Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com

Hughes questions call for Januzaj protection
Agüero could be out for eight weeks
Sunderland v Chelsea – as it happened | Barry Glendenning
Danny Welbeck reaping dividends of extra training, says David Moyes
Liverpool in talks with Suárez's agent over new contract
Everton a loan haven, say Martínez
Perth Glory search for coach after sacking Alistair Edwards
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea (aet)
Guangzhou Evergrande 0-3 Bayern Munich | Club World Cup semi-final
Leicester City 1-3 Manchester City | Capital One Cup match report
Leicester City 1-3 Man City
Sir Alex Ferguson autobiography on course to top Christmas books chart
Mackay to stay at Cardiff despite Tan criticism
Players' union Fifpro to take transfer system to European courts
Tim Sherwood ready for fiery Tottenham baptism against West Ham | David Hytner
The Fiver | Sportz newz storiez with attitude
Jack Wilshere charged by FA over middle finger gesture to City fans
Sam Allardyce focused on West Ham's problems, not Villas-Boas sacking
When Thierry met Arsène: Henry tells of plane journey with Wenger that made history – video
World Cup stadium site in Manaus 'rated zero for safety', say builders
Danny Wilson confirmed as Barnsley manager for second time
Michael Owen at launch of UK-Afghan football partnership – video
Football transfers: 10 of 2013's most interesting moves – video
European leagues review: players, teams and Liverpool's title challenge
The rise and rise of Liverpool's Jordan Henderson since 'Gait-gate' | Sachin Nakrani

Hughes questions call for Januzaj protection

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 03:31 PM PST

• 'You have to let kids stand on their own two feet'
• Stoke manager says teenager 'gets a lot of decisions'

Mark Hughes, the Stoke City manager, has responded to David Moyes's calls for referees to give 18-year-old Adnan Januzaj more protection by suggesting the Manchester United winger gets more than his share of free-kicks and that there comes a time when "you have to let kids stand on their own two feet".

Moyes claimed after Sunday's 3-0 win at Aston Villa that opponents were "queueing up to kick" Januzaj in every game and, in terms of the role of the officials, said "it's terrible what they are allowing to go on at the moment". Hughes said that it was natural for Moyes to defend his players but, recalling Stoke's 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford in October, when Wilson Palacios and Stephen Ireland were booked for fouls on Januzaj, disputed the United manager's belief that fouls on the 18-year-old are going unpunished.

"Managers always protect their players," Hughes said in the buildup to Wednesday night's Capital One Cup quarter-final at the Britannia Stadium. "Januzaj is a big talent and I'm sure he will be a big talent for many years to come. Sometimes you have to let kids stand on their own two feet and get on with it."

Asked about Januzaj being targeted by opponents, Hughes said: "We don't do that but it can happen. Januzaj seems to garner a number of fouls and get a lot of decisions. In our game he got five free-kicks in a very short space of time, and at the time I didn't think they were fouls. So maybe that's a side of his game that needs to be looked at as well."

Hughes believes that his former United team-mate Ryan Giggs will be mentoring Januzaj, and said that the Welshman knew all about how to handle the physical side of the game by the time he broke through at Old Trafford.

"Ryan was playing in the Lancashire A and B leagues and had to go to Marine away. When you're a 14-year-old kid and have to go up against men, you have to deal with that early and learn very quickly how to jump out of tackles."

With United looking vulnerable at times this season and Stoke on a run of only one defeat in their past eight matches, Hughes said that his players have no fear about facing the champions. "A lot of teams have gone to Old Trafford and had a go. I've been encouraged by the success they've had – and I include ourselves in that.

"We were 12 minutes away from getting a result from a great performance.

Opposition teams are now thinking they can get something if they are positive. We did that against Chelsea [in the 3-2 win earlier this month] and it worked – I think it's a change of attitude."

Stuart James

Agüero could be out for eight weeks

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 03:18 PM PST

• Sergio Agüero suffering from calf injury
• Pablo Zabaleta joins City's injury list at Leicester

Manuel Pellegrini has revealed that Sergio Agüero will be out for up to eight weeks with his calf injury, casting doubt on the Manchester City striker's involvement in the first leg of the last-16 Champions League tie against Barcelona.

The City manager had initially hoped that Agüero would be out for little more than a month but the latest prognosis is that the Argentinian could be on the sidelines until a week before the first leg against Barcelona at the Etihad on 18 February, leaving him desperately short of match fitness.

"I am not a doctor so it's very difficult," Pellegrini said when asked for an update on Agüero. "The doctor has said that he has at least one month or eight weeks [out]. We'll see. I don't know how many weeks but it will be at least one month."

In another injury blow, Pablo Zabaleta limped off with a pulled hamstring only 11 minutes into the 3-1 victory over Leicester. With Micah Richards sidelined with the same problem, City will go into the busy festive period short of a right-back. "Pablo has a problem with his hamstring, we'll see tomorrow how serious it is," Pellegrini said. "That was the only bad thing of this game. Of course [it is a concern given Micah is out for month]. We don't have a full-back. We will see tomorrow what happened with Pablo but we will see what we have to do in that position. For sure for Saturday [against Fulham] he will not be fit."

Stuart James

Sunderland v Chelsea – as it happened | Barry Glendenning

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:34 PM PST

Minute-by-minute report: Ki Sung-yueng scored a late, late winner as Sunderland knocked Chelsea out of the Capital One Cup.

Barry Glendenning

Danny Welbeck reaping dividends of extra training, says David Moyes

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST

• Striker urged by Manchester United manager to copy Rooney
• 'Wayne's out there practising his finishing each day'

David Moyes had to talk to Danny Welbeck about the need to be "last off the training field" to improve his game and pointed to Wayne Rooney as an example.

Welbeck scored twice in Sunday's 3-0 win at Aston Villa to take his total to five for the season. Robin van Persie's absence for a month because of a groin injury gives the 23-year-old striker a chance of an extended run yet Moyes was surprised that he had to speak to Welbeck regarding his need to give more to improve.

"A little bit, yes," the United manager said. "I think the young boys here are educated to keep improving and practice, but sometimes you can, without knowing, slip away from that. Everybody told me that he scored only one goal last season but I think he's got about five this season, so that's a positive start for him. He's been out with [a knee] injury but he needs to score more goals."

Moyes used Rooney to make the point to Welbeck. "I've got to say we had a word with him about a month ago and we said that he needs to be the last off the training field.

"Wayne's out there practising his finishing each day, whether it's taking free-kicks, shooting from tight angles or bending them in, whatever it may be Wayne's practising. I said: 'Danny, you need to be out there every day finishing, even if it's 15 minutes at the end.'"

Welbeck took the advice. "He did and to be fair he's out [there]," Moyes added. "If you remember when he got through against Villa on the right and just pulled it past the post [to score], it was similar practice to what he's been doing regularly. I thought: 'Here you go, put your practice into operation here.' He's a quick boy and all-round I think Danny has got an awful lot of attributes and he just has to say: 'Hey, come on, I'm going to have to take this on to another level.' We're trying to get him to do that.

"What gets you a game as a striker? Goals. Whether you score them inside the box or outside the box, from distance or from tap-ins, if you want to be a striker in the Premier League and especially at a club like Manchester United you have to be a goalscorer."

Asked if Welbeck needs more edge as a forward, Moyes said: "He has a bit of that, but you can be nice and you can be a good centre-forward and a really good player. I think he needs to say: 'This is what I do and this is what I have to do regularly.' We challenged them a bit on Sunday, told them to stand up a bit here and I thought Danny rose to the challenge and took the bait. I think he said: 'OK, I'll show you,' and that was good for him and good for the team."

Shinji Kagawa is training again after the illness that ruled him out of the trip to Villa.

Jamie Jackson

Liverpool in talks with Suárez's agent over new contract

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST

• Liverpool keen to avoid another summer of transfer rumour
• Suárez receives award from Football Supporters' Federation

Liverpool have opened talks with Luis Suárez's agent over the new contract they hope will keep the brilliant Uruguay international at Anfield and out of the reach of Europe's richest clubs for the prime of his career.

The Anfield club's managing director, Ian Ayre, flew to Barcelona on Tuesday for preliminary negotiations with Pere Guardiola, the agent involved in the striker's dispute with Liverpool over the terms in his existing deal when Arsenal tried to sign him in the summer.

