Patriots overcome Broncos and brutal, snowy conditions to book place in Super Bowl

• New England Patriots 10–7 Denver Broncos

• Patriots will play Seahawks in Super Bowl LX

They’re back.

The New England Patriots conquered an over-achieving understudy in a Denver snowstorm to return to the Super Bowl for the first time in seven years and are one win away from a worst-to-first triumph masterminded by a new head coach and a stellar sophomore quarterback.

Published: January 25, 2026, 11:22 pm

Seahawks set up Patriots Super Bowl clash after beating Rams in barnburner

• Los Angeles Rams 27–31 Seattle Seahawks

• Darnold and Stafford shine in high-class QB duel

• Patriots grind out AFC championship in snow

Sam Darnold threw for three touchdowns, the Seahawks’ “Dark Side” defense came up with a critical fourth-down stop, and Seattle advanced to the Super Bowl, beating the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in an electrifying NFC championship game on Sunday.

“It’s amazing,” Darnold said. “To be able to do it with these guys in this locker room, though, with this coaching staff, that’s why it means the world to me.”

Published: January 26, 2026, 3:12 am

Spotless Pegula ends Keys’ Australian Open reign with serve of apple pie and cheese

Sixth seed marches into quarter-finals with 6-3, 6-4 victory while the defending champion must pay forfeit agreed on with her podcast co-host

While speaking on a podcast before her big match against Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula was discussing their battle last January in the Adelaide final. Keys’s performance, Pegula recalled, had prompted Pegula to accurately predict to their mutual friends that Keys would win the Australian Open two weeks later. It is normal for players to discuss future opponents, but they do not usually do so in conversation with each other. With a chuckle, Keys interjected: “Jess is like, ‘I hope I don’t see that level [tomorrow].’”

She did not. Keys’s reign at the Australian Open came to a difficult end in the fourth round as the defending champion and ninth seed was crushed under the weight of her hefty unforced error count and a spotless performance from Pegula, the sixth seed, who marched into the quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-4 win. This was, in some ways, a historic match on Rod Laver Arena: the first grand slam singles match between two podcast co-hosts.

Published: January 26, 2026, 3:32 am

‘Alex Pretti was murdered’: NBA’s Haliburton among sports stars to condemn Minnesota killing

• 37-year-old shot dead by federal agents on Saturday

• Angel Reese and Ryan Clark also post about shooting

• Hall of famer Alan Page reportedly at anti-ICE protests

A number of prominent US sports stars have condemned the killing of a registered nurse, Alex Pretti, by federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday.

Pretti, 37, is the second person shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis in less than three weeks as protests over Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown sweep the city. Senior Trump administration officials have claimed Pretti intended to “massacre” federal officers with a handgun but video of the killing appears to contradict those claims.

Published: January 25, 2026, 1:28 pm

‘We got punished’: Arteta rues errors as Arsenal’s title tilt stalls with United loss

• Zubimendi mistake led to Mbeumo equaliser

• ‘We were dominant … after we gave them the goal’

Mikel Arteta blamed individual errors for Arsenal’s 3-2 defeat against Manchester United, on a weekend when their lead in the Premier League title race was cut to four points.

Arsenal were 1-0 up when the game was transformed by Martín Zubimendi’s mis‑hit back-pass, which presented Bryan Mbeumo with an equaliser. United scored with outstanding strikes from distance by Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha in the second half to stun the leaders.

Published: January 25, 2026, 9:10 pm

Mikaela Shiffrin clinches record ninth world slalom title as Olympics loom

• American seals title with two races to spare

• 30-year-old will be favorite for Olympic gold

Mikaela Shiffrin has locked up the slalom season title with the Olympics looming to become the first skier in the six-decade history of the World Cup with nine season titles in one discipline.

The American star might have to share her record soon, though, as US teammate Lindsey Vonn has eight downhill titles and holds a commanding lead in those standings.

Published: January 25, 2026, 4:08 pm

Iva Jovic walking in Venus Williams’ footsteps with Melbourne quarter-final date

• US 18-year-old dismantles Putintseva in dazzling win

• Alcaraz to face De Minaur in men’s quarter-finals

Iva Jovic became the youngest American woman to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open since Venus Williams in 1998, by dismantling the Kazakhstani veteran Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-1 on Sunday.

At 18, Jovic arrived in Melbourne as the youngest player inside the top 100 and the 27th seed has dominated all opposition, rolling through her four matches without dropping a set. Jovic’s third-round win against the No 7 seed, Jasmine Paolini, was the first top-20 win of her career. Still, Jovic rejected the notion that she is swinging freely with nothing to lose.

