The Lawn Tennis Association has called on British fans to show respect to opposing players after Novak Djokovic’s spat with supporters at the Davis Cup in Malaga.
Djokovic defeated Cameron Norrie 6-4 6-4 to secure a 2-0 victory for Serbia over Great Britain in the quarter-finals on Thursday evening but was very unhappy when a section of the 5,000-strong British support tried to drown out his post-match interview with drumming.
Djokovic, who had earlier ironically blown kisses to a vocal British fan at the end of the first set, told the supporters: “Learn how to respect players, learn how to behave yourself.” He then added: “No, you shut up, you be quiet,” as the row continued.
British captain Leon Smith played down the incident, arguing that noisy, partisan atmospheres are central to the Davis Cup.
An LTA spokesperson said: “Passion is a unique component of the Davis Cup and it is a competition where emotions run high. We are lucky to have strong travelling support and would always encourage GB supporters to behave with respect for our opposition.”
Rather awkwardly for the governing body, it does provide help to some supporter groups, including the one in question, the Stirling University Barmy Army, to travel to ties in order to create a good atmosphere.
The row overshadowed what was a disappointing end to an encouraging season in the competition for Smith’s men.
Norrie played well and kept the scoreline relatively close against the world number one without ever remotely threatening an upset but the damage was done when Jack Draper lost out 7-6 (2) 7-6 (6) to Miomir Kecmanovic in the opening rubber.
It was only the 21-year-old’s second Davis Cup match and one he will unquestionably learn from, with Draper set to be central to Britain’s hopes over the next decade and more.
He has recovered well from an injury-hit first two-thirds of the season, reaching the fourth round of the US Open and his first ATP Tour final in Sofia earlier this month to pull his ranking back up to 60.
“I’m really proud of the improvements I made this year,” said Draper. “I think, though I lost the match, I’m trying to play in the right way. I didn’t serve great, but I’m trying to look to come forward a lot more.
“I think it’s only exciting with me. I’ve got so much to improve on. That’s an amazing thing. Just reset and look for improvements.”
Draper also backed Smith to continue his long tenure in the captain’s role. It is now eight years since the Scot guided Britain to a stunning Davis Cup title, and next year will be his 14th at the helm.
“He creates an amazing environment,” said Draper. “We all want to play for him, all want to work hard. He only is positive around us in my opinion.
“It’s up to him if he wants to step down or not, but I’d be very happy if he stayed on and we can keep playing, because he’s a great captain, a good guy. He gives us a lot.”
Without a peak Andy Murray, Smith has had more difficult selection decisions to make, and last year’s group-stage exit ended in recriminations when Dan Evans claimed he should have been picked for doubles.
He got his wish this year, which paid off when he played the key role in helping Britain reach the last eight only for a calf injury to rule him out of this week’s event.
Had Evans been available rather than cheering from the stands, things might have turned out differently, and, with Murray also sidelined, Smith was left with a team that picked itself.
He will hope that Norrie rediscovers his best form next season having now lost three Davis Cup rubbers in a row, and there were some encouraging signs against Djokovic despite the final result.
Britain will find out on Sunday if they have been awarded a wild card for September’s group stage or must play a qualifier in February, while Djokovic and Serbia have their eyes on the big prize and a crunch semi-final against Italy on Saturday.
The match will see Djokovic clash with Jannik Sinner for the third time in a week and a half in the biggest Davis Cup singles match for many years.
Sinner handed Djokovic his first defeat since the Wimbledon final in the group stage of the ATP Finals only for the world number one to take revenge in the final.
Djokovic, who is unbeaten in Davis Cup singles rubbers since 2011, said: “We’re developing a nice rivalry lately. I have tons of respect for him.
“He’s been playing arguably the tennis of his life. I saw a little bit of the singles and doubles that he won (against the Netherlands on Thursday). Amazing. He really played on a high level. I could see that he was very pumped to play for his nation.
“I’m not playing bad myself. So it’s going to be, I think, a great match.”
NBA referees are too "emotional", according to former player Gilbert Arenas.
A controversial incident on Wednesday led to Golden State Warriors' Chris Paul being ejected from his team's game with the Phoenix Suns, thrown out by referee Scott Foster, with whom Paul has endured a long feud.
Paul and Foster have clashed numerous times over the years, and the latest disagreement saw the referee slap the 12-time NBA All-Star with two quick technical fouls, leading to the 38-year-old's seventh career ejection.
Arenas, who racked up 11,402 points in an NBA career spanning 11 years, believes referees must do more to control their own emotions amid the chaos.
"Someone should ask Adam Silver [NBA commissioner] this," Arenas said on his Gil's Arena podcast. "If I'm a player, I'm playing a game that's emotional, I'm acting in real time, real deep human emotions.
"And when I don't control my emotions, a ref can give me a technical, which means whatever I said to him, irritated him so bad that he didn't control his emotions and he gave me a tech. So, my emotions led to him being emotional, but he gets to give me a technical and that's fine.
