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Andrew Cesare Richardson

We’re just a month away from the Asian Winter Games, and Hong Kong will send its largest delegation yet, with 74 athletes, competing in five different sports, set to represent the city in Harbin.
Meanwhile, Kitchee’s Luis Machado, a veteran of more than 100 matches in the Portuguese top flight has told the city’s local footballers they must adopt an elite mentality if they ever want to play in Europe.
And Sunday marks the start of the first round of the Australian Open, with Zheng Qinwen, the Paris Olympics gold medallist and China’s No 1 player, leading a contingent of 10 Chinese players in the main draw.
Now to what happened while you were sleeping.
Get Moysey in

Sean Dyche was relieved of his duties as Everton manager just hours before their FA Cup third-round clash with Peterborough, in one of the first major decisions taken by the club’s new Friedkin ownership group.
He left the club 16th in the English Premier League table, just a point above the relegation zone, with his last match in charge a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth, having narrowly avoided the drop in each of his previous two seasons in charge.
Under-18s boss Leighton Baines took charge for their FA Cup clash alongside captain Seamus Coleman.
And the duo could be joined by a familiar face, with former boss David Moyes the reported front runner to take the role as the owners seek Premier League experience.
The Scot spent 10 years in charge before leaving for an ill-fated spell at Manchester United in 2013, but is generally remembered positively for his time at Goodison Park, where he led Everton to a top-four finish in the 2004-05 season – ahead even of that season’s Uefa Champions League winners, Liverpool – and the FA Cup final four years later.
The Friedkins also own Italian side Roma and last season showed Jose Mourinho the door, which you think would rule him out, but could the ex-Chelsea and Manchester United boss really resist another crack at the Premier League?
No FA Cup family affair

Despite the prospect of history, there was to be no family reunion at Everton. Although Ashley Young made it off the bench for the hosts, his son Tyler Young remained an unused substitute for Peterborough, preventing what would have been the first-ever father-son clash in the competition’s history.
On the pitch, Everton took the lead through Beto, who rounded the goalkeeper on 42 minutes but the 2-0 victory was only secured thanks to Iliman Ndiaye’s stoppage-time penalty.
Elsewhere, Fulham made light work of Watford as they ran out 4-1 winners. Rodrigo Munoz put the hosts ahead on 26 minutes and, although Rocco Vata briefly equalised, a Raul Jimenez penalty after half-time restored the Cottagers’ advantage, before Joachim Andersen and Timothy Castagne confirmed their passage to the fourth round.
In the evening’s other tie, Premier League promotion-chasing Sheffield United were beaten 1-0 at home to a Cardiff City side who sit 20 places below them in the English second tier.
Saudi Clasico

Real Madrid set up a clash with Barcelona as they beat Mallorca 3-0 in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final.
A day after the Catalans clinched their place in the final with a 2-0 victory over Athletic Club, Los Blancos took to the field in Jeddah and got the job done … eventually.
Jude Bellingham gave the La Liga holders the lead against the Spanish Cup runners-up after 63 minutes but they had to wait until stoppage time to make the victory secure.
On 92 minutes, Martin Valjent put through his own net, before Rodrygo added a third three minutes later.
This marks the third consecutive season the two will meet in the final, with both sides winning one apiece so far.
LA events called off

The NBA postponed the Los Angeles Lakers’ home game against the Charlotte Hornets with several massive wildfires burning across the greater Los Angeles area.
It is the second straight day a game slated to be played in downtown Los Angeles has been postponed. The NHL’s Los Angeles Kings had been scheduled to host the Calgary Flames the previous night.
The date for the rescheduled games will be announced at a later time. The Kings said tickets for their postponed game against Calgary will be good for the rescheduled date.
Three major fires were burning in areas of the vast Los Angeles metroplex following two days of extraordinary winds. A major threat broke out Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills, close to the heart of the entertainment industry, but had been contained by Thursday morning.
Colapinto joins Alpine

Alpine signed Argentina’s Franco Colapinto to a multi-year deal as a test and reserve driver for the coming season.
The team also announced that Ryo Hirakawa of Japan also will serve in a test and reserve driver role in 2025.
“Now, it is time for a new chapter, and to take on this challenge with Alpine is truly an honour,” said Colapinto, who raced nine times for Williams last season, starting with a 12th-place finish at the Italian Grand Prix on Sept. 1. “I cannot wait to get started and see where this journey takes us.”


Chelsea up to fourth, City spend US$42 million on defence, Lion Johnson to become a Bear

City roar, United whimper, Eagles fly and snooker’s Murphy rediscovers winning feeling

Premier League title race drama: Liverpool win, Arsenal draw; rare 147 break at Masters

Denis Law dies at 84, Tony Mowbray returns to West Brom, and there’s no stopping Kipchoge

While you were sleeping

Everton sack Sean Dyche, eye David Moyes, Jose Mourinho; Barca-Real in Saudi; LA games off

Everton caretaker managers Leighton Baines( left) and Seamus Coleman consult on the touchline. Photo: AP

Sean Dyche has left his position as Everton manager, having joined the club in January 2023. Photo: AFP

Everton’s Ashley Young (left) and his son, Peterborough’s midfielder Tyler Young at Goodison Park. Photo: Reuters

Jude Bellingham celebrates after giving Real Madrid the lead in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Mallorca. Photo: AP

Massive wildfires burning across Los Angeles have seen the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood almost destroyed. Photo: AFP

Argentine driver Franco Colapinto has signed for Apline after racing nine times for Williams last season. Photo: AP

Hongkongers warned they must adopt elite mindset or European clubs will overlook them

Portuguese Machado delivers a cross during one of his early Kitchee outings. Photo: Kitchee SC

Luis Machado is keen to pass on his experience to Kitchee’s younger generation. Photo: Kitchee SC

Machado joined Kitchee after three years with Polish top division team Radomiak Radom. Photo: Kitchee SC

Australian Open: Zheng Qinwen leads Chinese charge – and gets favourable first-round draw

China’s Zheng Qinwen is on a collision course with Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals. Photo: Xinhua

Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner with their trophies at Thursday’s Australian Open draw. Photo: dpa

Zhang Zhizhen is one of three Chinese players to face seeded opponents, in his case Denmark’s Holger Rune. Photo: AFP

Novak Djokovic is gunning for a record 11th Australian Open title and 25th grand slam crown. Photo: AP

Sport

Football

Just hours before their FA Cup third-round clash with Peterborough, Everton announced there will be a change of manager


Just hours before their FA Cup third-round clash with Peterborough, Everton announced there will be a change of manager.