Published: January 25, 2026, 3:51 pm

Alex Honnold free solos Taipei 101 skyscraper in live Netflix climb

US climber takes an hour and half to scale one of Asia’s tallest buildings without ropes or a harness

The US rock climber Alex Honnold climbed one of Asia’s tallest skyscrapers without ropes or a harness on Sunday, fulfilling an ambition that began more than a decade ago and which he hoped would inspire people to pursue their own challenges because “time is finite”.

Honnold, who starred in the 2019 Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo, ascended the 508-metre (1,667ft) Taipei 101 using the skyscraper’s horizontal metal beams to pull himself up with his bare hands. The challenge had originally been scheduled to take place on Saturday but was postponed because of rain.

Published: January 25, 2026, 1:05 pm

Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action

Casemiro is thriving under Michael Carrick, Newcastle look short of ideas and Sean Dyche takes aims at … towels?

Casemiro will depart Manchester United this summer. His four years in English football have been mixed but he may yet go out on a high. At one point in his first season, such as his performance in the 2023 League Cup final, he was hailed as the club’s best signing since Eric Cantona. He never lived up to that billing, the accusation that United had overpaid for someone who left his legs in Madrid. At the Emirates in 2026, just as against Manchester City the previous week, he showed his muscle memory endures. Kobbie Mainoo is a project player for Michael Carrick. Mainoo can learn much in his remaining months alongside Casemiro, who completed the 90 minutes at Arsenal and retained his influence. United are linked with younger midfielders in Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson. They may now have something to live up to. John Brewin

Match report: Arsenal 2-3 Manchester United

Match report: Newcastle 0-2 Aston Villa

Match report: Burnley 2-2 Tottenham

Match report: Manchester City 2-0 Wolves

Published: January 26, 2026, 8:00 am

Arteta’s team of ruthless cyborgs malfunction in way that is all too human | Jonathan Wilson

Arsenal let game slip against Manchester United and need to quickly press the reset button

And then the gap was down to four points. It is still four points, but the thought that Arsenal will struggle to suppress is that it could have been more, that it should have been more.

Manchester City have won only one of their past five in the league, but Arsenal have not opened up clear water. Against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, they failed to take advantage of City slip‑ups, drawing both those games 0-0, and that left them vulnerable to a game such as this. From an Arsenal point of view, the title race is disturbingly alive.

Published: January 25, 2026, 8:52 pm

Liverpool pull out of talks with Spurs over Andy Robertson transfer

• Liverpool have no cover for Robertson and Milos Kerkez

• Left-back, whose deal ends in June, has not asked to go

Liverpool have pulled out of talks with Tottenham over their approach for Andy Robertson. Spurs made their move late last week as Thomas Frank sought to add much-needed experience to his squad.

Liverpool listened to the approach in recognition of Robertson’s contribution to the club in the last eight and a half years and the fact he is out of contract in the summer.

Published: January 26, 2026, 11:10 am

Football transfer rumours: Trent Alexander-Arnold to join Manchester City?

Today’s rumours are fixing a hole

The thing about the transfer market that a few people forget is that not every deal comes off. Andy Robertson’s move to Tottenham from Liverpool, a head scratcher for many, seems to be OFF. It appears that Liverpool have pulled the plug over a lack of defensive options, with Saturday’s loss at Bournemouth helping them come to that decision. A long-term option, this summer, to the left-back conundrum, is said to be Antonee Robinson of Fulham.

Another factor in Liverpool’s slide this season, though some fans may only admit this through gritted teeth, was the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold. To compound the misery on that score, there’s talk that Manchester City, without a senior right-back, might attempt to loan “Trent” from Real Madrid. Or even buy him this summer. That’s a move that might set the Mersey to boiling over.

Published: January 26, 2026, 8:30 am

A Saturday and a state killing: soccer as Minnesota is torn apart | Jeff Rueter

On the whims of Fifa’s Peace Prize winner, a life usually so focused on sports has found anything but peace

It’s Saturday morning, and news breaks shortly after the Premier League kickoff window; another member of your community has been brutally killed in the streets by ICE. There are already a few videos on social media, depicting multiple angles of the grotesque scene. This killing, like the one before, has felt inevitable – because of the actions of the federal government, and in spite of the diligence and peaceful pushback by you and your neighbors.

For more than a decade, watching soccer has been a staple of your Saturday routine, as it is for millions of others. Given that, it was hard not to think about a prize awarded by the sport’s most powerful organization just eight weeks prior, to the president overseeing and encouraging all of this. You know, the medal meant to reward “exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace.” Plenty of people have been joking about this “honor” online since the day it was announced. You were among them in December. Today, you find it hard to laugh.

