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Manchester City remain top of the Premier League with a game in hand after Leicester City and Manchester United both dropped points last night. United’s recent run of consistent form came to an end as they were beaten 2-1 by bottom club Sheffield United, while Leicester City were held to a 1-1 draw at Everton. Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge of Chelsea ended in a goalless draw with Wolves. Fulham and Brighton also played out a 0-0 draw while Burnley were comeback 3-2 winners against Aston Villa. Tonight Tottenham host champions Liverpool at 8pm.
The GAA is expected to confirm that no intercounty activity will resume until the beginning of March following the Government’s extension of Level 5 lockdown. Although elite matches and training are allowed under current restrictions, the GAA has chosen not to green-light a return to intercounty training.
The Six Nations organisers are still awaiting approval from the French government for France to travel to Dublin for their round-two game against Ireland on Valentine’s Day and their ensuing matches against Scotland (home), England (away) and Wales (home). Ulster have signed Glasgow Warriors forward Leone Nakarawa, the Fijian second or backrower was named European Player of the Year in 2018 while at Racing 92.
Meanwhile Sonia O’Sullivan’s column comes from Melbourne where she enjoyed watching the Zatopek athletics meet with 1,000 other spectators this week: “I was sitting on one of the park benches at the Box Hill running track in east Melbourne on Tuesday evening, enjoying the warm temperatures and a cold bottle of Furphy Beer, engrossed in the distance running unfolding in front of us.” Emmet Malone reports that of the Women’s National League’s nine sides in 2020, seven required, or at least encouraged, their players to make annual contributions, generally put at between €350 and €500.