"How? He's supposed to be the most cool and collected m*********** out there. There's no nothing for him. He doesn't leave it with a win or loss. Whatever he does, whatever he makes, he gets it no matter f****** what. What's a ref's record? zero and f****** zero his whole career. There's no win or loss, [yet] that's the most f****** emotional dude in the game."
Shishkin sets out on what Nicky Henderson hopes will be a fruitful staying campaign when he lines up for the Nirvana Spa 1965 Chase at Ascot.
So brilliant at his best over two miles, the decision was taken to go over further immediately after he finished third in last year’s Tingle Creek at Sandown – his first start since being pulled up in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham that March, after which he was subsequently found to be suffering from a rare bone condition.
He looked magnificent in beating Pic D’Orhy in the Ascot Chase in February and did little wrong when second to Envoi Allen in the Ryanair Chase, before taking the plunge over three miles and a furlong at the Grand National meeting, staying on strongly to account for Ahoy Senor.
Henderson has his sights on the King George at Christmas, but first Shishkin must pass this two-mile-five-furlong reappearance test, where he again meets the Paul Nicholls-trained Pic D’Orhy.
“He’s in very good form. Nico (de Boinville) is happy with him, the timing is right and he’s done everything right,” said the master of Seven Barrows, who also had the option of going for the Betfair Chase with the nine-year-old.
“Pic D’Orhy is coming to Ascot and we will take on Bravemansgame later (in the King George).
“He showed us at Aintree he’s a stayer, it took him a long time to pick up Ahoy Senor. You can’t win a King George with a doubtful stayer, but he’s proved he does (stay).”
Although second best to Shishkin over course and distance earlier in the year, Pic D’Orhy would end his campaign with a decisive victory in the Melling Chase at Aintree and has Ditcheat stable jockey Harry Cobden on board for his return to action.
“I’ve always believed in this horse, who never stopped improving last season and looks fantastic,” Nicholls told Betfair.
“This Grade Two race has been his target from the moment he came back from holiday early in July.
“He is fit to run for his life, his work with Bravemansgame on Thursday was eyecatching and drying ground at Ascot is a big plus for him.
“We don’t think he was at his best when he was beaten by Shishkin at Ascot in February, as he’d had a few races before that, and things could well be different this time.”
Donald McCain’s Minella Drama was a bronze medallist behind Pic D’Orhy in the spring and also performed well on Merseyside on his seasonal bow when second in the Old Roan Chase.
Brian Hughes rides and said in his blog for Novibet.ie: “With Shishkin to beat, it’s not going to be easy for Minella Drama, but we are the only horse in the field with a run under our belt.
“He ran well on his return at Aintree and I think going right-handed at Ascot will suit. Strictly on ratings, we look fairly matched with Pic D’Orhy, but Shishkin is in the race, and he is a fair horse. I was hoping he’d be going to Haydock!
“We’re fit and I’d love to think we could beat him, but he’s some horse. I think we’ll give him a good race, though. We’re hoping he likes Ascot and can then pitch up there again in the Ascot Chase in February.”
The field of four is rounded off by Straw Fan Jack, who was set some lofty targets at the business end of last season and continues to have his sights aimed high by trainer Sheila Lewis.
Lewis Hamilton cannot be blamed for considering a blockbuster switch to Red Bull following Mercedes’ failure to provide him with a winning machine, Christian Horner has claimed.
Red Bull team principal Horner confirmed on Friday that Hamilton’s father Anthony made an inquiry about the availability of a seat alongside Max Verstappen at the grid’s all-conquering team.
Verstappen has won the past three world championships, while Hamilton last took a victory at the penultimate round of the 2021 season in Saudi Arabia.
“I have known Anthony Hamilton for 15 years and I don’t think he was enquiring about himself to come and drive,” said Horner of Anthony, who managed his son in the formative years of his career.
“I don’t know who represents who, but with the surname you would think they are reasonably close.
“Anthony is a good guy, a proud racing father and inevitably when drivers go through tough spots – and Lewis has not won a Grand Prix for two years – questions will be asked up and down the paddock.
“Lewis is the most successful driver of all time and he hasn’t won a grand prix since 2021. You have not got to be a rocket scientist to work that out and I doubt I was the only one that an inquiry was made to.”
Red Bull will head into the season finale having failed to win just one of the 21 rounds so far. Verstappen has triumphed on 18 occasions – a record for any driver during a single campaign.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team are in a state of flux, but the seven-time world champion signed a two-year deal with the Silver Arrows, worth £100million, in August. Sergio Perez is contracted to Red Bull for 2024.
On Thursday, Hamilton denied seeking a move to Red Bull and claimed it was instead Horner who approached him.
“I have checked with everyone in my team and nobody has spoken to them. However, he (Horner) did reach out to me earlier on in the year about meeting up,” Hamilton said.
