

Henderson received several honours for his performances and leadership last season, including but not limited to; Liverpool Fans’ Player of the Season, FWA Footballer of the Year and an inclusion in the PFA Team of the Year.

Henderson is often underrated by fans but his value to the Liverpool squad and system is immeasurable.

Honourable mentions: Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City), Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Tottenham Hotspur/Southampton), Tomáš Souček (West Ham United).

RIGHT-WINGER

MOHAMED SALAH – LIVERPOOL

Currently leading the Premier League scoring chart with 13 goals, Mohamed Salah has had a fine start to the season. The Egyptian needs just 6 more goals to match his total of 19 league goals last season.

Himself, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have formed a potent attack over the years which would be the envy of most – if not all – clubs in world football.

Salah’s direct movement, close control and remarkable finishing is perfect for Liverpool’s system. His finishing is of such high quality that he’s significantly outperforming his expected goals of 8 this season (according to understat).

Reports of Salah’s desire to leave Anfield have been circulating in recent weeks to the dismay of Liverpool fans. No doubt Salah’s departure would be a monumental loss but he remains at Anfield and has shown no signs of unhappiness other than rumours.

Honourable mentions: Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United).

LEFT-WINGER

HEUNG-MIN SON – TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Few footballers have had a more accomplished 2020 than Heung-min Son.

The Tottenham forward has been one of the Premier League’s top performers – particularly this season – over the past year. Not only that, though, he also completed mandatory service for the South Korean military for a period of 3 weeks between April and May, during which he finished in the top 5 over 150 other trainees in basic military training.

He has moulded a formidable partnership with Harry Kane over the course of the season so far. The pair have combined with each other for a total of 32 Premier League goals during their times at Tottenham. For context, that’s just 4 goals off Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard’s record of 36.

In total this season, the pair have combined with each for 12 goals, just 1 goal off equalling the record of 13 set by Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton during the 1994/95 season.

Son is joint 2nd in the Premier League scoring charts with 11 goals, the same tally as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jamie Vardy.

Honourable mentions: Sadio Mané (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United).

STRIKER

HARRY KANE – TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

There are a number of Premier League strikers deserving of an inclusion in this team, namely Jamie Vardy, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Danny Ings. We’ve gone with Harry Kane, though.

Despite suffering an injury which kept him out for months at the start of the season, Kane has managed to rack up the same amount of goal contributions as Jamie Vardy (26).

Kane has proven himself not only as one of the deadliest finishers in the league, but also as one of the best creative outlets. He has by far the most assists to his name this season with 10, his closest competitors in Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne have 7 to their name respectively.

Tottenham started the season magnificently but have dipped in form over the past few games, collecting just 2 points in their last 4 games.

They’ll be hoping, with the help of Harry Kane among others, for a positive result against Leeds at the weekend to kickstart their 2021.

Honourable mentions: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Danny Ings (Southampton).

Understanding the Dynamics of Horse Betting

Horse races are events where people gather to enjoy a day out in the sun socialising, enjoying a picnic and viewing some magnificent animals in action.

They also present the audience with an opportunity to bet on their favourite horses and make some extra money. Betting on horse races started as far back as the 1600s and continues to be a popularly enjoyed activity. If you are stepping into the horse betting world here are a few things to help you along the way.

Win, place and show bets

There are a few basic bets in horse betting that are most commonly placed during races. Beginners are encouraged to go through BetPop racebook and give these bets a try before moving on to the more complex ones. The first of these straight wagers are win bets.

Win bets are pretty straightforward since you bet on the horse you expect to come first in the race. If the horse does win, you get your payout.

You bet that a particular horse will come in at either first or second place in Place bets. If this happens, you can collect your winnings less than what you would have received at a Win bet.

In the case of a Show bet, the horse you bet on must place first, second or third. Since this bet gives you better odds of winning, the payout is much lower than that of the last two bets.

Across the Board bets involve betting Win, Place and Show on a horse. This means that you will be paying the amount for each bet, usually thrice the amount you would have bet otherwise. If your horse wins Across the Board, it means that it came first place and you won all three bets. If it is only second, you will get back your Place and Show amount, and if it comes third, you will get your Show amount back.

Exotic bets

Exotic bets come with more significant profits and involve single bets made on multiple horses simultaneously. These bets might require you to spend more, and it is also harder to win, so only get started with exotic bets once you earn the skills needed for picking out the winning horses.