Suárez has two and a half years remaining on his contract and Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group, have been reluctant to offer extensions midway through a season. Such has been Suárez's stunning form since his return from suspension on 25 September, with his 17 goals in 11 matches propelling Liverpool to within two points of the Premier League leaders, Arsenal, that those plans have been revised.

There was no official contract offer put to Guardiola by Ayre. Their meeting was merely the start of what could prove a protracted process, with the brother of the Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola well aware of how highly Suárez's stock has risen this season. Real Madrid were interested in the 26-year-old in the summer but did not lodge an official bid, although they are expected to again be among Suárez's suitors at the end of this campaign.

Liverpool hope to head off another summer of speculation over the striker's future by offering to make Suárez the highest-paid player at Anfield at a time when his career is flourishing under Brendan Rodgers.

The rehabilitation of the Premier League's leading goalscorer was reflected in a rare individual accolade on Monday, when he was named the 2013 player of the year at the Football Supporters' Federation Awards at the Emirates Stadium.

Suárez chose "coming back to play" at Anfield as his highlight of the year and credited his relationship with the Liverpool supporters as the key to his recovery.

He said: "After so many difficult moments for me I was able to win the supporters back, and that was unbelievable when I came back to play."

Andy Hunter

Everton a loan haven, say Martínez

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST

• European clubs have been offering Everton players
• 'We are perceived as a good base to ground prospects'

Roberto Martínez has claimed leading clubs throughout Europe want Everton to take their young players on loan next season following the impact of Romelu Lukaku and Gerard Deulofeu at Goodison Park.

Lukaku is Everton's leading goalscorer and has been almost ever-present since his season-long signing from Chelsea, while the on-loan Barcelona forward Deulofeu was starting to feature and impress more regularly before suffering a hamstring injury against Fulham on Saturday.

Everton's manager worked the loan market successfully in the summer, also acquiring Gareth Barry from Manchester City under rules that allow a Premier League club to sign four players on temporary transfers during a season. He believes the playing time given to Deulofeu and Lukaku, and the possession-based game that has helped take Everton to within a point of the top four, has made Goodison an attractive proposition to clubs seeking to develop young assets.

"Clubs have been offering us players," said Martínez, who may make another loan signing in January. "They have seen the other loanees and how well they have been looked after. It hasn't happened with the clubs in the UK but it has happened from abroad. We have had phone calls from clubs asking about taking their players for next season. They see it as a perfect step up in their career.

"Put yourself as a director of football. You spend £20m on a youngster but there is no place for him in your team yet. Where are you going to send him? You aren't going to send him somewhere that he is not going to develop or be at a club with a different style. That's a danger. You are not bothered about making the team, you are sending him to get stronger.

"When you have got a big investment, you cannot give it away easily. I think that you want to make sure that the next step is the right one for a player's development. Teams that have got great investments for their squads will want them to come to Everton rather than elsewhere. That is a compliment. And it is something that is very important for us."

Lukaku has scored eight league goals this season, more than any striker at his parent club, Chelsea, to raise questions over why José Mourinho allowed the Belgium international to again leave on loan following a successful spell at West Bromwich Albion.

Martínez said: "Chelsea are delighted with Romelu. He can't play against them. The other week he helped take two points off Arsenal, three points off United. That is the way you are looking at it [if you are Chelsea]. It is perfect for them.

"You are not going to stop every team but if you can stop your rivals then you are doing well."

Andy Hunter

Perth Glory search for coach after sacking Alistair Edwards

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:26 PM PST

Perth Glory hope to appoint an interim coach by Thursday after sacking Alistair Edwards

Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea (aet)

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:26 PM PST

• Barry Glendenning's minute-by-minute report

Ki Sung-yeung scored a dramatic extra-time winner to send Sunderland into the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night.

Chelsea controlled much of the tie and were just two minutes away from the last four when they fell to an 88th minute equaliser from substitute Fabio Borini in stoppage time.

And, Ki, another substitute, also left it late before finding space inside the area to drive a low shot past Mark Schwarzer in the 118th minute, shortly after the keeper made a superb save from the same player.

Chelsea looked bemused at the end, uncertain how the match had slipped away from them after an own goal from Lee Cattermole had left them on the brink of claiming a place in the last four in normal time.

Many in a half-empty stadium were heading for the exits when Sunderland scored an unlikely equaliser after troubling Schwarzer only once throughout the tie. The danger looked to have passed when a shot from Jozy Altidore was blocked with the Chelsea defence in disarray for the only time in the game. But the ball fell to Borini, who steadied himself before steering the ball into the far corner from a narrow angle. Sunderland went on to dominate the extra 30 minutes.

Chelsea had taken the lead within the first minute of the second-half with a goal awarded to Cattermole, the sixth own goal they have scored in 11 games, although Frank Lampard also got a touch as they challenged for the ball.

With £140m of talent on their bench, the visitors appeared to be cruising into the final four until Borini's equaliser. Nonetheless, the evening had started with a degree of encouragement for Sunderland, whose manager, Gus Poyet, had joked that he had considered phoning Mourinho to ask him to leave out Eden Hazard. Poyet didn't make the call, but he got his wish. The Belgian, who had mesmerised Sunderland when Chelsea won 4-3 here in the Premier League a fortnight ago, was on the bench.

Others who figured in that enthralling seven-goal encounter were also among the Chelsea substitutes as Mourinho left out eight of the team that beat Crystal Palace in their last league game.

One of the absentees – Branislav Ivanovic – was enforced through suspension, guaranteeing Ashley Cole a return as César Azpilicueta switched to right-back.

Perhaps Chelsea were marginally weakened; they certainly weren't weak, with Jamal Blackman, a 20-year-old third-choice goalkeeper from Croydon being the only non-international among their 18 players.

Poyet, as he promised, resisted the temptation to tinker on a similar scale with his side, although Phil Bardsley – a scorer at both ends in the earlier meeting – was among three omitted.

Nevertheless, Sunderland needed longer to settle into any rhythm, while Chelsea's early aggression produced only routine saves for Vito Mannone from André Schürrle and Willian.

Samuel Eto'o was also allowed too much space on the edge of the area, but was able to produce shots that only emphasised his lack of match sharpness.

The main danger to Sunderland came from the men ranged behind Samuel Eto'o. Schürrle drove a pass across the face of the goal in the 18th minute, with nobody available to tap it in. Then Willian went close with an angled shot after Sunderland's marking on the edge of the box was again negligent. Schürrle was similarly off-target five minutes before the interval.

It was a first-half in which Sunderland created little, although one break by Emanuele Giaccherini was promising before it was halted by David Luiz's cynical body-check. The yellow card was inevitable.

Andrea Dossena, the Sunderland full-back, was also cautioned and was a central figure in the only episode when Poyet's team threatened a breakthrough in the opening half. With 32 minutes gone, Dossena's cross struck Azpilicueta on the arm just inside the area. The referee, Anthony Taylor, decided it was accidental, despite being given lengthy guidance by the Sunderland captain, John O'Shea, on the handball law.

Poyet might have sensed during the interval that Sunderland could repeat their 1985 semi-final victory over Chelsea in this competition, but was given a reality check within 38 seconds of the restart. That was how long Chelsea needed to go ahead as De Bruyne set up Azpilicueta for a cross that found Lampard sliding in with Cattermole. Both got a touch, but the goal was awarded to Cattermole – a decision that will be disputed by Lampard. The referee indicated it had been awarded with the help of goalline technology, which should not have been needed as it was clearly over the line.

As Chelsea looked for a second, Samuel Eto'o dragged wide after intercepting from Craig Gardner. De Bruyne also went close with a shot that was deflected onto the roof of the net.

Cattermole did his best to emulate team-mate Phil Bardsley's feat of scoring at both ends when he was responsible for a rare Sunderland threat in the 70th minute. They finally strung together passes down the left, creating the space for Cattermole to test Schwarzer with a shot that swerved in front of the Australian, who managed to beat it away.

Schürrle, who had been involved in most of Chelsea's best moves, was a threat again in the 76th minute with a shot that Mannone dealt with well. And, while Sunderland enjoyed more possession in the closing stages, there was little in the final third to make the 20,731 crowd – half the normal league attendance – think there was a route into the semi-final.