Horner added: “It is entirely normal for drivers, drivers’ representatives and drivers’ parents to have different conversations during the year.
“There was never a seat available and there was never any engagement. There are many drivers we hear from during the course of the year.
“We have not had any serious discussions with Lewis and there was never a seat available.”
Stephen Robinson fears Ryan Strain could be out for weeks with a groin strain as he welcomed back fit-again Jonah Ayunga to his St Mirren squad.
The 26-year-old wing-back had to go off in the first half of Australia’s World Cup qualifier against Palestine in Kuwait and had a scan on his injury on returning to Scotland.
Ayunga has not played for the Buddies since he ruptured his ACL against Motherwell in January, but the 26-year-old striker has worked himself back into contention for the cinch Premiership game against Livingston on Saturday.
The St Mirren boss is looking for a “reset” after a 4-0 defeat by Dundee before the international break, but will also have Keanu Baccus suspended for the visit of the Lions to Paisley.
Robinson said: “Ryan Strain came back with a groin injury, which we had scanned yesterday, so we are still waiting on results from it but we are not very hopeful.
“He certainly won’t be available for Saturday. It looks like it will be weeks rather than days so it is a big blow for us.
“Jonah has been training for nearly six weeks now which is a lot of good training time.
“He played 90 minutes last week (bounce game) and was very good. So he is certainly ready to be involved, at what stage or level we will decide in the next 24 hours.
“Jonah is a very laid back boy. There is not a lot that gets him up or down. I am sure there is maybe a different side to him at home, but he is a great boy, a boy who I have worked with at two clubs.
“He has pushed himself and credit must go to Gerry Docherty (physio) and Gary McColl (strength and conditioning), who have pushed him to the limit and got him into a condition that he is ready to go. It is credit to all three.
“I felt the game against Dundee was a one-off game, where as a collective we didn’t play particularly well and we need to reset ourselves again and do what we were doing which was not playing in front of people and I am comfortable we will do that on Saturday. We want to get another win under our belt.”
Monday, November 27
FOOTBALL: Premier League, Fulham v Wolves – Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League 1830; Serie A, Verona v Lecce – TNT Sports 1 1730, Bologna v Torino – TNT Sports 1 1930; LaLiga, Girona v Athletic Bilbao – Viaplay Sports 1 2000.
GRIDIRON: NFL, Minnesota Vikings v Chicago Bears – Channel 5, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports NFL 0100 (Tues).
BASKETBALL: NBA, Philadelphia 76ers v Los Angeles Lakers – TNT Sports 2 0000 (Tues).
SNOOKER: UK Championship – Eurosport 1 1245, 1845, BBC Two England 1300.
Tuesday, November 28
FOOTBALL: Champions League, Lazio v Celtic – TNT Sports 1 1700, Paris St Germain v Newcastle – TNT Sports 2 1900, Barcelona v Porto – TNT Sports 4 1945, Manchester City v RB Leipzig – TNT Sports 1 1945, Shakhtar Donetsk v Antwerp – TNT Sports 3 1730, AC Milan v Borussia Dortmund – TNT Sports 3 1945, Young Boys v Red Star Belgrade – TNT Sports 7 2000, Feyenoord v Atletico Madrid – TNT Sports 6 2000; Championship, Watford v Norwich – Sky Sports Main Event 1930.
CRICKET: Women’s Big Bash League, Eliminator play-off match – Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Cricket 0805; Third T20, India v Australia – TNT Sports 2 1315.
BASKETBALL: NBA, Miami Heat v Milwaukee Bucks – TNT Sports 1 0030 (Weds), Sacramento Kings v Golden State Warriors – TNT Sports 1 0300 (Weds); EuroCup, Wolves Vilnius v London Lions – TNT Sports 4 1645.
SNOOKER: UK Championship – Eurosport 1 1245, 1845, BBC Two England 1300.
Wednesday, November 29
FOOTBALL: Champions League, Galatasaray v Manchester United – TNT Sports 1 1700, Arsenal v Lens – TNT Sports 2 1900, Bayern Munich v FC Copenhagen – TNT Sports 4 1945, Sevilla v PSV Eindhoven – TNT Sports 3 1745, Benfica v Inter Milan – TNT Sports 6 2000, Real Madrid v Napoli – TNT Sports 3 2000, Real Sociedad v RB Salzburg – TNT Sports 8 2000, SC Braga v Union Berlin – TNT Sports 7 2000; Championship, Ipswich v Millwall – Sky Sports Main Event 1930; LaLiga, Mallorca v Cadiz – Viaplay Sports 1 2000.
CRICKET: Women’s Big Bash League, Challenger play-off match – Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Cricket 0805; Abu Dhabi T10, Delhi Bulls v Deccan Gladiators – TNT Sports 2 1115, Team Abu Dhabi v Chennai Braves – TNT Sports 2 1345, Bangla Tigers v New York Strikers TNT Sports 2 1615.