Exacta bets involve placing wagers on two horses to come in at the first and second place respectively. The payouts are often pretty big, and so this bet is popular among seasoned horse race bettors. If you box an exacta bet you will get paid if the two horses come first and second in either order. But the price you must pay for a boxed exacta is often double the price of a normal one.

In a Trifecta bet you place your wager on three horses you expect to come first, second and third in a specific order. You can also box a trifecta bet, but the amount you pay will significantly increase since many more combinations can be made out of three horses.

A Superfecta bet involves placing a wager on four horses of your choice to come in at first, second, third, and fourth places. Just like the other two bets, you can also box a Superfecta bet.

A Quinella bet is similar to a boxed exacta bet in which two horses must come first and second in any order. While Quinella bets cost less than boxed exacta bets, their payoutsare also smaller.

Understanding horse racing odds

Let us now understand horse racing odds. Odds describe the money that you will get back in terms of the money you bet if the horse you bet on wins.

If the odds of a horse are given as 9-2, and you bet on that horse, for every $2, you will get $9, a total of $11. If the odds listed are equal, such as 1-1, you will get a profit equal to the money you wagered, doubling your investment. The odds listed beside each horse will tell you if it’s the favourite or not. Favourite horses come with lower odds. If a horse is not expected to win by a long shot, its odds will increase, bringing up the payouts.

So, before you place your bets, you must understand how to handicap or pick the right horse. You can do this with the help of race-day programs, researching upon the past race results of the horses and jockeys, or even observing the horse’s temperament before the race begins.

Summing up

There is a specific format for placing your bet on a horse. When you get to the bookie, you place a bet by saying the racetrack, the number of the race, the wager amount, the bet type and finally the horse’s number.

When you start out on the racecourse, do not stress yourself out and only place smaller bets. Learn more about the horses, jockeys, and the racecourses before you start making bigger exotic bets.

World Darts Results – Price & Anderson into quarterfinals

Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson advanced to the quarter-finals of the William Hill World Championship with comfortable victories at London’s Alexandra Palace on Wednesday.

World number three Price saw off Mervyn King in five sets, while two-time World Champion Anderson demolished Devon Petersen 4-0 as the quarter-final line-up was completed on the final day of darts in 2020.

Daryl Gurney, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Dave Chisnall and Stephen Bunting also progressed to the last eight of the £2.5 million tournament, which will resume on New Year’s Day.

Price put on an exhibition of finishing, with three ton-plus checkouts and a double success rate of 52 percent in a convincing victory over King.

The Welsh star won by three sets in a high quality affair, in which no leg took more than 16 darts to complete.

“I felt quite comfortable for most of the match but it was little bit patchy at times,” said Price, who will take on Gurney in the last eight.

“Mervyn wasn’t quite as good as he has been in the last few weeks and I took advantage.

“I just did what I do best and finished well. I never felt under pressure. I hit at the right time and he missed at the wrong time.

“Daryl is a fantastic player and I’ll have to be at my best to beat him but I’m determined to go on and win the tournament because I’ve got my eyes on that world number one spot.”

Price hit double top to win each of the first four legs, which included combination checkouts of 148 and 115, but only claimed one of the first two sets as King edged the second in a deciding leg.

Last month’s Players Championship Finals runner-up King took the lead in set three with a 106 finish, only to see Price win the next three legs to regain the advantage.

The Welshman then took out 93 in the deciding leg of the fourth set to move into a 3-1 lead as he edged towards a second successive World Championship quarter-final.

A fabulous 116 checkout moved Price 2-1 ahead in set five and a leg away from the win, which he wrapped up in the next leg after King missed three darts to stay in the tie.

Anderson’s straight sets victory against South African star Petersen saw the 2015 and 2016 World Champion progress to the quarter-finals at Ally Pally for the eighth time.

The Scottish ace raced through the first set with three unanswered legs before checkouts of 160 and 97 saw him come from two legs behind in the second set to double his lead.

Petersen also led by two legs in set three but was punished for three missed doubles as Anderson again overturned a two-leg deficit to move within a set of victory – and he promptly made it six successive legs to wrap up the win.

“Devon’s scoring wasn’t where it has been this year and I nicked it,” said Anderson.

