Duarte: Portuguese Paolo Duarte has returned for a second stint as the national team coach of Burkina Faso replacing Gernot Rohr, the country’s football federation said yesterday. The 46-year-old Duarte was in charge of Burkina Faso from 2008 to 2012 but fired for “unsatisfactory results”. He has also coached Gabon and last worked at top Tunisian club CS Sfaxien.
Emanuelson: Free agent Urby Emanuelson, formerly a player with Roma, Milan and Atalanta, will be playing for Verona for the rest of the season. The Serie A strugglers will add the 29-year-old to their squad for the left wing position. Emanuelson was ex-pected to have a medical in Rome yesterday before signing his new contract.
Kawashima: Dundee United say they have finally secured the signature of Eiji Kawashima following a protracted wait during which he had to sit an English exam. The 32-year-old Japan goalkeeper has signed until the end of the season, subject to international clearance. Dundee United said he will arrive in Scotland in the “next few days”.
Targu Mures: Romanian league runners-up ASA Targu Mures have named former striker Petre Grigoras as their fourth coach of the season. The 51-year-old replaced Italian Cristiano Bergodi, who resigned earlier in December. In July, former Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu led Targu Mures to their first major trophy with a 1-0 win over Steaua Bucharest in the Romanian Super Cup but he quit to join China’s Jiangsu Sainty.
Sportiello: Atalanta keeper Marco Sportiello has committed to the Italian top-flight club by extending his contract until 2020. Sportiello had been recently linked with Roma, who are seeking a replacement for Wojciech Szc-zesny, currently on loan from Arsenal. Sportiello’s previous contract was due to expire in June 2019.
Probe: Sheffield United have launched an investigation into allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” by a small section of fans during Monday’s win against Bradford at Bramall Lane. Bradford’s travelling fans reported racist chanting from a small minority of Blades supporters, while home striker Billy Sharp claimed he had coins thrown at him from the away end.
Results...
Premier League
Sunderland 0
Liverpool 1
Benteke 46;
HT: 0-1. Att: 45,765.
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Arsenal | 19 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 33 | 18 | 39 |
| Leicester | 19 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 37 | 25 | 39 |
| Man. City | 19 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 37 | 20 | 36 |
| Tottenham | 19 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 33 | 15 | 35 |
| C. Palace | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 16 | 31 |
| Man. United | 19 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 16 | 30 |
| Liverpool | 19 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 22 | 30 |
| West Ham | 19 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 28 | 23 | 29 |
| Watford | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 24 | 20 | 29 |
| Stoke City | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 20 | 19 | 29 |
| Everton | 19 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 35 | 28 | 26 |
| S’hampton | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 26 | 23 | 24 |
| West Brom | 19 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 18 | 24 | 23 |
| Chelsea | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 29 | 20 |
| Norwich City | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 32 | 20 |
| B’nemouth | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 34 | 20 |
| Swansea | 19 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 19 |
| Newcastle | 19 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 19 | 34 | 17 |
| Sunderland | 19 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 19 | 38 | 12 |
| Aston Villa | 19 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 34 | 8 |
Scottish Premier
Hamilton vs Inverness - 3-4
Aberdeen vs Partick Thistle - 0-0
Dundee FC vs Celtic - pp
Hearts vs Dundee United - 3-2
Motherwell vs St Johnstone - 2-0
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Celtic | 19 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 47 | 16 | 43 |
| Aberdeen | 21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 34 | 20 | 43 |
| Hearts | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 34 | 22 | 36 |
| St Johnstone | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 35 | 31 | 31 |
| Ross County | 21 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 36 | 31 | 30 |
| Inverness | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 27 | 30 | 25 |
| Partick | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 19 | 23 | 24 |
| Motherwell | 19 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 20 | 25 | 24 |
| Dundee FC | 20 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 29 | 35 | 23 |
| Hamilton | 20 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 25 | 34 | 22 |
| Kilmarnock | 21 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 22 | 39 | 20 |
| Dundee Utd | 20 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 17 | 39 | 10 |
Primera Liga
Barcelona vs Real Betis - 4-0
Celta Vigo vs Athletic Bilbao - 0-1
Eibar vs Sporting Gijon - 2-0
Getafe vs Deportivo La Coruna - 0-0
Las Palmas vs Granada - 4-1
Levante vs Malaga - 0-1
Real Madrid vs R. Sociedad - 3-1
R. Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid - 0-2
Sevilla vs Espanyol - 2-0
Leading standings: Barcelona, Atl. Madrid 38; Real Madrid 36; Celta Vigo 31; Villarreal 30; Deportivo, Athletic Bilbao 27; Sevilla 26; Eibar 24.
Club Friendly
Inter vs Paris St-Germain - 0-1