BASKETBALL: NBA, New Orleans Pelicans v Philadelphia 76ers – TNT Sports 1 0100 (Thurs).
GOLF: DP World Tour, The ISPS HANDA Australian Open – Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf 0100 (Thurs).
SNOOKER: UK Championship – Eurosport 1 1245, 1845, BBC Two England 1300.
Thursday, November 30
FOOTBALL: Europa League, TSC Backa Topola v West Ham – TNT Sports 1 1700, AEK Athens v Brighton – TNT Sports 2 1700, Sparta Prague v Real Betis – TNT Sports 4 1730, Marseille v Ajax – TNT Sports 4 1945, Liverpool v LASK – TNT Sports 1 1945, Rangers v Aris Limassol – TNT Sports 3 2000; Europa Conference League, HJK Helsinki v Aberdeen – TNT Sports 3 1745, Aston Villa v Legia Warsaw – TNT Sports 2 1945.
CRICKET: Abu Dhabi T10, Abu Dhabi v Northern Warriors – TNT Sports 1 1115, Morrisville Samp Army v Chennai Braves – TNT Sports 1 1345.
GOLF: DP World Tour, The Investec South African Open – Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf 1000, The ISPS HANDA Australian Open – Sky Sports Golf 0100 (Fri); PGA Tour, The Hero World Challenge – Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf 1830; DP World Tour.
GRIDIRON: NFL, Dallas Cowboys v Seattle Seahawks – Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports NFL 0000 (Fri).
BASKETBALL: NBA, Miami Heat v Indiana Pacers – TNT Sports 1 0030 (Fri), Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Clippers – TNT Sports 1 0300 (Fri).
SNOOKER: UK Championship – Eurosport 1 1245, 1845, BBC Two England 1300, 1900.
Friday, December 1
FOOTBALL: Championship, Preston v QPR – Sky Sports Main Event 1930; FA Cup, York v Wigan – BBC Two England 1930; Women’s Nations League, Wales v Iceland – BBC One Wales 1900, England v Netherlands – ITV4 1900, Belgium v Scotland – BBC Alba 1930; Ligue 1, Reims v Strasbourg – TNT Sports 4 1945; LaLiga, Las Palmas v Getafe – Viaplay Sports 2 2000; Serie A, Monza v Juventus – TNT Sports 3 1945; A-League, Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers – TNT Sports 1 0845.
CRICKET: Abu Dhabi T10, Northern Warriors v New York Strikers – TNT Sports 2 1115, Morrisville Samp Army v Team Abu Dhabi – TNT Sports 2 1345, Delhi Bulls v Chennai Braves – TNT Sports 2 1615; Fourth T20, India v Australia – TNT Sports 1 1315.
GOLF: DP World Tour, The Investec South African Open – Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf 1000, The ISPS HANDA Australian Open – Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf 0300 (Sat); PGA Tour, The Hero World Challenge – Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf 1830.
RUGBY UNION: Premiership, Harlequins v Sale – TNT Sports 1 1900.
BASKETBALL: NBA, Boston Celtics v Philadelphia 76ers – TNT Sports 2 0030 (Sat), Phoenix Suns v Denver Nuggets – TNT Sports 2 0300 (Sat).
BOXING: Hamzah Sheeraz v Liam Williams – TNT Sports 2 1900; Nathan Gorman v Bohdan Myronets – Channel 5 2200.
HORSE RACING: Newbury – ITV4 1305.
SNOOKER: UK Championship – Eurosport 1 1245, 1845, BBC Two England 1300, 1900, BBC Two Northern Ireland, BBC Two Scotland 1900.
Saturday, December 2
FOOTBALL: Premier League, Nottingham Forest v Everton – Sky Sports Premier League 1700, Newcastle v Manchester United – TNT Sports 1 1900; FA Cup, Alfreton v Walsall – BBC One 1215; Euro 2024 draw – BBC Two England 1715; Serie A, Lazio v Cagliari – TNT Sports 2 1715, AC Milan v Frosinone – TNT Sports 2 1930; Ligue 1, Nantes v Nice – TNT Sports 4 2000; LaLiga, Girona v Valencia – Viaplay Sports 1 1300; A-League, Western United v Wellington Phoenix – TNT Sports 1 0630, Sydney FC v Perth Glory – TNT Sports 1 0845, Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory – TNT Sports 2 0400 (Sun).
CRICKET: Women’s Big Bash League, Final – Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Cricket 0805; Women’s T20, New Zealand v Pakistan – TNT Sports 1 2330.
GOLF: DP World Tour, The Investec South African Open – Sky Sports Golf 1000, The ISPS HANDA Australian Open – Sky Sports Golf 0200 (Sun); PGA Tour, The Hero World Challenge – Sky Sports Golf 1700.