“I’m nowhere near where I should be playing but next year I’ll start from scratch and get myself back to it.

“I’ve managed to scrape through like I did when I got to the World Matchplay final. This run is a real bonus for me.”

Anderson will meet Van Duijvenbode on New Year’s Day after the Dutch talent continued his fine form in 2020 with a sudden-death success over Premier League champion Glen Durrant.

Van Duijvenbode, who reached the World Grand Prix final in October, came from 3-1 down to win another thrilling battle in a memorable fourth round, which saw four of the eight ties go to last-leg shoot-outs.

Durrant recovered from losing the opening leg to win the first set 3-1, before a sublime 154 checkout helped him edge the second set after Van Duijvenbode had missed four darts to level.

Two 11-darters helped the Dutchman win the third set 3-1 but Durrant claimed the fourth by the same scoreline to move within a set of victory.

A spell of flawless finishing saw Van Duijvenbode stay in the match as checkouts of 113, 106 and 92 earned him the fifth set.

He then executed his second 170 finish of the tournament as he levelled up the match, before going on to edge the seventh set to progress by pinning double six.

“I felt like I was better than Glen for most of the match and found myself 3-1 down,” said Van Duijvenbode.

“I would have been devastated to have lost but I had to make sure I didn’t get too frustrated. I dug deep and I won.

“I kept believing in myself like I always do. I think I hurt him with the 170. I was pretty nervous for a lot of the match to be honest but that is good thing and I managed to use it in a positive way. I enjoyed the match and I’m really happy to be through.”

Chisnall won a high quality encounter against World Matchplay champion Dimitri Van den Bergh 4-2 to set up a quarter-final clash with world number one Michael van Gerwen.

Both players averaged over 101 in exciting encounter that saw Van den Bergh threaten to fight back from losing the opening three sets before Chisnall finished the job with a classy 102 checkout.

World number eight Chisnall expertly executed a 144 finish to take the first set before punishing two missed set darts by Van den Bergh to double his lead.

The Belgian ace missed the bullseye when attempting to take out 161 to win the third set, allowing Chisnall to punish again as he closed in on victory.

Van den Bergh kept his hopes alive by taking set four in three legs, with the aid of two 12-darters, before kicking off the fifth set with a 121 checkout for another dozen-dart leg.

Yet another 12-darter for the former World Youth Champion saw Chisnall’s lead reduced to a single set, but he won a nervy third leg in the sixth set before landing a sweet match-winning 102 checkout to reach the last eight at Ally Pally for the third time.

“I could’ve won that game a little bit more comfortably but I’m just happy to have won it,” said Chisnall.

“I’ve felt really confident throughout the whole tournament and I think it will be a great match against Michael van Gerwen.

“I will just have to tidy up a few sloppy darts but I know I can beat him. It will be a fast, exciting game and I’m looking forward to it.”

Former World Grand Prix champion Gurney progressed to the last eight at Alexandra Palace for the second time in his career after a 4-2 victory over Vincent van der Voort.

Gurney took out 125 to break in the opening leg and went on to win the first set 3-1, before Van der Voort responded with a 111 checkout on the way to winning the second set in five legs.

Gurney missed double 12 for a nine-darter in the first leg of set three, which he won, before a 120 finish saw him move two sets clear.

Two-time Ally Pally quarter-finalist Van der Voort used just 41 darts in the fourth set, which he won without reply.

Gurney missed six darts to win the sixth set 3-1 but returned to finish the job in the following leg after his opponent missed a dart at the bullseye to stay in the contest.

Former Lakeside Champion Bunting also made it through to the quarter-finals for the second time after winning in a sudden-death shoot-out against Ryan Searle.

Bunting, who had previously reached the last eight on his PDC World Championship debut in the 2014/15 event, won the first two sets but missed seven darts to make the scoreline 3-0, allowing Searle to pinch the third set before levelling the tie.

The St Helens man kicked off the fifth set with an 11-darter and went on to win it in three legs, but Searle responded with 12, 15 and 13 dart winning legs as he took the sixth set 3-1 with the aid of a 100 checkout.

Brilliant finishes of 145 and 90 followed as the Wellington ace put the boot in and moved within a leg of victory.

