Everything you need to know about this weekend's Premier League action, all in one place.

Jump to: How will Liverpool perform post-Qatar? | Mourinho slipping already? | Man to watch | Game not to miss | Stats of the weekend | Team that needs some luck| One thing that will definitely happen | Predictions

The weekend's big questions

How much impact can Mikel Arteta make at Arsenal?

This is not the best time of year to take over as manager of a football club, particularly one that needs as much care and attention as Arsenal. After Chelsea beat Spurs on Sunday, Frank Lampard emphasised how desperate he had been to get a clear week on the training ground with his players, which is obviously something a new manager needs even more, but no such luck for Mikel Arteta. He won't have that clear week until the middle of January, and in the interim he has to create a good impression on a fan base that seem to broadly welcome his arrival, but would be forgiven for being sceptical given his lack of experience.

There are so many problems for Arteta to fix it's difficult to know where to start, but they include: how to effectively incorporate all of Arsenal's attacking talents; the Mesut Ozil problem; patching up a defence whose clean sheet against Everton was their first since October; figuring out the best combination from a selection of "not ideal" options in midfield; lifting a general malaise which saw Freddie Ljungberg drop half the team for his final game because he basically didn't think they were trying.

He has to make a start on all of that, while playing three games in six days over the festive period. All the best, Mikel.

Will the trip from Qatar hinder Liverpool?

At times it's tempting to think of Liverpool as a dead-eyed, robotic winning machine, a relentless force that cannot be stopped by conventional weapons. But at a time of the season with a fixture list already bursting at the seams, the last thing a team needs in terms of fitness and recovery is a couple of seven-hour flights and two high-profile, relatively high-stress games on a different continent, one of which went to extra-time.

They return to England arguably in an even better position than when they left, with Manchester City's win over Leicester putting them 10 points clear with a game in hand, which is against West Ham. But that lead only has any particular meaning if they keep up this insanely high standard. The question is whether they can do just that after their Doha jaunt, particularly as they will be welcomed home by arguably the toughest game they could face: Leicester away. If they come through these next few weeks unscathed, it should be relatively plain sailing until May.

Has the Mourinho mask slipped?

We were told that Jose Mourinho had changed, that the manager who left scorched earth at all of his previous jobs had spent the past year surrounded by aromatic candles and listening to whale song -- that he was a different, more gentle character now. We were also told by some that he is also still the manager he has always been, that the dumpster fire of his last days at Manchester United were not reflective of his abilities.

Then the game against Chelsea happened. Sure, it was only one game, but there were enough signs that this was not exactly Jose anew, from the alarming ease with which he was out-thought by Lampard, to the postmatch dig that his old apprentice had simply cribbed his tactics from Antonio Conte.

So which is the real Jose Mourinho? Spurs have a relatively gentle pair of festive fixtures, at home to Brighton and away at Norwich, but we will see in the coming weeks exactly what sort of manager Mourinho is now.

Man to watch

Carlo Ancelotti

It still feels weird that Carlo Ancelotti, winner of three Champions Leagues and titles in five countries, is now Everton's manager. Inevitably that sounds patronising at best to Everton, but surely even they can't quite believe it. The concern is that Everton have become too impressed by star power, bewitched and bedazzled by the idea that one of the most successful managers in the world is interested in managing them, without considering whether he's the right fit. Is he really the sort of manager they need? Can he do the job they need him to?

Comparisons have been made to his early days at Milan, when he turned around a floundering team, converted Andrea Pirlo into a full-time deep playmaker and ended up twice European champions.

But firstly, that was nearly two decades ago, and that Milan squad included Paolo Maldini, Rui Costa, Clarence Seedorf and Andriy Shevchenko. Ancelotti doesn't quite have the same basic materials here. The fear is that Ancelotti is a fading force asked to do a job to which he's unaccustomed; the hope is he can be revitalised by a fresh challenge.

The game you aren't planning to watch, but should

Sheffield United vs. Watford

Watford's two games under Nigel Pearson thus far have been impressive, a decent performance against Liverpool followed up by victory over Manchester United. But arguably as significant a test will come on Boxing Day against Sheffield United, one of the toughest nuts to crack in the Premier League this season. Plus, by the time the game comes around, the "new manager bounce" will have faded a little, so we'll know more about what Pearson's Watford will actually look like in the mid/longer term. This should be a belter.

Stats of the weekend

- Leicester and Liverpool have both scored in each of their last seven Premier League meetings.

- Jamie Vardy has scored seven Premier League goals against Liverpool, more than any other active player. The striker has also scored in each of his last three league games against Liverpool at the King Power Stadium.

- Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola can break Jose Mourinho's record as the quickest to reach 100 Premier League wins. Mourinho achieved the feat in his 142nd game, while Guardiola has reached 99 victories in only 132 matches in the competition so far.

