Sport

Farnworth snooker star Craig Steadman has rediscovered his enjoyment for the baize – and all it took was the promise of a Christmas present.

The Premier League’s top two face off at Old Trafford this afternoon, and we are expecting a cracker two weeks before Christmas Day.

It was more a case of Christmas cheer rather than warring managers as Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola both spoke of a “special” Manchester rivalry ahead of their Sunday Premier League showdown.

Money buys talent. And in United and City’s case, talent doesn’t come any better than in the shape of wing wizards Anthony Martial and Leroy Sane.

Arsene Wenger against Jose Mourinho. Fourth against second in the Premier League. Arsenal against Manchester United. There shouldn’t be anything more to add to introduce this enticing clash between two Premier League titans.

Follow our coverage for all the latest build-up, news and reaction from Moscow

Craig Steadman is starting to come to terms with the fact this could be his final season as a professional snooker player after crashing out of the Betway UK Championship.

Britain’s highest-ranked female Laura Massaro has told MM that a roaring home crowd could help lead her to victory at next month’s AJ Bell PSA World Squash Championships in Manchester.

Crossing codes from league to union, forging a career at Sale Sharks and making an impact on the international scene – Denny Solomona is following a path well-trodden by Jason Robinson.

“I had never known before, and might never again, such a heightened sense of being present at a moment so filled with impending drama,” writes James Lawton in his new book A Ringside Affair: Boxing’s Last Golden Age.

In the second of two articles this week looking at key figures in this Ashes series, MM investigate the importance of each side’s leading bowler.