The big news: Sadio Mane rescues Liverpool

Sadio Mane scored a dramatic goal in injury time to help Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 in the Merseyside derby on Tuesday. It was a dull encounter at Goodison Park until Mane pounced on a rebound after Daniel Sturridge’s shot struck the post in the 94th minute to earn three points for the Reds.

Both the teams failed to create any chances during 90 minutes of normal time with zero shots on target in the first half. However, Mane’s late winner gave Liverpool their 12th consecutive win against Everton. Liverpool are now second in the table and six points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

Other top stories

  1. Premier League champions Leicester City have appealed against the red card shown to striker Jamie Vardy in Saturday’s 2-2 Premier League draw at Stoke City. Vardy was shown the card for a two-footed tackle on Mame Diouf. If the decision is upheld, Vardy will receive a three-match ban and miss games against Everton, West Ham and Middlesbrough.      
  2. In memory of the Chapecoense FC air disaster, the proposed friendly between Brazil and Colombia to raise money for the team will take place in Rio de Janeiro on January 25, the Brazilian Football Confederation has confirmed. Members of the club, including players of the football team, were among the 71 people who lost their lives when a flight carrying them to Colombia for a match crashed last month. 
  3. Chelsea will refuse offers by rival clubs to secure the services of Beligum forward Michy Batshuayi on loan next month. Batshuayi will make his first Premier League start against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. Batshuayi, a £33.2-million summer signing from Marseille, will play for the suspended Diego Costa following the striker’s fifth caution of the season in the last Premier League game. 
  4. The first Manchester derby to be played outside England will possibly in the United States next summer. Both Premier League clubs will travel to the US in July as part of their 2017 pre-season campaigns. Details are yet to be announced, but both are expected to be involved in the annual International Champions Cup. 
  5. Fifa has fined England, Scotland, Norther Ireland, and Wales for displaying poppies during World Cup qualifiers around Armistice Day. England and Scotland players wore armbands featuring the symbol when they met at Wembley on November 11. England’s Football Association will appeal against the fine of 45,000 Swiss francs (Rs 29.8 lakh), with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland yet to decide.
  6. The Nigerian women’s team was finally paid its dues for winning the 2016 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after two weeks of a sit-in protest at a hotel in Abuja. The team wanted $23,650 (approximately Rs 16 lakh) per player from the Nigeria Football Federation for winning the tournament.