Bunting battled back, however, taking out 84 to complete an 11-darter before a fabulous 107 checkout forced a deciding leg, which he won with a 13 darter on tops, with Searle waiting on 16.

The action resumes on New Year’s Day with all four quarter-finals being played across two sessions, as Bunting takes on Krzysztof Ratajski in the opener before Anderson and Van Duijvenbode do battle.

The evening session will start with the contest between Price and Gurney, with three-time World Champion van Gerwen’s meeting with Chisnall also taking place on Friday evening.

Global coverage of the £2.5 million tournament is headlined by the dedicated Sky Sports Darts channel, while the PDC’s international broadcast partners will include RTL7 in the Netherlands, DAZN in various territories, Fox Sports in Australia, Sky Sport in New Zealand, PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers and at matchroom.live.

2020/21 William Hill World Darts Championship
Wednesday December 30
Afternoon Session
3x Fourth Round
Daryl Gurney 4-2 Vincent van der Voort
Stephen Bunting 4-3 Ryan Searle
Gary Anderson 4-0 Devon Petersen

Evening Session
3x Fourth Round
Dirk van Duijvenbode 4-3 Glen Durrant
Gerwyn Price 4-1 Mervyn King
Dave Chisnall 4-2 Dimitri Van den Bergh

Friday January 1
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
2x Quarter-Finals
Krzysztof Ratajski v Stephen Bunting
Gary Anderson v Dirk Van Duijvenbode

Evening Session (1800 GMT)
2x Quarter-Finals
Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney
Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall

All matches best of nine sets (no tie-breaks in deciding sets)

Liverpool draw to Newcastle in final Premier League game of 2020

Thiago made his long-awaited return for Liverpool in the match.

The final Premier League game of 2020 took place tonight after what was a strange, unprecedented year. Reigning Premier League champions Liverpool befittingly took to the stage as they faced Newcastle in St. James’ Park.

Liverpool had the chance to go 5 points clear – momentarily – of their nearest rivals, Manchester United, with a win tonight. Newcastle, on the other hand, could create some distance between themselves and the relegation zone.

Liverpool suffered a shock draw to West Brom last time out. Tonight would be a similar story as the Reds were unable to penetrate a formidable Newcastle defence. The match finished 0-0, but there was no lack of entertainment on display.

FIRST HALF

After a period of both teams settling into the match, Newcastle had the first real opportunity just past the 11-minute mark. Callum Wilson skinned Nathaniel Phillips and continued his run into the Liverpool box before shooting from an acute angle. His shot, though, was blocked by Fabinho and went out for a corner.

Callum Wilson was then involved in another good opportunity for Newcastle. He played in DeAndre Yedlin after good build up in the final third but the American full back scuffed his shot to the relief of Liverpool.

Liverpool had an opportunity of their own in the 24th minute. Trent Alexander-Arnold was highly involved throughout. He whipped a pinpoint crossfield ball out to Sadio Mane before the former found himself receiving the ball in the box, but his shot was tame and the keeper produced a straightforward save.

Mohamed Salah doesn’t miss too many but he missed the chance of the half in the 33rd minute. He managed to stay onside and was played through in acres of space. He closed in on the keeper but his shot was brilliantly saved by the fingertips of Karl Darlow before going out for a corner.

Robert Firmino had a good chance in the dying embers of the first half. He met a cross into the box with his head but again Karl Darlow was at hand to keep the score level.

No further chances of note occurred in a first half that finished 0-0. Liverpool would have been disappointed going into the second half level with Newcastle. Their decisiveness and cutting edge in key moments let them down on more than one occasion.

SECOND HALF

The second half started in an end-to-end fashion with both teams attacking at will. As was the story of the match to that point, though, neither team was able to fashion quality chances.

Salah missed another great opportunity in the 65th minute. He was played in by Roberto Firmino before taking a good touch inside the area to make space but his resulting shot placed wide of the post.

Just moments later, Firmino missed what was effectively an open goal as his header went wide from a corner.

Thiago made his long-awaited Liverpool return in the 72nd minute. The accomplished midfielder has missed much of the season due to fitness issues, most recently a knee injury which kept him out for a number of weeks.

Irish international Ciaran Clark nearly made the breakthrough for Newcastle in the 78th minute but was denied by a great Alisson save. He powered a header towards goal from an accurate free kick but Alisson did just enough to keep it out.