Published: January 26, 2026, 11:00 am

Michele Kang’s largesse for women’s football leaves Fifa open to bias claims | Tom Garry

Multi-club owner’s Women’s Champions Cup sponsorship creates a conflict of interest, whatever her motivation

You can imagine the meltdown across social media, if Stan Kroenke, Todd Boehly or the Glazer family were to enter into a partnership with the Football Association. Well, women’s football in the United States already took a similar unusual step in November 2024 when US Soccer announced “a historic gift” of $30m (£22m) from Michele Kang, the owner of one of the country’s biggest women’s clubs, Washington Spirit, over a five-year period.

US Soccer labelled the donation as philanthropic – the largest women’s football in the country had ever had – and “non-profit”. Then, in December 2025, US Soccer unveiled the Kang Women’s Institute, a platform “designed to accelerate advancements in the women’s game through science, innovation, and elevated best practices”, and there was surprisingly little public condemnation. Overwhelmingly, the women’s game around the world appeared to celebrate the businesswoman’s generosity rather than questioning this arrangement, because of Kang’s repeatedly stated aim of trying to grow women’s football.

Published: January 26, 2026, 8:00 am

Lucas Paquetá edges towards West Ham exit after £35.8m Flamengo bid

• Brazilian club make improved offer for 28-year-old

• Sale would allow further transfer spending

Flamengo are locked in negotiations with West Ham after making a new £35.8m bid for Lucas Paquetá.

Although the offer has not been accepted there is growing optimism on Flamengo’s side that they will secure the Brazil international. The clubs are focused on the payment structure of the deal and it is understood that it is moving in the right direction.

Published: January 25, 2026, 9:16 pm

Buendía and Watkins stun Newcastle to keep Aston Villa’s title hopes alive

Some wins are a little bit lucky and others downright fluky or simply ground out, but this Aston Villa victory belonged to a different category entirely.

A triumph secured by goals from the impressive Emiliano Buendía and Ollie Watkins, and illuminated by Morgan Rogers’s skill, was firmly of the sort that can be filed under “thoroughly deserved”.

Published: January 25, 2026, 4:17 pm

European football: Lamine Yamal’s stunning strike caps Barcelona win over Real Oviedo

• Three second-half goals put Barça back on top

• Juventus beat Napoli to leave title challenge in tatters

Barcelona capitalised on two defensive mistakes by bottom-of-the-table Real Oviedo to seal a 3-0 victory at a rain-drenched Camp Nou, regaining top spot in La Liga. Goals from Dani Olmo, Raphinha and, acrobatically, Lamine Yamal powered the Catalan club to 52 points, one ahead of Real Madrid, while Atlético Madrid trail in third on 44.

Barça struggled to break the deadlock against a spirited Oviedo until they finally found the breakthrough in the 52nd minute, with Olmo striking home following a defensive lapse. Five minutes later, Oviedo’s struggles deepened, with the defender David Costas under-hitting a back-pass, which Raphinha intercepted before calmly chipping the onrushing Aarón Escandell in Oviedo’s goal to double Barcelona’s lead. Lamine Yamal wrapped up Barça’s win by scoring in the 73rd minute with a brilliant acrobatic volley from an Olmo cross.

Published: January 25, 2026, 10:31 pm

Cricket’s ‘holy grail’ for $460,000: Don Bradman baggy green sells at auction

The cap, which Bradman wore in his final home Test series, had been ‘hidden for 75 years’

A baggy green cap worn by the Australian cricket great Sir Donald Bradman has sold for $460,000 to an anonymous buyer at a Gold Coast auction.

Bradman wore the cap during the 1947-48 series against India – his final home Test series before retiring in 1948 with a career batting average of 99.94, earning him the reputation as cricket’s greatest batter.

Published: January 26, 2026, 6:49 am

Jessica Pegula defeats Madison Keys in straight sets – as it happened

Sixth seed knocks out defending champion 6-3, 6-4
Three US women through to quarterfinals

Pegula (6) 1-0 Keys (9)* Pegula, in Adidas orange, holds to love. Keys, in Nike lemon and lime, mentioned in their podcast she was wary of her friend’s drop shots, which proved prescient when a delicate angle from Pegula secured the game.

Pegula has breezed through the draw so far, dropping just ten games. Keys has yet to lose a set but has been made to work harder. Fortunately her serve remains massive, and her 194kmh effort is the second fastest so far in the women’s draw.

Published: January 26, 2026, 2:36 am

Arsenal 2-3 Manchester United: Premier League – as it happened

Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha scored outrageous goals as Man Utd came from behind to stun the league leaders

This, from my MBM colleague Tim de Lisle, is a terrific read on what Michael Carrick’s Manchester United did so well last weekend.