They were hardly encouraged when Chelsea were able to send on Hazard for the final minutes, but he had to play far longer than expected when Borini took the game into extra time. Ki provided the coup de grace.

Guangzhou Evergrande 0-3 Bayern Munich | Club World Cup semi-final

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 01:58 PM PST

• Guangzhou Evergrande 0-3 Bayern Munich
• Franck Ribéry 40, Mario Mandzukic 44, Mario Götze 47

Bayern Munich made predictably light work of Guangzhou Evergrande, dispatching China's Asian champions 3-0 in their Club World Cup semi-final and hitting the woodwork five times on Tuesday.

Franck Ribéry and Mario Mandzukic, aided by poor defending, scored twice in a five-minute spell before half-time to put Bayern in control and Mario Götze completed the win early in the second half against determined but lightweight opponents.

The Guangzhou goalkeeper Zeng Cheng made some good saves in the second half and his team-mates defended doggedly to keep the score respectable.

Bayern will face either the South American champions, Atlético Mineiro, or the Moroccan champions, Raja Casablanca, who meet on Wednesday, in Saturday's final.

Bayern completely dominated the first half, with 70% possession, and sometimes gave the impression they could score at will.

Thiago Alcântara hit the post with a shot on the turn and Toni Kroos blasted a long-range shot against the underside of the bar. The ball bounced down on to the line, back into the play and the referee, with the aid of goal line technology, played on.

The European champions broke through five minutes before half-time when the Guangzhou defence failed to clear the ball and Ribéry scored with a shot which went under the goalkeeper.

Four minutes later, Huang Bowen lost possession on the edge of the area and Alcântara chipped the ball across to the far post, where an unmarked Mandzukic stooped to head the second.

The second half had barely started when Götze added a third with a looping shot from outside the area which took a slight deflection off a defender.

Götze, Ribéry and Xherdan Shaqiri all hit the post as Guangzhou avoided a complete humiliation.

Leicester City 1-3 Manchester City | Capital One Cup match report

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 01:52 PM PST

The Manchester City goal machine rolls on. On a night when Leicester City supporters were treated to a performance from the X Factor winner Sam Bailey at half-time, it was Manuel Pellegrini's side that hit all the right notes on the pitch, as a superb free-kick from Aleksandar Kolarov and two goals from Edin Dzeko sealed their passage into the Capital One Cup semi-finals and took the club's tally for the season to a staggering 75 goals from 25 games.

Although Lloyd Dyer pulled a goal back for Leicester 13 minutes from time, any hopes that the Championship club had of causing an upset had long been extinguished. Dzeko's second goal, eight minutes after the restart, put the Premier League club 3-0 up on the night, after which they started to ease off and became a little complacent, giving Leicester the encouragement to believe that they could finish with something to show for their efforts.

If Dzeko's opportunist goals were a highlight for City – the Bosnian has now scored nine times this season and he may sense a chance to get a rare run in the team with Sergio Agüero sidelined for a month with a calf injury – the downside for Pellegrini was the sight of Pablo Zabaleta leaving the pitch with a suspected pulled hamstring in the early moments. City now have a problem in the right-back spot ahead of the demanding festive programme.

Otherwise this was a routine win for a Manchester City team playing with supreme confidence and, once again, provided a demonstration of the remarkable depth in Pellegrini's squad. For Leicester, there was certainly no disgrace in losing to a weakened City team that was arguably stronger than the side that won 3-2 at Bayern Munich last week. As for City, they are closing in on another return to Wembley.

Keeping this City side at bay was never going to be easy but Leicester might have hoped to hold out for longer than eight minutes. The opening goal, however, was an absolute beauty, Kolarov's left boot deliciously curling the ball past Kasper Schmeichel and into the top corner from 25 yards. The only surprise was that it was not until four minutes before the interval that the visitors added a second goal, through Dzeko.

Leicester, to their credit, had refused to let the early concession shake their belief. Nigel Pearson's side showed plenty of energy and desire without ever really troubling Joe Hart during an opening 45 minutes when the gulf in class was hardly surprising. Pellegrini is clearly taking this competition seriously. The Manchester City manager made eight changes to the side that thumped six past Arsenal on Saturday but this was still a strong starting XI, with Vincent Kompany captaining the team and David Silva operating behind Dzeko.

Zabaleta was the other City player to retain his place from the Arsenal side but the right-back lasted only 11 minutes. Dzeko's raking pass invited him to break forward on the right but, in a chase with Lloyd Dyer, the Argentinian pulled up, clutching his hamstring. Zabaleta beat the turf in frustration and, accompanied by one of City's medical staff, disappeared down the tunnel. With Micah Richards sidelined with the same problem after breaking down in Munich last week, Zabaleta's was an injury that Pellegrini could have done without.

There was little else to concern the City manager in a first half when his players looked menacing whenever they broke forward. Jack Rodwell, beautifully played in by Dzeko's deft pass, went close as early as the sixth minute when he broke through on the left and drilled a shot that Schmeichel did well to parry.

Up against the club where he made nine appearances before joining Notts County in 2009, Schmeichel produced another fine save in the 24th minute, when Silva's perfectly-weighted first-time ball set Kolarov free on the left flank. The full-back delivered a low centre that Dzeko met first time only for the Leicester goalkeeper to block with his legs.

Dzeko may have sensed it was not going to be his night when his vicious left-footed shot skimmed the outside of the upright but two minutes later the striker had the goal he deserved. Jesús Navas, who had been booked earlier on for a cynical foul on Dyer, released James Milner and the England midfielder's deflected cross was headed in from inside the six-yard box.

Shortly after the restart Dzeko had his second, after some dreadful Leicester defending. Milner received the ball close to the byline from a quick throw-in and was able to pull the ball back for Dzeko to nonchalantly side-foot inside the near post from about 12 yards.

If the game was effectively over at that point, Leicester continued to press and their persistence was rewarded 14 minutes from time. Paul Konchesky, in space on the left, picked out Dyer and the winger drilled a low angled shot that deflected off Kompany and beyond Hart.

Stuart James

Leicester City 1-3 Man City

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 01:40 PM PST

Capital One Cup: City are into the semi-finals after a comfortable victory against Leicester

Sir Alex Ferguson autobiography on course to top Christmas books chart

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 12:11 PM PST

Ferguson's memoir is the year's bestseller, and heads list of celebrity tales and cookbooks in Christmas countdown

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson looks set to be the bestselling author this Christmas, with his memoir still dominating the market in the latest weekly charts .

Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography, published by Hodder and Stoughton, saw off all competition with sales of 79,548, topping the hardback non-fiction table and outselling titles in all other categories, according to books sales monitor Nielsen BookScan.

Since publication in October, when it attracted the largest number of sales in its first week of any non-fiction book on record, Ferguson's autobiography has become the UK's bestseller of the year, selling 647,153 to date.

Neill Denny, industry expert and former editor of the Bookseller, said: "Ferguson has been the standout book of the autumn. It has done better than the book trade thought. It has had exceptional figures and pretty good reviews. So it is a good gift for, perhaps, the less well-known man in your life: the uncle, someone who comes to lunch once in a while."

Ferguson, who managed United for 27 years, is well above QPR manager Harry Rednapp, whose memoir, Always Managing, took the number seven slot with 21,911 sales in the week to 14 December.

Celebrity memoirs and cookery books dominate, as is usual in the countdown to Christmas.

David Jason: My Life, the memoirs of the actor famous for Only Fools and Horses and A Touch of Frost, was in third place in the weekly charts, selling 56,149 copies.

Eat: The Little Book of Fast Food, by Nigel Slater, the broadcaster and Observer columnist's collection of easy recipes for busy people, was in fourth position, selling 29,072.

The annual yuletide Jamie Oliver staple, Save With Jamie: Shop Smart, Cook Clever, Waste Less, was in eight position, up from 10 on the previous week. It is a relatively modest placing for the chef. Last year his cookbook Jamie's 15-minute Meals gave him his fifth Christmas No 1 – and his third in a row.

Tom Kerridge's Proper Pub Food was in 10th place.

Close behind, and in recognition of the popularity of TV show The Great British Bake Off, its presenter's title, Paul Hollywood's Pies and Pubs, was in 11th position, selling 16,307.