Moments later and Liverpool very nearly made the breakthrough themselves. Sadio Mane just needed a touch in the 6-yard-box to guide the ball into the net but Fabian Schar reacted quickest to avert the danger. It was a brilliant clearance by the Swiss international.

Karl Darlow was called into action again in the 87th minute. He reacted brilliantly to a header as a result of a Liverpool corner. A scramble in the box then ensued but Liverpool were unable to make anything more of the situation.

The match finished 0-0 after an impressive Newcastle performance. Liverpool’s draw means they are now 3 points ahead of Manchester United in 2nd, but the Red Devils have a game in hand and could draw level on points with a win against Aston Villa on Friday.

Tottenham vs. Fulham fixture postponed due to COVID-19 fears

Manchester City vs. Everton was also cancelled earlier in the week.

The Tottenham vs. Fulham bout which was scheduled to take place this evening has been called off due to COVID-19 fears. The decision was made by the Premier League after a significant rise in cases within the Fulham camp.

Manchester City vs. Everton was also postponed during the week after an outbreak of cases in the City squad.

The Premier League today announced that fixtures would resume despite the increase in cases, a statement which they reaffirmed following the cancellation of this evening’s match.

“With low numbers of positive tests across the overwhelming majority of clubs, the Premier League continues to have full confidence in its COVID-19 protocols and being able to continue to play our fixtures as scheduled.”, the Premier League stated.

The date for the rescheduled bout is yet to be confirmed.

Who Are The Best Irish Horses?

Who Are The Best Irish Horses?

It’s no secret that Ireland has a love affair with horses unlike anywhere else in the world. While there are, of course, many countries with a strong horse-racing following, there’s something about the Emerald Isle that’s that little bit deeper than the rest. Perhaps it’s the history. There are records of horse racing taking place all the way back in 60 A.D; that’s nearly 2000 years of passion, after all.

And in that time, Ireland has produced some magnificent horses. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at some of the best Irish horses from past and present.

Mogul

Let’s begin with the present. Mogul is one of the best-performing horses on the circuit at the moment, and though he may be British-bred, he’s very much Irish-trained. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the thoroughbred seems to be going from strength to strength. A strong performance as a two-year-old was followed by an exceptional third year, during which he won several prestigious races, including the Gordon Stakes and the Grand Prix de Paris. Experts who provide horse racing tips will nearly always back him for a placed-finish when he’s on the track, especially if the jockey is R. L. Moore.

Istabraq

Some horses write their way into the history books because they dominated the racing world during their time on the track. Some do so because they overcome a setback to win an important race. Istabraq did both. The early part of his career was underwhelming; so underwhelming, in fact, that his handles gave up on him, and sold him on. If they knew what he was going to achieve, they wouldn’t have sold for any price. He won Cheltenham Festival’s Champion Hurdle race three times and the Irish Champion Hurdle four times. And though it’s the performance on the field that counts, it has to be said: he was a magnificent-looking horse.

Sea the Stars

You know a horse is a bona fide legend if the worst you can say about them is that they finished second once. And that was in Sea the Stars’ first race. Once he’d moved beyond that very minor disappointment, he became a winning machine. During his career, he won virtually all the notable races, including the Eclipse Stakes, 2,000 Guineas, and Epsom Derby all in a single year. His last race was in 2009 at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe — and surprise, surprise, he won.

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Arkle

Arkle was the superstar horse of his day. Back in the 1960s, the steeplechaser won the Irish Grand National, King George VI Chase, two Hennessy Gold Cups, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup three years in a row. In all, he competed in 35 races, winning 27 — a phenomenal record. He captured the hearts and minds of the public too and was eventually crowned the favourite racehorse of all time. So iconic was Arkle that, if you so wish, you can see his skeleton, which is displayed in the Irish Horse Racing Museum.

Dawn Run

If you’ve got the blood of famous horse Deep Run in your system, then you’re going to be successful. And that’s just what Dawn Run, his daughter, was. She remains the most successful mare in National Hunt Racing, and it’s unlikely that her status as the best will be under threat anytime soon. Anyone that overtakes her will need to go one better than victories at the Champions Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup — that winning combination is something that no other horse, male or female, has done before, or indeed since. Her victory at the Gold Cup is still remembered fondly by horse-racing enthusiasts.