RUGBY UNION: Premiership, Bristol v Gloucester – TNT Sports 1 1330, Saracens v Northampton – TNT Sports 1 1615; URC, Lions v Dragons – BBC Two Wales 1505, Viaplay Sports 1505, Benetton v Ospreys – S4C 1915, Viaplay Sports 1935, Bulls v Sharks – Viaplay Sports 1300, Cardiff v Scarlets – Viaplay Sports 1500, Stormers v Zebre – Viaplay Sports 1715, Ulster v Edinburgh – Viaplay Sports 1715, Connacht v Leinster, Viaplay Sports 1935.
HORSE RACING: Newbury – ITV1 1325.
MMA: UFC, Beneil Dariush v Arman Tsarukyan – TNT Sports 2 0000 (Sun).
SNOOKER: UK Championship – Eurosport 1 1245, 1845, BBC Two England 1300, 1630, 1830, BBC One 1445, BBC Two Northern Ireland, BBC Two Scotland 1630.
Sunday, December 3
FOOTBALL: Premier League, West Ham v Crystal Palace – Sky Sports Premier League 1300, Sky Sports Main Event 1400, Manchester City v Tottenham – Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League 1600; FA Cup, Eastleigh v Reading – ITV 1240; Scottish Premiership, St Johnstone v Celtic – Sky Sports Main Event 1100; Serie A, Lecce v Bologna – TNT Sports 2 1130, Fiorentina v Salernitana – TNT Sports 1 1400, Udinese v Verona TNT Sports 5 1400, Sassuolo v Roma – TNT Sports 3 1700, Napoli v Inter Milan – TNT Sports 3 1945; Ligue 1, Le Havre v Paris St Germain – TNT Sports 3 1200, Monaco v Montpellier – TNT Sports 3 1400, Lille v Metz – TNT Sports 5 1605, Marseille v Rennes – TNT Sports 4 1930; LaLiga, Mallorca v Alaves – Viaplay Sports 1 1300, Almeria v Real Betis – Viaplay Sports 1 1515, Sevilla v Villarreal – Viaplay Sports 1 1730, Barcelona v Atletico Madrid – ITV4 1930, Viaplay Sports 1 2000; A-League, Newcastle Jets v Melbourne City – TNT Sports 1 0600, Macarthur FC v Adelaide United – TNT Sports 2 0600.
CRICKET: ODI, West Indies v England – TNT Sports 1 1300; Fifth T20, India v Australia – TNT Sports 4 1330.
GOLF: DP World Tour, The Investec South African Open – Sky Sports Golf 0930; PGA Tour, The Hero World Challenge – Sky Sports Golf 1630.
RUGBY UNION: Premiership, Leicester v Newcastle – TNT Sports 2 1430; Premiership Women’s Rugby, Leicester v Loughborough – TNT Sports 2 1715; Top 14, Stade Francais v Toulouse – Viaplay Sports 2 2000.
GRIDIRON: NFL, TBC – Sky Sports NFL 1700, TBC – Sky Sports Main Event 1930, TBC – Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports NFL 2115, Green Bay Packers v Kansas City Chiefs – Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports NFL 0115 (Mon).
SNOOKER: UK Championship – Eurosport 1 1245, 1845, BBC Two England 1300, 1900.
Former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby believes the performance of Alexis Mac Allister could be crucial in the top-of-the-table clash with Manchester City.
While the two teams are generally well-matched in most positions, the hosts boast Rodri, who is regarded as the world’s best in the holding role, while Jurgen Klopp has had to field Mac Allister as a makeshift number six.
It is an unfamiliar position for the Argentina World Cup winner, who is more effective in a slightly more advanced role, but he has been asked to do a job as Liverpool’s all-new midfield still takes shape after a summer overhaul.
Japan international Wataru Endo was one of four midfield arrivals in the summer and while he is accustomed to the defensive job, the 30-year-old has been entrusted with only two Premier League starts and is unlikely to be in consideration against the defending champions.
“When you look at the midfield three, I still think we need to find the right balance and combination,” Molby told the PA news agency at the launch of the club’s Ultimate LFC Experience, a package which includes giving fans the opportunity to train at Melwood – the former home of the men’s team and current training base of the women’s side.
“We’ve managed to get away with that midfield from game to game, but there is every chance Bernardo Silva and Julian Alvarez will be playing in there and he (Mac Allister) will have to look after those and that’s a big job in itself.
“You only have to look at City and what happened when Rodri was out through suspension and they lost games (against Wolves and Arsenal) – that’s how important a world-class number six is.
“When you look at the teams who are doing well, they all have a world-class number six so that’s an area where we might need to look at.
“The majority of games we will get away with it because of the general quality we have, but there might be one or two games where we go ‘we need someone better in that position’.
“That is not a criticism of Alexis as he is not a number six, he is more of a number eight, so the quicker we can get in there the quicker we will improve.”