Proving autobiographies remain festive favourites, the boxer Mike Tyson was at number 12 with his warts-and-all Undisputed Truth: My Autobiography. Jennifer Saunders also featured, with Bonkers: My Life in Laughs, in 14th position.

Other top titles included perennial favourite, the Guinness World Records 2014, in second place with sales of 58,829, and Ripley's Believe it or Not! 2014, the annual compendium of bizarre facts and features, in sixth place. Mrs Brown's Family Handbook – a spin-off from the popular TV comedy featuring Brendan O'Carroll as the formidable matriarch, claimed the number five slot.

Denny said: "Jamie Oliver has not been much on television recently, so perhaps that has had an effect." He described the Guinness Book of Records as "a reliable family gift" and added that it was a "brilliant piece of marketing".

Topping the paperback non-fiction was – predictably – Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela, which rose from number 10 with weekly sales of 18,151.

Philomena: The True Story of a Mother and the Son She Had to Give Away secured second position. By former BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith, the story of an Irishwoman whose baby was adopted when she gave birth as a teenager in 1952 has been made into a film starring Dame Judi Dench.

Hardback non-fiction weekly chart top 15

1. Alex Ferguson: My Autobiogrphy (Hodder and Stoughton)

2. Guinness World Records 2014 (Guinness World Records)

3. David Jason: My Life (Century)

4. Eat: The Little Book of Fast Food (Fourth Estate)

5. Mrs Brown's Family Handbook (Michael Joseph)

6. Ripleys' Believe it or Not! 2014 (Random House Books)

7. Always Managing, Harry Rednapp (Ebury press)

8. Save with Jamie: Shop Smart, Cook Clever, Waste Less (Michael Joseph)

9. Let me off at the Top! My classy life and other musings by Ron Burgundy (Century)

10 Tom Kerridge's Proper Pub Food (Absolute Press)

11. Paul Hollywood's Pies and Puds (Bloomsbury Publishing)

12. Undisputed Truth: My Autobiography, Mike Tyson (HarperSport)

13. 1,339 QI Facts to Make Your Jaw Drop (Faber and Faber)

14. Bonkers: My Life in Laughs, Jennifer Saunders (Viking)

15.The Moaning of Life: The Worldly Wisdom of Karl Pilkington (Canongate Books)

New author to extend Dragon Tattoo series

The Swedish publisher of the bestselling The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy says it has hired an author to write a sequel to the series by Stieg Larsson, who died in 2004.

Norstedts said on Tuesday it had signed a contract with I am Zlatan author David Lagercrantz for a new book about journalist Mikael Blomqvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander that is scheduled to be published in August 2015.

The head of publishing at Norstedts, Eva Gedin, told the Associated Press the book will be an original work that includes nothing from the fourth book in the series that Larsson began writing but hadn't finished when he died.

Larsson's trilogy has been a huge international success, with more than 75 million books sold in 50 countries.

Caroline Davies

Mackay to stay at Cardiff despite Tan criticism

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 12:10 PM PST

• 'Surprised' manager ready to dig in after owner's comments
• 'I see this as a job that is only three-quarters done'

Malky Mackay has said he has no intention of resigning as Cardiff manager despite Vincent Tan's public criticism of him in a statement that has been greeted with disbelief at the Welsh club. Tan, the Cardiff owner, said he was "extremely upset" with Mackay after the manager said that "it would be great if we could bring in three quality additions" when the transfer window reopens in January.

Responding to the club statement in which Simon Lim, Cardiff's chief executive, said that Tan "has stated that not a single penny will be made available in January", Mackay admitted that he was taken aback to read the comments directed at him, but made it clear he would not countenance stepping down.

"I was surprised obviously, but at the same time my job doesn't change," Mackay told BBC Radio Wales. "It's a job only three-quarters done as far as I am concerned – making Cardiff a sustainable Premier League team.

"I have a great group of players who are competing at this level and enjoying this level. It would be wrong of me to walk away from a job because the owner doesn't want to give me money in January. I have been in situations before when a board has had no money."

Tan undermined Mackay earlier in the season when he sacked Iain Moody, the club's head of recruitment, for allegedly overspending by £15m. Moody, who is now the sporting director at Crystal Palace, disputes that was the case and maintains that he was £4m within budget. Either way, the decision to dismiss Moody was a major blow to Mackay and was interpreted as a sign that Tan was trying to weaken the manager's position and encourage him to resign. The owner's latest comments have done nothing to change that opinion.

Mackay, however, has the backing of the supporters and intends to stay put. The Scot is proud of the job he has done since taking over two and a half years ago, which includes leading the club to the League Cup final and restoring Cardiff to the top flight for the first time in 51 years. He is determined to secure their Premier League status this season and also knows that he will pick up a significant pay-off if his contract is terminated.

Stuart James

Players' union Fifpro to take transfer system to European courts

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 11:59 AM PST

• Despite Bosman ruling and 2001 deal, 'players are shackled'
• 'The transfer system fails 99% of players,' says union chief

The international players' union Fifpro is to launch a legal challenge against the transfer system claiming it is still "shackling" footballers to their clubs.

The system was agreed in 2001 following the Bosman ruling but Fifpro claims it is still preventing freedom of movement of players. If successful a challenge would trigger a revolution in the way players are bought and sold. Free transfers of players in many of the top leagues remain rare events but Fifpro is determined to make it easier for players to move clubs in a similar way that other workers can move from one firm to another.

The challenge is likely to be fiercely opposed by the clubs but the union says it will take its case to the European Commission, the European Court of Justice and human rights' courts. It also claims sanctions for breaches of contract are "exorbitant" compared with any other industry.

Fifpro's president, Philippe Piat, said: "The transfer system fails 99% of players around the world, it fails football as an industry and it fails the world's most beloved game.

"Football's governing bodies, clubs and leagues claim the transfer system is necessary to ensure competitive balance, whereby in fact it creates a spiral of economic and sporting imbalance, which only benefits the richest 1% of clubs and player agents. These legal and monetary shackles binding footballers to their current clubs can no longer be accepted and upheld."

Piat said the union will fight for players to have the same rights as all other workers in Europe. Fifpro claim 28% of all the money from transfer fees ends up in the pockets of agents and that many players are not paid on time, or even at all.

Bobby Barnes, the PFA deputy chief executive and the European president of Fifpro, said the present system encouraged third-party ownership of players, which is banned in the UK. It is common in South America, Spain and Portugal, and players are "owned" by a businessman or company, who benefits from any transfer fees and image rights.

Barnes said: "In the absence of competitive balance, the system encourages speculative, unsustainable, immoral and illegal investment models like third-party ownership of players."

Fifpro said it would continue to talk to Fifa, Uefa, the European Clubs' Association and the leagues but warned they expect changes.

Tim Sherwood ready for fiery Tottenham baptism against West Ham | David Hytner

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 11:00 AM PST

Interim Spurs manager has plenty on his plate as his team prepare for the Capital One Cup quarter-final against West Ham

For Tim Sherwood, it is the fieriest of baptisms. The 44-year-old former England midfielder and Premier League-winning captain has never managed a professional team. Now he takes charge of Tottenham Hotspur, one of England's top five clubs over the past four seasons, in a grudge Capital One Cup quarter-final against West Ham United at White Hart Lane on Wednesday night.

Tottenham are resolved to avenge the 3-0 home defeat they suffered to West Ham in the Premier League on 6 October, a result that saw the visiting manager, Sam Allardyce, delight in having his tummy tickled over his tactical acumen and André Villas-Boas begin to feel the unravelling of his White Hart Lane tenure. The end came on Monday morning, after the previous day's 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool.

Revenge, though, is merely a part of the plot. Sherwood has been confirmed as Villas-Boas's interim successor but only while the chairman Daniel Levy and the sporting director Franco Baldini cast the net for a bigger name to take on the job in the longer-term.

No one can say how long that process will take and, by extension, how long Sherwood will enjoy his elevation. Several candidates have been discussed but there would be difficulties in appointing one of them mid-season. Frank de Boer, for example, who has his admirers in the Tottenham boardroom, would be loth to leave Ajax as they chase a fourth consecutive Eredivisie title.

The impression given is that the club would love Sherwood to do well and so buy them time; ideally, until the summer, when managers might be more receptive to an approach and a new challenge. There are no certainties and, for the players, this is a curious time.