Conclusion

That’s just a selection of the outstanding horses that Ireland has produced. Of course, Ireland’s passion for horse racing doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon, so who knows how many history-making horses the country might produce in the years to come?

World Darts Results – Price & Anderson progress after seven-set thrillers

Gerwyn Price defeated Brendan Dolan in a sudden death leg to win a William Hill World Darts Championship thriller on Monday, while Gary Anderson also progressed to the last 16 with a dramatic victory over Mensur Suljovic at London’s Alexandra Palace.

 

World number three Price was pushed hard by tenacious Northern Irishman Dolan but held his nerve in the decider to win 4-3, having been punished for missing a match dart in the sixth set.

 

A high-quality encounter saw Price fire in nine 180s and land a 170 checkout as he set up a fourth round meeting with Mervyn King, who had earlier produced a brilliant performance to see off Jose de Sousa in straight sets.

 

“Brendan was playing really well on throw and he punished me when I missed opportunities but thankfully that last double went in,” said Price.

 

“I played well at times but not at others. One minute I was playing really well and then the next minute I couldn’t hit a barn door.

 

“Anybody left in this tournament can win it so you can’t just turn up and expect to win. Brendan is a fantastic player and it was a fantastic battle.”

 

Two-time World Champion Anderson won an edgy encounter against Suljovic to move into the last 16 for the 11th successive year.

 

The Scot scraped past the Austrian 4-3 despite missing 33 darts at doubles during a hard-fought victory.

 

Anderson produced a sublime 130 checkout in the first set, which he edged with a 73 finish on the bull after Suljovic had missed four darts at doubles to lead.

 

It was Anderson’s turn to squander opportunities in the second set, with eight darts going begging to double his lead before Suljovic levelled.

 

Anderson won the third set but then lost six legs on the spin as Suljovic moved 3-2 ahead and one set away from victory.

 

The 2015 and 2016 World Champion fought back, however, as he responded with his own run of six straight legs to book a place in the fourth round.

 

Anderson, who hit four ton-plus checkouts in up-and-down display, admitted he was frustrated by Suljovic’s inconsistent pace of play, saying: “I nicked at the end, I don’t know how.

 

“I’m sure there are 90% of folk watching at home, they probably turned over and watched Corrie or something – I would have done. I just want to throw darts and if you get spanked, the boy’s been better than you and beaten you.”

 

King produced an eye-catching display to see off Grand Slam champion De Sousa in straight sets in Monday’s opening match.

 

Both men averaged more than 103 but eight maximums and a relentless display of finishing saw King progress to the last 16 for the first time since the 2014 World Championship.

 

The 2009 Ally Pally semi-finalist finished 78 to take the opening set 3-1 after his opponent missed key doubles.

 

Last month’s Players Championship Finals runner-up then raced through the second set with three straight legs and a set average of 118.66.

 

He then edged the third set in a deciding leg before going 2-0 ahead in the fourth by capitalising on a miscount by De Sousa, who hit double top when he needed the bullseye, and went on to take the set 3-1 to complete victory.

 

“He didn’t hit big at the right time and I took advantage,” said King.

 

“I take each game as it comes and if I play well I win and, if not, I won’t. That’s the way I’ve always approached it.

 

“I’m a lot more confident than I have been because of the way I’m playing. There’s no reason that I can’t go on and win this.”

 

World Grand Prix finalist Dirk van Duijvenbode moved into the last 16 with a 4-0 success over Adam Hunt, who hit nine 180s in defeat to the emerging Dutch talent.

 

Van Duijvenbode followed up his second round triumph over former World Champion Rob Cross with another excellent display, averaging 104.09 as he eased into round four.

 

Hunt took out 145 in the opening leg but that was superseded by a stunning 170 finish from Van Duijvenbode, who went on the clinch the first set 3-2 with a 12-dart leg.

 

The Dutchman finished 120 to win the second set 3-1 after Hunt had missed a dart at the bull to take out 170 himself.

 

Legs of 12 and 14 darts saw Hunt go two legs clear in the following set but Van Duijvenbode hit back with 13, 11 and 15 dart legs to move three sets clear.

 

The World Grand Prix runner-up then won the fourth set 3-1 to move into the last 16, where he will take on Glen Durrant, who defeated USA’s Danny Baggish in six sets.