:: For more information about the Ultimate LFC Experience go to www.liverpoolfc.com/stadium-tours
Nathan Heaney has eyed a middleweight world title fight against Janibek Alimkhanuly after his majority decision victory over Denzel Bentley in Manchester.
The 18-0-0 Heaney became British middleweight champion on Saturday after an expert performance against London’s Bentley.
The Stoke supporter believes last week’s victory makes a future fight at bet365 Stadium more of a reality and set his sights on Alimkhanuly’s WBO and IBF belts.
“Frank (Warren) said the winner (Bentley or Heaney) fights for a world title and I think there’s no reason why I can’t fight Janibek (Alimkhanuly) and do my best,” Heaney told the PA news agency.
“Bentley did a very good job against Alimkhanuly himself (unanimous points defeat).
“Styles make fights and that could be a very exciting thing to happen.
“I want any of the world titles. Janibek has two world titles and so he’d be the best one to fight because you can get two birds with one stone there providing I can beat him.
“It lays the foundation to fulfil my dream which is to fight at Stoke City’s football ground.”
Bentley struggled to deal with the elusive Heaney, who showed signs of brilliance.
https://twitter.com/NathanHeaney/status/1726143846197936259
The undefeated Stoke fighter claimed he “played” with Bentley for 12 rounds and said the victory was emotional.
“Watching the fight back at times I was playing with one of the most dangerous middleweights in the division,” he added.
“He laid out his last title defence in 45 seconds but I’m in there with my hands on my thighs and I’m doing a little shoulder shimmy.
“Steve (Woodvine) told me exactly how to beat Denzel Bentley.
“In the first round I was moving my feet and I thought ‘he can’t close me down’. The plan Steve had set out for me was absolutely perfect.
“It must have been disheartening for him (Bentley) to be told before he’s going to knock me out and then not be able to land a shot on me.
“It was full of emotion. Some fighters online after I boxed behind closed doors said I’ll never get beyond area level.”
Heaney insisted the win was no surprise to him and that it was the best performance of his career.
He said: “It definitely didn’t surprise me (winning) but it did everyone else. It made the win even better because no-one expected it from me.
“Everything was flowing because I was enjoying it so much.
“It’s probably my best performance in terms of how I applied myself and the level of opposition.
“But there’s still lots of areas I could have improved on.
“When they announced me as the new British middleweight champion it gave me validation that I am a good fighter.”
Goshen will have the assistance of Niall Houlihan when he defends his Coral Hurdle title at Ascot on Saturday.
Gary Moore’s seven-year-old has won two of his four starts over timber at the Berkshire track, including when landing this Grade Two event in supreme style 12 months ago.
He benefitted from the rerouting of Constitution Hill on that occasion and his handler is expecting a sterner examination of his stable stalwart this time around.
“Anywhere right-handed he seems to run well, particularly Ascot,” said Moore.
“He’s in good form with himself, but it’s going to be a little bit tougher than it was last year as you have horses on the up and he’s got a penalty this time.
“He’s been ready to run for a while now and hopefully he will be all right.”
Goshen has been partnered in all of his outings under National Hunt rules by the trainer’s son Jamie Moore. But with the 38-year-old on the sidelines with a bad injury suffered earlier this week, steering duties have been passed on to Houlihan.
A key member of the team at Moore’s Lower Beeding operation, the 23-year-old claimed Grade One glory aboard the stable’s Editeur Du Gite in the rearranged Clarence House Chase earlier in the year and now gets another golden opportunity.
“He’s got a different jockey to contend with,” Moore added. “But Niall has ridden him out a lot at home, especially in his younger days when he used to ride him out all the time, so it is only right he gets a go on him.”
Goshen finished just ahead of Nicky Henderson’s Theatre Glory when they clashed at Sandown at the end of last season, but the Canter Banter Racing team who own the six-year-old hope for a different outcome this time, rematching on a sounder surface.
“We’re very excited and she’s in great form,” said Katie Croft, co-founder of Canter Banter Racing alongside David Fehily.
“It is sort of a similar race to what she ran in at the end of last season (at Sandown). I think the ground was a bit soft for her in that last run at Sandown and it just slowed her down a bit.
“She was only beaten a length behind Goshen and I think the tables will turn this time hopefully on a bit better ground.
“I never say she is ground dependent, but I agree her best form is on quicker ground and she thrives flicking off that and we’re going there hopeful.”
Alan King got his hands on this prize with Yanworth in 2016 and will saddle evergreen 11-year-old Sceau Royal, while Paul Nicholls’ sole victory in this race came via Silviniaco Conti in 2010 and he could have an improving youngster on his hands this time in the form of Blueking D’Oroux.
The four-year-old was a winner at the track before going close in a competitive handicap at Aintree in the spring and seemed to take a huge leap forward with a commanding reappearance victory in Cheltenham’s Masterson Holdings Hurdle last month.