When Villas-Boas told them before training on Monday that he had become the eighth Tottenham manager to be sacked by Levy since 2001, they wanted to know where the club was going; what would be the permanent solution. Players are a resilient breed, capable of knuckling down in a variety of circumstances, and the smart money would be on Tottenham bouncing back with a performance against West Ham. Yet there is concern in the dressing room over what might happen next.

There are two readings to Sherwood's promotion. The first is underpinned by joined-up-thinking and no little romance. Having been brought into the first-team coaching set-up on a part-time basis by the former manager Harry Redknapp in October 2008, he has worked to establish himself and to obtain his coaching badges – he completed his Uefa A and B licenses under the auspices of the Football Association of Wales.

Here is a former Tottenham captain who has returned to graft his way through the ranks. He is gifted and extremely well regarded by the hierarchy. When Blackburn Rovers wanted to appoint him as their manager in October 2012, Levy blocked the approach. Sherwood was even under consideration to become Tottenham's sporting director before Levy turned to Baldini last summer.

He has a keen eye for a player and his opinion is respected in professional circles. Redknapp, who is now at Queens Park Rangers, has taken Andros Townsend and Tom Carroll on loan from Tottenham on Sherwood's recommendation. Redknapp had appointed him, together with Les Ferdinand, another former Tottenham player, because he wanted to give opportunity to young English coaches. It is often said that homegrown talent is overlooked for the top Premier League posts and so Tottenham's faith has to be commendable.

The alternative reading to the drafting in of Sherwood as the club's manager takes in words like "gamble" and asks searching questions. Given his lack of a track record, how many leading players would want to sign for him during the January transfer window? Given his elevation from the youth set-up, how many of the first-team squad can truly look at him and see their boss? Many of the younger ones will not remember his playing days, when he lifted the Premier League trophy with Blackburn in 1995 and won three England caps.

Sherwood must get results, find an attractive style of play, appease Baldini by getting more out of the club's expensive summer signings and restore morale in general. All this, as he operates on a game-to-game basis.

Everybody at Tottenham wanted Villas-Boas to succeed, and there was plenty to like about his debut season, when the players bought into his carefully-structured training sessions and scientific approach. This season has been a disappointment, as he struggled to integrate new signings and ended up frustrating many of the players.

Some were sad to see him go and believed there was still something in him for Tottenham, particularly if he could have made tweaks to his methods. Others were not so sure.

His treatment of Emmanuel Adebayor left the Togolese and his team-mates bewildered. Adebayor had travelled to Hong Kong with the squad in pre-season only to learn of the death of his brother and, unsurprisingly, allowed it to affect his attitude. When Villas-Boas was made aware of the situation, he gave his blessing to the club's decision to grant the striker compassionate leave but when Adebayor returned to work, he was sent to train with the reserves.

Villas-Boas felt that Adebayor's fitness, which was behind the other first-team players, who had moved on to a different programme, would be better improved with the reserves. There was logic to the theory yet little human feeling.

Thereafter, when Adebayor returned to the first-team group, it felt to him as though Villas-Boas was always looking for a reason not to play him, despite the clamour from Baldini and sections of the squad for the manager to switch to two up front. Adebayor, who has appeared only once this season – as a substitute in the 6-0 defeat at Manchester City – is among the squad's best-paid players. Levy came to have a problem with that.

Villas-Boas was not afraid to chop and change players, which blurred the line between healthy competition and unease. Christian Eriksen was dropped after his poor performance against West Ham; Jermain Defoe was unhappy to be left out for Liverpool after two decent Premier League starts; Aaron Lennon was mystified to be substituted against Manchester United after running Patrice Evra ragged.

The gripes went on. Jan Vertonghen, the centre-half, is known as 'Superman' at the training ground after a goal celebration in which he looked ready to rip open the front of his shirt. "Hey, Superman," his team-mates have teased. "How's it going at left-back?" Vertonghen has not been amused. Younès Kaboul, Mousa Dembélé, Erik Lamela, Nacer Chadli and Gylfi Sigurdsson have wondered about their place in the scheme of things.

Sherwood took training on Tuesday and has attempted to "get a few messages across in a short space of time". He will miss the injured Vertonghen, Sandro and Kaboul against West Ham, plus the suspended Michael Dawson and Paulinho. Welcome to the mad house.

David Hytner

The Fiver | Sportz newz storiez with attitude

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 08:54 AM PST

Click here to have the Fiver sent to your inbox every weekday at 5pm, or if your usual copy has stopped arriving

'YOU DON'T GET IT THEN BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT THAT PRIVILEGED'

The Fiver has rarely been one for understanding. Sure, it makes a show of pretending to understand what the Man is on about when he tells it to write a tea-timely email packed with rib-ticklers and funnies by 5pm every afternoon, blankly smiling and nodding in the manner of Homer Simpson pretending to understand that his new name would be Homer Thompson. "When I stamp on your foot and poke you in the eye, I want you to write a joke," growls the Man. "Understood!" beams the Fiver. But it doesn't understand. It never understands. There are never any jokes, certainly not by 5pm, and still they dance the same old dance every single day, even though poor Fiver's foot hurts – it really hurts – and it only has vision in one eye now. A small price to pay when one is busy making the world laugh, though.

However other news outlets are far more adept at understanding, such as Zapsportz.com – your one-stop destination for "sportz news with attitude" apparently and "home to Glenn Hoddle's Zapstarz competition". Take, for example, their stunning exclusive that Glenn Hoddle, who was completely useless as Tottenham's manager in a past life, would be interested in the chance to manage Tottenham again. "Zapsportz.com understands that Hoddle will certainly help if the club makes an approach," trilled the website earlier, displaying the level of understanding you might expect from a website which – we'll assume this is just a minor coincidence – counts Hoddle as its co-founder. Funnily enough, four of the six sportz newz storiez with attitude that are deemed worthy of appearing on the front page of the site happen to be why Hoddle should get the job, with Gary Stevens, Lord Sugar, Clive Allen and Gary Lineker all offering their backing. Presumably the one story with attitude that's not about Tottenham, Australia's Ashes victory, argues that England could have avoided defeat if only Hoddle had been picked as opening batsman. And, let's face it, he probably couldn't have done much worse than Alastair Cook.

But while Hoddle's website busies itself with a promotion campaign that even The Previous Manager would consider a bit much (but then, he has press box lackeys to help him in that regard), Tottenham reckon they might already have found the man to guide them through their latest self-inflicted crisis. After all, as Jack Walker almost said, who needs André Villas-Boas when you've got Tim Sherwood? Not Tottenham, with Daniel Levy placing the 44-year-old, who will be assisted by Les Ferdinand and Chris Ramsey, in charge of first-team affairs for the time being, starting with Wednesday's Capital One Cup quarter-final against West Ham. On the one hand, Sherwood's work as technical co-ordinator is said to have earned him plenty of respect in the Tottenham boardroom, so maybe this experiment won't turn out to be the utter disaster some are predicting. But on the other hand, Sherwood once admitted that his favourite cheese is mild cheddar. Mild cheddar! You'll have to forgive the Fiver for not understanding.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"The rating for safety in the building site is zero … and we're under constant pressure to work" – José Aristoteles de Souza Filho explains why he and his fellow builders have downed tools at the Arena da Amazônia, where two workers died during construction last week. England are due to play Italy in their World Cup opener there next summer.

FIVER LETTERS – STILL WITH PRIZES

"Imagine my surprise and delight when the following question came up on University Challenge yesterday evening: 'In which Agatha Christie novel did she introduce the concept of the unreliable narrator?' Meaning, that in a turn of events I never thought I'd witness, I was able to answer a question thanks to knowledge gleaned from the Fiver. Or at least I would have been able to had I not had a sieve for a memory and blurted out 'The Murder of Dan Ackroyd'" – Aidan Grant.

"Re: the announcement that Rory Delap had retired from football (yesterday's Bits and Bobs). I thought he he had long thrown in the towel" – Mark Judd.

"How fascinating that someone has thought to calculate that there is only one football club without the letters of the word 'mackerel' (yesterday's Fiver letters). In these days of franchise football there is probably scope for Swindon Town to move to St John's Wood, as that's the only London Underground station without letters from the word 'mackerel' too" – Joel Hanley (and 1,056 others).