 

Premier League champion Durrant won the first set 3-0 and edged the second 3-2 to double his lead.

 

A 117 checkout helped him take set three 3-1 but Baggish fought back, winning each of the next two sets as he threatened a fightback.

 

It would prove to be nothing more than a stay of execution for the 2019 North American Darts Championship winner, however, as Durrant clinched the sixth set in a decider to progress.

 

“I was very close to a four-nil win there and I was struggling in the end. That’s a big win,” said Durrant.

 

“I feel like there is not a lot of interest in me this year and it feels great. I’m happy to be the forgotten man and go under the radar.

 

“I feel like I’ve played better and it gives me a little bit of confidence to take into the game against Dirk, which I’m really looking forward to.”

 

Vincent van der Voort defeated two-time semi-finalist Nathan Aspinall to progress past the last 32 for the first time in five years.

 

The quickfire Dutchman made a flying start to the match, taking the first two sets without dropping a leg and produced checkouts of 121, 113 and 110 in a reasonably comfortable win.

 

Van der Voort averaged 115.63 as he won the opening set in less than five minutes, going on to win the first six legs of the match without reply to open up a two-set lead.

 

An 81 checkout saw Aspinall clinch the third set 3-1 before winning the fourth in five legs to level the tie.

 

The former UK Open champion missed darts to win each of the first two legs in the fifth set, and Van der Voort capitalised before going on to take the set 3-1.

 

A 74 finish to break throw set the Dutchman on his way to finishing the job, which he duly did by pinning double 16 to reach the last 16.

 

“I don’t think I played that well but I knew he was struggling and I’ll take the win,” said Van der Voort.

 

“I was very good at the beginning of the match and maybe that did the damage.”

 

The action continues on Tuesday across two sessions with the final four round three ties and the first two last 16 matches, including Michael van Gerwen’s meeting with Joe Cullen.

 

The afternoon session begins as James Wade faces Stephen Bunting, before Daryl Gurney plays Chris Dobey and Jason Lowe plays Devon Petersen.

 

Dave Chisnall’s tie with Danny Noppert concludes the third round to open the evening session, before Gabriel Clemens opens the last 16 against Krzysztof Ratajski before Van Gerwen takes on Cullen.

 

Global coverage of the tournament is headlined on the dedicated Sky Sports Darts channel, while the PDC’s international broadcast partners will include RTL7 in the Netherlands, DAZN in various territories, Fox Sports in Australia, Sky Sport in New Zealand, PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers and at matchroom.live.

 

William Hill World Darts Championship

Monday December 28

Afternoon Session

3x Third Round

Mervyn King 4-0 Jose de Sousa

Dirk van Duijvenbode 4-0 Adam Hunt

Vincent van der Voort 4-2 Nathan Aspinall

 

Evening Session

3x Third Round

Gary Anderson 4-3 Mensur Suljovic

Gerwyn Price 4-3 Brendan Dolan

Glen Durrant 4-2 Danny Baggish

 

Tuesday December 29

Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)

3x Third Round

James Wade v Stephen Bunting

Daryl Gurney v Chris Dobey

Jason Lowe v Devon Petersen

 

Evening Session (1800 GMT)

1x Third Round

Dave Chisnall v Danny Noppert

2x Fourth Round

Gabriel Clemens v Krzysztof Ratajski

Michael van Gerwen v Joe Cullen

 

Wednesday December 30

Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)

3x Fourth Round

Vincent van der Voort v Gurney/Dobey

Wade/Bunting v Ryan Searle

Lowe/Petersen v Gary Anderson

 

Evening Session (1800 GMT)

3x Fourth Round

Dirk van Duijvenbode v Glen Durrant

Gerwyn Price v Mervyn King

Chisnall/Noppert v Dimitri Van den Bergh

Tonight’s Everton vs. Manchester City match called off due to positive COVID-19 cases

The fixture was scheduled to kick off at 20:00. 

Everton’s match against Manchester City which was scheduled for tonight has been called off due to positive Covid-19 cases in the City squad. The Premier League decided to cancel the fixture after medical advice following the surge in cases.

Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus tested positive on Christmas day – along with two others –  and it now appears that more cases have infiltrated the City camp. There are now a large number of cases within the squad. The players infected with the virus remain unnamed for the time being – bar Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus.