“He is highly progressive, a different horse since we gave him a wind op last season,” Nicholls told Betfair.
“I loved the way he won at Cheltenham last month and he will relish the step up in trip to two miles and three furlongs. While he has a bit to find on official ratings I’m expecting a big run from him.”
The field is completed by Ollie Murphy’s Strong Leader, who was a runner-up to Inthepocket in an Aintree Grade One last term, but bitterly disappointed when sent off favourite for the Welsh Champion Hurdle on his return.
Eddie Howe has insisted the decision not to introduce a ban which could have prevented Newcastle from loaning players from Saudi clubs is no great advantage to them.
Premier League clubs this week voted against a move to stop members drafting in players on temporary deals from associated clubs – those who share owners – which had been interpreted as a bid to thwart the Magpies, who had been linked with a January move for Al-Hilal’s Ruben Neves.
Newcastle are 80 per cent owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which also has controlling stakes in four Saudi Pro League clubs including Neves’ employers, and the decision means in theory that they could sign loan deals to bolster their squad in the midst of an injury crisis.
Howe said: “I found it a bit strange that the focus has been solely on us. Every club has a right to vote how they want to vote, and it hasn’t gone through so it’s not just about us.
“It was a Premier League vote – we’re not the only club involved in that vote. I think the majority of clubs in the Premier League own other clubs around the world, so it’s not solely on us, I don’t think.
“Newcastle as a club had a view. We voted our way in the way we’re allowed to, and the vote came out on the side that it did.
“Just from my dealings with it, we’re very relaxed on it. It’s not the be-all and end-all for us.”
Howe’s squad has been ravaged by injuries and suspension in recent weeks, but midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is available for Saturday’s home clash with Chelsea after serving a one-match ban, as is Kieran Trippier after leaving the England squad for personal reasons.
Striker Alexander Isak is close to a return from a groin injury, but Howe is still without the likes of Dan Burn, Sven Botman, Sean Longstaff, Sandro Tonali, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes and Callum Wilson.
Asked if he would consider signing a player from a Saudi club in January, Howe said: “It’s not even in our thoughts at this moment in time.
“It would only be a reaction to the injuries that we have and whether we need to recruit because the majority of our players would be back in January. At this moment in time, we don’t know.”
Howe put the final touches to his preparations for the Chelsea game having watched back his side’s 2-0 defeat at former club Bournemouth on their last outing no fewer than five times in a bid to address what went wrong.
He did so with £55million summer signing Tonali, who is serving a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules, showing just how much of a miss he will be on the training pitch.
Howe said: “You wouldn’t know from our training sessions that he’s unavailable to play and it’s probably been the best we have seen him in training. I’d love to see him when he comes back into the team because I think he will be a huge player for us.”
Mikel Arteta insists he will continue to speak freely on refereeing decisions despite being handed a Football Association charge for comments he made after Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle.
The Gunners boss labelled VAR’s decision to not overturn Anthony Gordon’s 64th minute winner “an absolute disgrace”.
Arteta, who said that he has submitted observations he made during the match to the FA, highlighted the importance of freedom of speech and believes communication is key if the standards of refereeing are to improve.
He said: “I am going to speak (in the future). I think you have to be yourself and as a leader you have to be authentic. You can not be someone you are not and this is who I am.
“We have (sent our observations to the FA) and we will try to give our point and the reasons why and there’s not a lot I can comment on.
“When you get asked to give your observation you have to do it in the right way and there’s a process in place to do that.
“It is good that we are communicating and we all want to improve the game. Referees, managers, officials, sporting directors, journalists, we all want a better game.
“To get a better game we need freedom of speech, respectfully and in a constructive way but we have to promote that.
“It is good that they are talking in front of the media about decisions because it brings clarity.”
Arsenal face Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday bidding to build on their dominant 3-1 victory over Burnley.
Arteta branded the west-London club as one of the best run in the league and reflected on Arsenal’s opening day 2-1 defeat to the Bees in 2021.
“Two years ago we had a really tough start to the campaign there,” Arteta added.
“We have learnt from that, they are a really tough opponent and it’s a really difficult place to go to. They make it extremely difficult, they are really effective, they are well coached and it will be a tough match.
“With Thomas (Frank), the coaching staff and the club, they are one of the best run clubs in the league.
“I’ve followed them for many years and the things they do with their structure and process alongside their vision is incredible to achieve what they have so credit to them.
“They have achieved to get to this level and have maintained it with so many demands as well.”
Arteta also emphasised Takehiro Tomiyasu’s influence at the club despite recent reports linking the defender with a move away from the Emirates.
“I really want him to stay,” Arteta said.
“I value the player a lot and I really like him. He’s loved and respected by everyone at the club, he’s getting a lot of minutes at the moment and he will remain with us.”
George Russell finished fastest in opening practice for the concluding round of the Formula One season in Abu Dhabi.