"How very cruel of the Fiver to print Marten Allen's letter straight after Dave Floyd's (yesterdays Fiver letters). Dave's letter correctly pointed out that Hull City is in fact named Hull City AFC (thus pointing out a flaw in Darren Leathley's quiz question), but then the mischievous Fiver goes ahead and prints Marten's letter directly after, which is also flawed in the exact same manner. May I be the first of (or at least one of) 1,056 pedants to point out that the full name of Swindon Town is in fact Swindon Town FC (which, as I am sure you will notice does indeed have a letter from the word 'mackerel' in). Perhaps this is your subtle way to STOP PUB TRIVIA" – George Moore-Gwyn (and no others).

"There is plenty wrong with Marten referring to a 'piranha-like frenzy'. These fish are neither angry nor feed in a frenzy; this is a myth which comes from a staged demonstration for visiting president Teddy Roosevelt" – Paul Mummery.

"I also predict a frenzy of other of pub trivia football questions flooding this section and nicely obliterating any current (but mundane) football matters. Our local favourite is the question about the only country to have gone through both the last Rugby World Cup and the last Football World Cup campaigns unbeaten" – Rod de Lisle, plucky little New Zealand.

"While we are descending to pub trivia, what is the only team in the English or Scottish league that doesn't have one of the letters of 'football' in its full name? Dundee" – John Myles.

"Mackerel trivia and its like are surely eclipsed by there being only one stop on the London Underground that does not contain any of the letters in 'Chim Chimeny, Chim Chimeny, Chim-Chim Cher-oo!' In case you were fretting, the answer is St Paul's" – Mark Holmes.

• Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. And if you've nothing better to do you can also tweet the Fiver. Today's winner of our letter o'the day is: Aidan Grant, who wins a copy of Tor! The Story of German Football, by Uli Hesse. We've got more prizes to give away this week in the run-up to Thursday's annual Fiver awards.

JOIN GUARDIAN SOULMATES

We keep trying to point out the utter futility of advertising an online dating service "for interesting people" in the Fiver to the naive folk who run Guardian Soulmates, but they still aren't having any of it. So here you go – sign up here to view profiles of the kind of erudite, sociable and friendly romantics who would never dream of going out with you.

BITS AND BOBS

Former Milan and Italy midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has been placed under investigation for alleged match-fixing. "Just because he is under investigation does not mean anything," sniffed his Signor 15%.

Malky Mackay has been slapped down by Cardiff City after saying he hoped to bring three new players to the club in the transfer window. "The overspending of £15m has upset Tan Sri greatly, resulting in the removal on Iain Moody as head of recruitment," warned chief suit Simon Lim. "As such, he has stated that not a single penny will be made available in January."

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been charged by the FA after giving Manchester City fans the finger during Saturday's game.

Danny Wilson has taken over as manager of Barnsley for the second time.

Guus Hiddink looks set to become the next Holland coach when Louis van Gaal stands down after the World Cup. "I am neither confirming nor denying anything," confirmed the Dutch FA's Bert van Oostveen.

Busy news day dept: British Airways will not be flying Mr Roy and England to next summer's World Cup. "Regrettably, we could not reach agreement with the FA because we will not have a spare aircraft available for the length of time the FA wanted during the busy summer period next year," said a BA bugler.

RECOMMENDED VIEWING

A look back at nine of the most interesting transfers of 2013 (plus Marouane Fellaini's move to Manchester United). Plus: when Thierry met Arsène: the plane journey that made history.

STILL WANT MORE?

Quiz time: identify the celebrating secret Santas [Clue: none of them are Kuddly Ken – Fiver Ed].

It's the Gallery of 2013, starring Phil Jones, Jürgen Klopp, Moose-a Dembélé and many, many more.

Sachin Nakrani explains how Liverpool's Jordan Henderson put 'Gait-gate' behind him.

There are few more conservative flocks on the planet than British football fans, writes Paul Doyle.

Oh, and if it's your thing, you can follow Big Website on Big Social FaceSpace.

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CHEERS

Jacob Steinberg

Jack Wilshere charged by FA over middle finger gesture to City fans

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 08:26 AM PST

• Arsenal midfielder pictured making gesture at Manchester City
• Wilshere facing possible two-match ban for Chelsea and West Ham games

Jack Wilshere is facing a two-match suspension, a ban which would rule him out of Monday's top-of-the-table derby against Chelsea and the trip to West Ham United, after the Football Association charged the Arsenal midfielder over an alleged abusive hand gesture.

Television footage appeared to capture Wilshere raising a finger towards the crowd at the Etihad Stadium during the second half of Saturday's 6-3 defeat to Manchester City. The incident went unnoticed by the referee Martin Atkinson and his match officials but, having been caught on video, was assessed by the FA and referred to the governing body's three-man panel of former referees.

They determined that the offence, if it had been seen at the time, would have constituted an offensive gesture, which carries a two-match ban. Arsenal have until 6pm on Wednesday to respond to the charge. While they acknowledge the gesture took place, it is understood the club are considering whether there were any extenuating circumstances, or provocation, to prompt Wilshere's reaction.

If they do appeal, the case will be heard by an independent commission on Thursday, who would have the power to reduce the ban. However, while that may offer Arsenal some hope that the player may be available for the trip to Upton Park on Boxing Day, the 21-year-old will almost certainly miss Chelsea's visit to the Emirates Stadium on Monday. Indeed, the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, acknowledged post-match that: "If [Jack]did it and he is banned then we will have to accept it."

Wilshere appeared to raise a finger towards the crowd after 68 minutes after disagreeing with a decision to award City a goalkick. The charge has been lodged under the FA's recently adopted pilot project for "not seen" incidents in Premier League matches. "If an incident has not been seen by the match officials, a three-man panel will be asked by the FA to review it and advise what, if any action, they believe the match referee should have taken had it been witnessed at the time," said the FA in a statement. "For an FA charge to follow, all three panel members must agree it is a sending-off offence. In this instance the panel was unanimous."

Previous incidents have prompted only one-match sanctions, most notably when Luis Suárez was photographed raising a finger to Fulham fans as he left the pitch at Craven Cottage two years ago.

On that occasion there was no video footage of the alleged offence, so the FA took witness statements to accompany the pictorial evidence, with the regulatory committee ultimately deciding a one-match ban and a £20,000 fine, together with a warning as to his future conduct, were sufficient.

Wilfried Zaha also received a one-match ban last season after a similar gesture aimed at away supporters during Crystal Palace's 2-2 draw with Leeds at Selhurst Park, an incident that was similarly not caught on video. However, Blackpool's Tom Ince received the standard two-match sanction after gesturing at the referee, unseen by the official at the time, in a Capital One Cup tie at Preston in August after the offence was on film.

Dominic Fifield

Sam Allardyce focused on West Ham's problems, not Villas-Boas sacking

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 08:25 AM PST

• Manager expects testing Capital One Cup quarter-final
• Injuries, suspensions and lack of goals concern Allardyce

Sam Allardyce says he has enough to worry about with his own injury-hit West Ham United side rather than wonder what Tottenham Hotspur might do after the sacking of André Villas-Boas, before Wednesday's Capital One Cup quarter-final.

Tim Sherwood has been placed in interim charge at White Hart Lane after the north London club sacked the Portuguese coach on Monday.

The former Spurs player and manager Glenn Hoddle, the Russia coach, Fabio Capello, and Southampton's Mauricio Pochettino have emerged as contenders for the job.

However, with his own squad hit by injuries – including to the England forward Andy Carroll – the captain, Kevin Nolan, suspended and the team struggling for goals to pull them clear of trouble in the Premier League, Allardyce is not about to lose any sleep over goings-on off the pitch for his team's next opponents.

"I have enough of my own problems with injuries and suspensions with games coming up rapidly to have too much concern about Tottenham other than what team I am going to play, how we are going to play and what we can do to combat them and get through to the semi-finals," Allardyce said.

"They had a very, very poor result against Liverpool and that ultimately resulted in them removing André Villas-Boas, which was a surprise to me.

"But whatever the situation is at Spurs, from our point of view they have got an excellent squad. So whatever team they turn out against us on Wednesday night is always going to be an exceptionally difficult game for us."

Allardyce added: "This is a less pressured game than has fallen upon us recently in the Premier League, so we have got to go out and give it all we have got. It is a one-off tie, so could be the end of your cup competition or you go to the exciting semi-finals in the new year. Hopefully our players will come out and give their all."