City are scheduled to face Chelsea at the weekend. The city players returned to training on Wednesday following a short period of isolation.

The Manchester City vs. Everton match has been rescheduled to take place at the end of the season.

 

Trebles for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins at Leopardstown

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend dominated on day two of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

The Closutton trainer and the Cork rider combined for a big-race treble, spearheaded by  Chacun Pour Soi (4/7f).

The brilliant eight-year-old was almost foot-perfect in the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Steeplechase. He comfortably beat Henry de Bromhead’s Notebook (7/2) by six and a half lengths. The winner is next being aimed at the Dublin Racing Festival in February before Cheltenham in March.

Mullins and Townend won the other Grade One on today’s card with Champion Bumper runner-up Appreciate It (7/4f).

Appreciate It came home 9 lengths clear in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle. His record over obstacles is now two wins from two.

Top-weight Castlebawn West (13/2) led from flag fall in the Paddy Power Chase for Mullins and Townend. He dictated the €150,000 race to win by an easy four and a half lengths.

The well-backed Denis O’Regan-ridden French Aseel (7/2f) ran out a 22-length winner of the Paddy Power “Only 4 More Days Until 2021′” 3yo Maiden Hurdle for the Ellmarie Holden stable.

January Jets (7/2) was a 15-length winner of the Paddy Power Games “Don’t Think You’re Special” Beginners Chase for Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead.

Master McShee (5/1) took the Paddy Power “Maybe I Like The Misery” Handicap Hurdle for Ian Power and trainer Paddy Corkery.

Ballycairn (13/2) won the concluding bumper when the unfortunate Reality Cheque (4/11f) broke down close home.

The highlight on Monday is the Grade 1 Savills Chase with 14 horses going to post for the day’s feature.

Shock at Anfield as West Brom earn comeback draw

Sadio Mane scored for Liverpool before Semi Ajayi equalized in the second half.

Liverpool took on West Bromwich Albion this evening as they looked to increase their advantage atop of the Premier League. Local rivals Everton came within two points of the reigning champions after their result last night meaning Liverpool needed to win today to ease mounting pressure.

In a shock result, though, West Brom managed to earn a draw after initially going behind. Sadio Mane opened the scoring for Liverpool before Semi Ajayi dramatically equalized in the second half. Here’s how it played out.

FIRST HALF

Liverpool predictably controlled much of the opening period. West Brom were pinned back into their own half and rarely ventured into the final third. West Brom attempted to contain Liverpool and they managed to do so for the opening 10 minutes as they starved Liverpool of chances despite their domination.

Liverpool’s quality eventually showed though. Sadio Mane opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Joel Matip ventured high into West Brom’s half before receiving the ball and lifting a pass into the area. Sadio Mane controlled expertly with his chest to evade Semi Ajayi before applying the finish.

Liverpool continued to control the game after the goal. West Brom stuck with their game plan and defended deep in a desperate attempt at damage limitation. All 11 West Brom players could be found in their own third for large periods of the half. Even when West Brom regained possession they lost the ball almost immediately with swarms of Liverpool players pressing at will.

The first half ended 1-0 to Liverpool as while they dominated possession, they regularly failed to break down the West Brom backline. West Brom were still in the game going into the second half but needed to increase their attacking output if they had any hope of getting a result.

SECOND HALF

West Brom started the second half playing far more positive football than what was witnessed in the first. They managed to retain possession for longer periods and at times even looked capable of scoring.

West Brom’s improvement clearly agitated Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. The German received a yellow card for his protests following a decision against his team in the 60th minute.

They even almost equalized in the 72nd minute. Karlan Grant was played through by a Romaine Sawyers long ball and was one-on-one with the keeper but Alisson produced a brilliant save to deny the Baggies forward.

The mounting West Brom pressure eventually paid off in the 82nd minute. A ball was crossed into the box and Semi Ajayi rose highest in the box and headed into the net via the post. West Brom deserved a goal for their second half performance.

Liverpool had a great chance to equalize through Roberto Firmino in the 89th minute as he headed towards goal but he was kept out by an extraordinary Sam Johnstone save.

The match finished 1-1 after a spirited second half West Brom performance. Tonight’s result signalled Sam Allardyce’s first point in charge of his new club.

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