- Chelsea have won nine and drawn five of their last 14 fixtures on Dec. 26, the longest unbeaten run on Boxing Day in the Premier League's history.

- No Premier League team has conceded as many goals in all competitions as Tottenham have since Mourinho took over (14 conceded, level with Arsenal).

- Manchester United have won only one of their last 17 games in the Premier League in which they have had more possession than their opponents.

- Arsenal are starting a Boxing Day league game in the bottom half of the table (11th) for the first time since 1983, when they won 4-2 at Tottenham having been 12th at kick-off.

- Ahead of his first game as Everton manager, Carlo Ancelotti has the fifth-best win percentage of any manager in Premier League history (63.2%, minimum 30 matches).

The team that needs a bit of luck

Wolves

Perhaps the team that currently sit sixth in the table and have only lost once since September don't need luck, and fortune should be wished upon someone less blessed than them at this charitable time of year. But Nuno Espirito Santo's side's next two fixtures see them host Manchester City and then take a trip to Liverpool. Even considering they beat City earlier in the season, this is not a happy holiday for them. Success will be coming away with anything more than zero points.

One thing that will definitely happen

McGoldrick will score a goal

It's Christmas time everyone -- let's all think positive. Let's think "miracles." Let's think that even the most unlikely things can occur. David McGoldrick has been superb up front for Sheffield United this season; his movement, passing, hold-up play and game intelligence have been significant contributory factors to the success of Chris Wilder's side. But he has yet to score a goal, and you could see the anguish on his face when he put a shot into the side-netting against Brighton last time out. It will happen at some point, so let's join hands and pray that it does in these festive fixtures.

Predictions

Dec. 26-27 matches
Tottenham 2-2 Brighton
Sheffield United 2-0 Watford
Aston Villa 1-0 Norwich City
Bournemouth 1-1 Arsenal
Chelsea 3-1 Southampton
Crystal Palace 2-1 West Ham
Everton 3-1 Burnley
Manchester United 1-1 Newcastle United
Leicester 1-3 Liverpool
Wolves 0-2 Manchester City

Dec. 28-29 matches
Brighton 1-1 Bournemouth
Southampton 0-1 Crystal Palace
Watford 1-0 Aston Villa
Newcastle United 1-0 Everton
Norwich 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 0-2 Leicester
Burnley 0-1 Manchester United
Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea
Liverpool 3-1 Wolves
Manchester City 3-2 Sheffield United

College football's Big 12 Conference has long been associated with points. When Oklahoma's Bob Stoops brought offensive coordinator Mike Leach to the conference in 1999 (and then Texas Tech made him its head coach a year later), the spread offense found a place to germinate and conference games have been high-scoring ever since. Offenses there are fast and innovative, which results in lots of points; occasionally defenses are less than competent, too, which results in lots of points as well.

American football fans may instinctively know the difference between, say, Big 12 and SEC football, but since the country's love affair with soccer is still in the "budding romance" stage, they might not know much about different soccer leagues beyond high-level stereotypes.

And so, if you're giving the gift of soccer this holiday season, consider this a helpful guide. With more soccer available on your television than ever before, here's how to find the league, teams and players that resonate most strongly with your own personality and preferences.

For instance, if you're a fan of Big 12 football, you really need to turn your eyes toward Germany.

A quick word about methodology...

I compiled Opta data for seven leagues -- Europe's five strongest leagues (England's Premier League, Spain's La Liga, Germany's Bundesliga, Italy's Serie A and France's Ligue 1), plus MLS and Liga MX -- going back to the beginning of the 2018-19 campaigns.

From there, I grouped the traits that distinguish each league from others.

For each league, I include an American sports equivalent and the teams and players most directly reflective of the league's defining characteristics.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

American sports equivalent: The NFL. A money-cannon behemoth that reflects the sport's most recent trends (and maybe finds it difficult to change directions when those trends change).

Standout traits: Most pass attempts and passes per possession. Fewest long passes, second-highest percentage of shots in the box. Second-most blocked shots, second-most tackle attempts. Most clearances, second-most corners, second-most chances from set plays.

I wrote a couple of weeks ago about how the Premier League had evolved from Sir Alex Ferguson's league to Pep Guardiola's (and it's now evolving again). No league is more driven by possession, short (and often backwards) passing and pragmatism than England's top tier. But just as money can buy you fancy things, it can also allow you to follow the latest fancy trends.

Bits of the proper English soccer personality shine through -- no league has a larger number of willing shot blockers, for instance -- but to win here, you must possess the ball at high levels.

There's a correlation here, by the way. The richest teams in Europe mostly play a predominantly possession-heavy style, and while La Liga and the Bundesliga each have two huge clubs, the Premier League has six clubs with particularly stocked coffers. That alone means 30% of the league plays the rich club style.