Villas-Boas follows Paolo Di Canio, Ian Holloway, Martin Jol and Steve Clarke in getting the sack this season.

Given the huge financial rewards for success in the Premier League after the new broadcast deals, Allardyce is not shocked any more.

"The money is so big that the fear of losing that status of being in the Premier League and losing that revenue is so big now that it causes lots of thinking by owners of football clubs to try and make sure they continue with that type of revenue," he said.

"For Tottenham, it is probably more about budgeting for Champions League football and what that brings on top of what they have spent.

"The removal of managers at this level is probably the highest it has been in the entirety of the Premier League.

"You have to be well aware of that when you step through the door and sit behind the desk, it is all about winning and making sure your team lives up to the reality of where it should be with what is spent and the quality of players you have."

The club's co-owner David Sullivan admits there is "deep concern" over their position in the league table, just a point above the relegation zone, but has faith Allardyce remains "the man for the job".

The Hammers' manager, 59, remains ever pragmatic. "My particular situation will ease and will get better as long as we get our injured players fit, and our communication between the board of directors and myself with everyone at the club is clear and precise," he said.

"I am not saying that it wouldn't happen, but we are supportive in terms of trying to do something in January to help the players and try to bring back the injured players to get the squad back to where it was at the start of the season, which even if it didn't include Andy Carroll was a very good squad."

When Thierry met Arsène: Henry tells of plane journey with Wenger that made history – video

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 08:21 AM PST

Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry recounts how a chance meeting with Arsène Wenger on a flight to Paris ultimately led to the Frenchman signing for the north London club

World Cup stadium site in Manaus 'rated zero for safety', say builders

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:44 AM PST

• Two deaths at Arena da Amazônia in recent days
• End-of-year deadline unlikely to be met for England venue

A strike over safety conditions following a fatal accident has halted already-overdue construction of the Manaus stadium where England are due to play their opening World Cup match.

After the death of two workers last week, the builders' union have downed tools, saying the rush to finish the job before the year-end deadline is putting lives at risk. "The rating for safety in the building site is zero … and we're under constant pressure to work," the builder José Aristoteles de Souza Filho told the Brazilian news website G1.

The strike is the latest setback for the Arena da Amazônia, which is among several World Cup venues that are behind schedule. At the weekend, a court ordered the suspension of work on the roof of the basket-shaped stadium after a worker, fell 35 metres to his death on Saturday. Marcleudo de Melo Ferreira died after his cable snapped in the early hours at the end of a night shift.

The previous weekend, the Guardian saw frenetic activity at the site where almost 2,000 workers are working around the clock to finish the task of installing the giant steel girders that make up the lattice structure. It was said at the time to be only 95% complete.

Locals said the task had been delayed by the late arrival of the steel, which has had to be shipped from Portugal to the heart of the Amazon.

Another worker died of a heart attack on Saturday that the bereaved family claim was induced by stress. It was the third fatality this year at the site.

During the court case on Saturday, prosecutors called for the $200m project to be halted until an updated safety report is produced by the construction firm Andrade Gutierrez. In a warning that the contractors could also be fined, the prosecutors office noted in a statement that it "cannot allow the urgency of finishing construction for the 2014 World Cup to be at the cost of the life and wellbeing of those working on it".

Andrade Gutierrez has sent investigators to the site and issued a statement of regret. "We reiterate our commitment to [ensuring the] security of everyone working at the site," the company said in a statement.

Fifa has also expressed condolences for the death, which is likely to add to criticisms that the economic and human cost of the World Cup is excessive. At least five workers have died so far. Most of the fatalities have come in the past few weeks as the pressure to finish on time increased.

Last month, two workers were killed in São Paulo when a crane collapsed at the Corinthians Arena, which is scheduled to host the opening game of the World Cup. Officials say the venue will not be ready until April, barely two months before the tournament starts.

Manaus officials said there were unsure when work will recommence on the Arena da Amazônia. But it now looks certain to drag on well into the new year.

Jonathan Watts

Danny Wilson confirmed as Barnsley manager for second time

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:03 AM PST

• Wilson parted company with Sheffield United in April
• Barnsley currently bottom of Championship table

Danny Wilson has been appointed Barnsley manager for the second time in his career, following the sacking of David Flitcroft last month. The Reds currently lie at the bottom of the Championship table.

Wilson began his career at Oakwell, graduating from player to player-manager in 1993 and going on to lead the Tykes to the Premier League in 1997 for the first time in their history. He left the club to manage Sheffield Wednesday a year later after the Reds were relegated after one season.

"I think it's great news for the club and everyone connected with the club will have a chance to get behind a very popular figure," the chairman John Dennis told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"He's strong, he's determined and I think he will lift the spirits of everybody there.

"It'll be lovely to see him back and if he has half the impact that he had last time then that might be enough to get us out of the mess we're in."

Wilson has previously managed MK Dons, Hartlepool, Swindon and Sheffield United, who sacked him in April with the club finishing six points outside the automatic promotion places.

Barnsley have won only three of their last 20 games in the league this season. Wilson's first game in charge will be against Leeds on Saturday.

Michael Owen at launch of UK-Afghan football partnership – video

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 06:55 AM PST

Former England footballer Michael Owen is helping to launch a new footballing partnership between Afghanistan and the United Kingdom

Football transfers: 10 of 2013's most interesting moves – video

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 04:52 AM PST

We look through 10 of the top transfers from the past year, which saw Gareth Bale sign with Real Madrid for £85m, Mesut Özil join Arsenal, and David Beckham sign off his 20-year career with a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain

European leagues review: players, teams and Liverpool's title challenge

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 04:49 AM PST

Best XIs from the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1, plus analysis of Liverpool's hopes for the season

Premier League team of the weekend

La Liga team of the weekend

Bundesliga team of the weekend

Serie A team of the weekend

Ligue 1 team of the weekend

Tactical talking point: Could Liverpool win the league?

"Unstoppable" is the word for Luis Suárez at the moment, and when you looked at the Spurs back four before the match at White Hart Lane on Sunday, questions were being asked about what exactly they would be able to stop. Predictably, they did a terrible job in restricting Suárez, who continued his astounding goalscoring run with another brace. He has now scored more Premier League goals this season (17) than Spurs (15).

Suárez's decision to stay in Liverpool in the summer has proven fruitful, to say the least, and even with Daniel Sturridge – who had started the season in impressive form that has quickly been forgotten thanks to Suárez – and captain Steven Gerrard absent, Liverpool ran riot. They are only two points off top spot as we approach Christmas, and yet their title credentials are still being played down.

Suárez, Gerrard and manager Brendan Rodgers have all been quick to reassure fans that they are not getting ahead of themselves. A title challenge isn't a realistic expectation for them, publicly at least.

Behind the front that is put on for the cameras, though, everyone involved at Liverpool must be quietly optimistic about the current campaign. With 33 points, they have already surpassed half of their points tally from last season, still three games away from the halfway stage.

They might have lost at Arsenal and then at Hull City in recent weeks, but in overcoming a resurgent Tottenham team with such ruthlessness and in such a convincing manner, Liverpool have most certainly established themselves as contenders for the title. Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and even struggling Manchester United are still considered in with a title chance, but Rodgers' team could be top by Saturday afternoon and may be leading the way at the all-important Christmas mark.

During the off-season, little was added in the offensive department at Anfield, but players that were already at the club have come good. Suárez's form has surprised the best of us and so has Jordan Henderson. Hastily labelled a flop after a seemingly exorbitant £20m move from Sunderland back in 2011, he is now starting to look like money well spent.

Still only 23 years of age, Henderson was rampant in north London, making countless runs from deep both with and without the ball. As Spurs pushed for a way back into the game, he helped in building counter-attacks, bringing the ball out from the back before distributing towards Suárez, Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho, and joining attacks himself too.

He played an expansive game reminiscent of a young Gerrard, making four key passes (only Suárez made more) and having two shots on his way to registering an assist and a goal, all while maintaining an exceptional pass completion rate of 92%.

It was his first goal of the season, and only his third assist, which is not overly impressive given Liverpool's form this season, but he has at the very least shown a capacity to get forward and make his mark. So impressive was his performance that his odds of making the World Cup squad halved over the weekend. Quite where he would fit into the team is hard to imagine, but if he produces more performances like this, he will deserve a place on the plane.