United showed more intensity than usual, as you’d expect in a derby, but they also showed more composure. Carrick had called for it beforehand, and as possibly the calmest player ever seen in a United shirt, he speaks with some authority on the subject. When Amad broke away in the 33rd minute, he coolly rounded Donnarumma and rolled the ball into an empty net. When Fernandes broke away eight minutes later, he went one better, landing a defender on his backside after rounding the keeper. Both goals were disallowed, but they stood as statements of intent.

It’s never the same again! Every game is different but we’ve had a good week and we’re in good shape. We understand this has been a tough place to come for many teams. But we’re going into the game in a good spirit and that’s the most important thing.

Published: January 25, 2026, 7:24 pm

Newcastle v Aston Villa, Crystal Palace v Chelsea and more: football clockwatch – as it happened

Villa win at Newcastle, Chelsea take the points at struggling Palace, and Forest record a crucial victory at Brentford

Oh, but here’s Rosenior, explaining that Cole Palmer isn’t fit to play today, but has a chance of making Wednesday’s trip to Naples.

He notes that the league is close and physical, but he has good players and is excited to see where the project goes – the club “demands winning in this moment”. There aren’t many days on the training pitch, but he hopes the work they’re doing with the team and with individuals are working.

Published: January 25, 2026, 4:35 pm

Leicester City sack Martí Cifuentes after dropping to 14th in Championship

• Departure was ‘difficult decision’, says Foxes’ owner

• Andy King will take interim charge for Charlton match

Leicester have sacked Martí Cifuentes after dropping to 14th in the Championship. The club held crunch boardroom talks on Sunday before deciding to relieve the manager of his position.

The Foxes slumped to a humiliating home defeat against a struggling Oxford United on Saturday and have won only one of their past five matches. Andy King, the club’s former Premier League-winning midfielder who has been first‑team coach since last season, will take interim charge but Leicester are expected to appoint an external successor.

Published: January 25, 2026, 4:21 pm

Australian Open 2026: Shelton v Ruud; Swiatek swats aside Inglis, Sinner defeats Darderi – live

All the latest Melbourne updates as last 16 continues
Pegula ends Keys’ reign | Follow on Bluesky | Mail Daniel

Down break point at 0-2 1-2, Darderi locates an ace, but he must soon handle another, Sinner dashing in to put away a volley having cracked a forehand to the corner. But a netted return restores deuce and from there he closes out the game before celebrating by petulantly throwing down a towel next to his coach. Meantime, Swiatek is doing all she can to prevent Inglis getting on the board, an overhead dispatched with prejudice saving game point at 3-0.

Swiatek breaks Inglis immediately for 2-0 and though, as she seeks to consolidate, she’s taken to deuce, she eventually prevails. She can play a lot better than this – and if she wins, against Rybakina, she’ll have to.

Published: January 26, 2026, 11:37 am

Sam Darnold: after five teams and plenty of mockery, ‘Ginger Cuz’ reaches the Super Bowl

The Seattle Seahawks quarterback has endured a rocky NFL career. But in the biggest game of his career, he delivered the performance of a lifetime

Moments after clinching a Super Bowl berth, Sam Darnold strolled over for his obligatory television interview. He was thrilled; the Seahawks had just toppled the Rams in a 31-27 thriller. But he was also measured. Unlike receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who would follow and was teeming with emotion, Darnold simply spoke about his love for his teammates. And when asked about his improbable journey, he replied, “I haven’t really thought about it that much.”

He may not have, but the rest of us have. And whether Darnold likes it or not, his comeback story will be the prevailing storyline of Super Bowl 60. How can it not, especially after the quarterback saved what may have been the best performance of his life for Seattle’s third, and most important, tilt with the Rams this season.

Published: January 26, 2026, 8:15 am

NFC championship game: Los Angeles Rams 27-31 Seattle Seahawks – as it happened

• Seahawks earn place at Super Bowl LX against Patriots

• Darnold and Stafford shine in high-scoring slugfest

Super Bowl LX? Wasn’t Super Bowl L just a few years ago?

Cute ad in which a young girl mimics figure skater Ilia Malinin. I’m duty-bound to inform you that I will indeed be in the commentary position for some Winter Olympics action in a couple of weeks, and that Malinin is from my town.

Published: January 26, 2026, 3:13 am

AFC Championship game in the NFL: New England Patriots 10-7 Denver Broncos – as it happened

• Patriots earn trip to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara

• Follow Los Angeles Rams v Seattle Seahawks

Patriots 0-0 Broncos 12:00, 1st quarter

Denver’s defense come up big and force a three and out of their own. Two failed runs put the ball in Drake Maye’s hands and he almost throws a pick to Talanoa Hufanga. The punt puts the Broncos on their own 40-yard line. Decent position.

Published: January 25, 2026, 11:15 pm