Triple world champion Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton sat out the first running with 10 rookie drivers blooded at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Three Britons were among them with Zak O’Sullivan, 18, and Jake Dennis, 28, making their Formula One weekend debuts for Williams and Red Bull respectively.
Ollie Bearman, 18, who in Mexico made history by becoming the youngest British debutant at a Grand Prix, was handed his second practice appearance by Haas.
Dennis, in a Red Bull machine which Hamilton has described as the fastest ever seen in Formula One, finished 16th of the 20 runners, 1.1 seconds off the pace.
O’Sullivan was 18th – seven tenths behind Williams’ Logan Sargeant – with Bearman 20th and last, albeit only a tenth slower than Kevin Magnussen in the other Haas.
Mercedes are facing up to ending the season without a single victory – the first time that has happened in 12 years.
But the troubled Silver Arrows will take some confidence from ending the opening running at the top of the order.
Russell finished 0.288 sec clear of Aston Martin stand-in Felipe Drugovich – who finished highest of the substitute drivers – with Daniel Ricciardo third for AlphaTauri.
Valtteri Bottas was fourth in his Alfa Romeo, ahead of Lance Stroll and Oscar Piastri.
The day’s concluding session – which will see the return of Verstappen, Hamilton and McLaren’s Lando Norris – gets under way at 5pm local time (1pm GMT).
Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold believes performances this season provide encouraging evidence they can again push Manchester City all the way in another epic title battle.
After a summer midfield rebuild following a fifth-place finish it was generally expected the realistic aim was to regain their Champions League status but just one controversial defeat sees Jurgen Klopp’s side head into Saturday’s match at the home of the Premier League leaders in second place.
The tantalising prospect is Liverpool will at the very least sustain a challenge like that of 2018-19 and 2021-22, when City pipped their north-west rivals by just a single point, or even go one better like in 2019-20 when they won their first title in 30 years.
But to do that they will have to continue to produce an unerringly-high level of consistency and Alexander-Arnold is well aware of that.
“Last season wasn’t good enough. We brought new players in, it was about adapting as quick as possible and making sure we laid a good foundation at the start of the season,” he said.
“We are in a really strong position and results and form-wise we are doing enough to stay as close as possible to the top of the table.
“So far we’ve performed in a way that is how you would expect someone who can win the league to perform and if we carry this on we should be in and around it come May.
“If that wasn’t the case I would be here saying ‘I want to get back in the top four,’ because, genuinely, there is nothing wrong with that for this team, a team that has just finished outside the Champions League places.
“There is a rebuild going on, a lot of senior players have left, and it would be very normal to say ‘Get back in the top four and push on from there,’ but it (challenging for the title) is something that we believe we can achieve.
“If it doesn’t happen, we have ourselves to blame. We have built a great foundation, it is just about consistency.
“The hardest thing in football is consistently winning games but we have shown we are more than capable of passing (that test).”
While outside observers may have lowered their expectations of Liverpool after their slump, by their own high standards, last season that has not been the feeling within the squad.
Despite the changes made to the personnel – with Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch creating a whole new midfield – Alexander-Arnold said there were plenty of players who had gone head-to-head with City enough times to know what is required.
“Our aim as a team is to win the league and that’s the aim again this season,” he added.
“Our ambition is to be as successful as possible and to maximise the potential we have got as a team and as a club.
“At the start of last season it was the same as at the start of this season: our ambition was to win the league.
“We were nowhere near good enough to get anywhere near that last year and that’s where we needed to put it right this year.
“I think the players who are experienced in being successful with the club all understand what it takes and what’s needed to even challenge a team like City.
“It was about getting that message across as quick as possible to the new players and young players coming in; that responsibility of we need everyone to perform and if we do get players who play really well over the course of the season it will get us closer to the top of the table.
“Last season there were too many of us guys who never hit the levels we were expected to and demand of each other, ultimately that’s how you end up being in fifth place.”
What the papers say
Manchester United are keen to add reinforcements at centre-back with 23-year-old French defender Jean-Clair Todibo and Portuguese defender Goncalo Inacio, 22, reportedly on their list. They are seen as ideal replacements for Raphael Varane, according to The Sun.
Sky Sports reports that Real Betis winger Assane Diao, 18, has emerged as a target for Brentford, with the Premier League club looking to make a move for the Spain Under-21 international in the January transfer window.
Wolves are keen to sign striker Rafiu Durosinmi, but they are not the only ones, the Telegraph reports. Eintracht Frankfurt are also interested in the Nigerian 20-year-old.
Social media round-upPlayers to watch
Rayan Ait-Nouri: Chelsea have added Wolves’ Algeria international to their list of possible targets, according to 90min.
Pedro Neto: Manchester United, Arsenal and several Saudi clubs are all eager to sign the 23-year-old, but keenness may wane as Wolves demand a fee of at least £60m, TEAMtalk reports.
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