Suárez and Sturridge have missed four matches each this season but they are first and third in the Premier League goalscoring charts. The team have relied on their strikers a lot. Only Sterling, who has scored twice, has made it past a solitary goal.

If Henderson can add goals to his game like he did at Tottenham, it will be difficult to see where this Liverpool team will fall short. Whether or not they go on to win the title, they are good enough to put in a serious challenge.

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Alistair Tweedale

The rise and rise of Liverpool's Jordan Henderson since 'Gait-gate' | Sachin Nakrani

Posted: 17 Dec 2013 04:45 AM PST

The midfielder's excellent display against Tottenham on Sunday proves he is now a key part of Brendan Rodgers' side

Sir Alex Ferguson started it, Brendan Rodgers finished it, and amidst it all was a young man left wondering why everybody was suddenly talking about his gait. It's fair to say that Jordan Henderson could have done without the criticism Manchester United's former manager delivered in October, but the manner in which the midfielder has performed since only adds to the sense that he has truly arrived at Anfield.

"A beautiful boy to train," was Rodgers' assessment of Henderson following his excellent display in Liverpool's 5-0 victory over Tottenham on Sunday, with the Liverpool manager having described the 23-year-old as "the most improved player in the Premier League this season" shortly after Ferguson's critique of the player, contained in his latest autobiography, became public.

While that is debatable, there is no doubt Henderson is progressing. He has started every one of Liverpool's 16 league games, as well as their Capital One Cup third-round defeat at Old Trafford in September. Indeed, the only match Henderson has not started this season is the second-round victory over Notts County, but he still made his presence felt by scoring an important and well-taken goal in extra-time having come on as a 65th-minute substitute.

Not every performance has been impressive, but few now doubt that Henderson is an important element of Liverpool's midfield, providing energy, drive and assurance in possession, traits all seen in the rout of Spurs, when the midfielder made up for the absence of Steven Gerrard through injury with arguably his best showing for the Merseysiders since arriving from Sunderland two years ago, one capped by his first league goal of the season from a position just behind Luis Suárez. Little wonder the former England Under-21 captain is now also back in the senior squad and realistically setting his sights on a place in Roy Hodgson's World Cup party.

Rewind a little over 14 months and all this would have seemed rather fanciful. Back then, Henderson was unsure of his future at Liverpool following a poor first season at the club – "at times it was painful watching him," says James Pearce, a football reporter for the Liverpool Echo – and with Rodgers keen to sign Clint Dempsey, Henderson was offered the chance to move to Fulham as part of a swap deal. "He told me that he wanted to stay here and fight," remembers Rodgers, and with that Henderson slowly but surely established himself in a side now harbouring realistic aspirations of reclaiming a place in the Champions League.

That Henderson did not take the easy way out and swap Merseyside for a life by the Thames is not surprising. This, after all, is a player who has never had it easy, never run from a challenge. Having joined Sunderland, his boyhood club, aged seven, Henderson came perilously close to not making the grade there. Four scholars from the same academy group were given professional contracts ahead of him and it ultimately came down to a choice between two regarding who would get the fifth.

Sunderland's youth staff, headed by the academy manager, Ged McNamee, ultimately decided to promote the baby-faced midfielder with the man-sized lungs.

Even then, however, Henderson faced difficulties. Aged 16, he had been diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter disease, a painful condition that affects the upper part of the shin bone and most commonly occurs in teenagers who play sport. "It's a growing pain thing," explained Henderson in an interview with the Guardian earlier this year. "I just shot up immediately and I didn't have any kind of physique to deal with it. I was tall, all arms and legs, and a bit gangly."

Physically unorthodox he may have been but Henderson progressed through Sunderland's ranks and, aged 18, made his debut for the first-team midway through the 2008-09 season, prior to a loan spell at Coventry during which he fractured a bone in his foot. He returned from that setback and to the Stadium of Light where a regular first-team place beckoned but, yet again, came a bump in the road.

"Jordan instantly took to being part of the first team, whether that be playing wide on the right or in central midfield, but among the fans he divided opinion," says Graeme Anderson, sports writer for the Sunderland Echo. "There were those who admired his stamina, athleticism and passing range and could see that he had the potential to be a star, and others who just didn't see what he offered the team, who felt he was neither one thing nor the other or the sort of player who could run a match. Normally, the Sunderland crowd instantly take to a local kid and back him no matter what. But that was not the case with Jordan; he had to win a lot of people over."

That he did and in June 2011 came the then 20-year-old's £20m move to Liverpool. "I'm over the moon," said Henderson at the time. He would soon, though, come crashing down to earth.

"Jordan would be the first to admit that he found it difficult to adjust to the pressure and expectation of being a Liverpool player," says Pearce, with the player admitting himself to feeling overwhelmed soon after his arrival at Anfield. "When you come to a club like Liverpool you need to perform straight away and consistently. Looking back, I don't think I did that," he said.

In Henderson's defence, there were mitigating circumstances. He was a young man living in a new city and, as he soon realised, playing for a club with taxing expectations. Added to that was the fact that then manager Kenny Dalglish initially deployed Henderson on the right side of midfield, a position he had filled at Sunderland but not one he favoured and certainly a requirement he could have done without during those early stages when it was hard enough getting to know new team-mates in a completely new environment.

Henderson did, in fact, make a quick impact at Liverpool, scoring a finely-taken goal in the 3-1 home victory over Bolton on 27 August 2011. But, overall, the 2011-12 season is one he will not reflect on with great fondness. As Pearce adds: "He looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights; passes would inevitably go sideways rather than forwards."

What especially did not help Henderson was his association with what was a generally poorly throughout and executed series of signings in the 2011 calendar year. Andy Carroll (£35m), Stewart Downing (£20m), Charlie Adam (£7.5m) were additions which now make all Kopites wince and, in April 2012, cost Damien Comolli his job as director of football.

There is no doubt that Carroll, Downing and Adam were costly mistakes but Henderson, it was always felt, could prove value for money. He was young, clearly rich in potential and, as Anderson outlines, in possession of the right character to make it as a top-line professional: "Jordan doesn't smoke, drink or gamble and when he was in Sunderland the only time you'd really see him out was at the supermarket. He has always shown total dedication to becoming a footballer." Henderson's refusal to join Fulham last summer backs up the view of him being someone with the heart to succeed and now, under Rodgers, he is blossoming.

"Henderson has progressed hugely over the last 12 months," says the football writer Richard Jolly. "Rodgers' coaching seems to have helped; there is a sense he is being briefed on precisely what he is expected to do in each role and there is a growing maturity to his game; his passing in particular is becoming more perceptive.

"The question is whether he becomes [Steven] Gerrard's long-term replacement or, if Rodgers makes a major buy, he reverts from being a regular to a squad player. If, say, Willian had joined in the summer, he might have begun several games this season on the bench."

That could well have been the case and it remains true that for all the progress Henderson has made, he remains a work in progress. Yet a general improvement is beyond question, with the weekend display at White Hart Lane suggesting he has what it takes to become a truly pivotal member of Rodgers' team.

"Jordan deserves huge credit for the way he has transformed his Liverpool career," says Pearce. "The biggest compliment I can pay him is that he looks like he belongs at Anfield these days. He is now one of the first names on the team-sheet and tactically he has improved massively under Rodgers and is playing with real confidence. He still needs to pose more of a goal threat in the final third but that will come. The exciting thing for Liverpool is at 23 he's still learning and developing."

During the tough times, when those in Merseyside and beyond were questioning Henderson's capabilities and wondering whether he would go down as one of Liverpool's most expensive flops, the policeman's son from Sunderland claimed he never read the sports pages or heard what was being said about him on the radio and on television.

He admitted, however, to becoming "more down than anyone if I hadn't played particularly well" and, as such, nobody could have blamed Henderson if he had walked away when the chance presented itself. Instead, a man used to setbacks fought on and once again prevailed.

Time will tell just how far Henderson goes at Anfield, but what is for sure is that he has already made great strides. Not bad for someone who apparently runs from his knees.

This is an updated version of an article that appeared in the latest edition of The Anfield Wrap magazine.

Sachin Nakrani

Wednesday, 18 December 2013