The league's defining team: Leicester City. Manchester City is the most ball-dominant team, but Leicester, led by former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, is the closest to striking the balance between possession and the English stereotype. The Foxes are also having one hell of a season so far.

The league's defining player: James Milner, MF, Liverpool. This is a passer's league, and despite his advancing age, the 33-year-old Milner plays a key role when he's on the pitch: he passes. And passes, and passes, and passes, to the tune of nearly 70 per 90 minutes in league action. His completion rate has been 85% or higher in each of the past three seasons, and he's averaging 0.33 assists per 90 minutes. He still brings value and identity even with diminished playing time.

SPANISH LA LIGA

American sports equivalent: Houston Rockets. It pushed a trend that changed the sport, it houses the best pure scorer on the planet and it can get a little boring sometimes.

Standout traits: Fewest shots, shots on goal and assists. Second-fewest pass attempts, second-highest percentage of forward passes, lowest pass completion rate, second-lowest average possession time. Second-most duels, aerials, open crosses and clearances. Most goals from direct free kicks, highest scoring percentage on corners. Most yellow cards, most offsides called.

Spain is the home of the pass-heavy, "tiki-taka" stereotype, but that's really just Barcelona's brand and, for a few years there, the Spanish national team's thing. Barca (65% possession rate since the start of 2018-19) and Real (60%) still play the possession game as well as anyone -- again, rich teams unite -- but the rest of the league has resorted to non-possession tactics to try to get ahead. They're pretty good at it too: Atlético Madrid has three top-two league finishes in the past six seasons, plus two Champions League finals appearances and three Europa League titles in the past 10 years. Plus, Sevilla has a record five Europa titles since 2006.

Since the start of 2018-19, Atlético has had 49% possession in this span but has the third-best goal differential. Getafe has the fourth-best goal differential despite being downright allergic to the ball (41% possession, 63% pass completion rate). Real Betis, meanwhile, enjoys great possession numbers (59%) but is distinctly mid-table. This is anything but a "tiki-taka" league.

The league's defining team: Valencia. Los Che have figured out how to post strong results (fourth in the league in each of the past two seasons and within striking distance of third currently) while playing like the most generic Liga team possible: a possession rate around 50%, a solid but not too good completion rate, a far-slower-than-Bundesliga tempo, etc. (How do they win then? Solid chance conversion: basically, they finish their attacks better than you do.)

The league's defining player: Raul Garcia, MF, Athletic Club. Like Milner, the 33-year-old Athletic Bilbao midfielder is getting up there in age, but he perfectly mirrors the league's (non-Barca/Real) style: he wins duels and aerials, his passing is aggressive and his shots aren't often on goal.

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA

American sports equivalent: Big 12 football. You like points and offensive aggression, right?

Standout traits: Most goals, shots on goal and assists. Most possessions, lowest average possession time, most ball recoveries. Highest percentage of shots in the box, lowest save percentage. Second-fewest yellow cards.

In the weeks leading up to the league's winter break, we saw Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig draw 3-3 in a game that featured sloppy weather and sloppier goalkeeping, Dortmund beat Mainz 4-0, and Werder Bremen lose to Mainz and Bayern, back-to-back, by a combined 11-1. Even a lower-scoring match like Wolfsburg vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach featured two gorgeous top-shelf goals within the first 15 minutes.

Since the start of 2018-19, Bundesliga matches have included 3.2 goals; no other league in this sample topped 2.9. Not every match is 2012 Baylor vs. West Virginia, but it's dang close sometimes. (And it's coming to ESPN+ starting in August, 2020.)

The league's defining team: Borussia Mönchengladbach. Gladbach spent much of the fall atop the Bundesliga table, enjoying the fruits of one of the most difficult decisions you can make: after a couple of years of perfectly solid (and perfectly German) ball, it dumped manager Dieter Hecking in favor of Red Bull Salzburg's Marco Rose. He has made Gladbach even more German (aggressive counterattacks, tons of shots in the box) and quite a bit better to boot.

The league's defining player: Thorgan Hazard, MF/FW, Borussia Dortmund. A Gladbach stalwart until this season, the 26-year-old (and brother of Real Madrid's Eden Hazard) is one of only two league players to log over 4,000 minutes and average at least 0.25 assists and 0.25 goals per 90 minutes. When he's involved in an offensive sequence, said sequence is going vertical quickly.

ITALIAN SERIE A

American sports equivalent: Big Ten football. Efficient, inch-at-a-time offenses and physical defenses that make it awfully hard to score points.

Standout traits: Highest pass completion rate, lowest percentage of forward passes, most passes per possession. Most scoring chances, most crosses and open crosses and most shots ... but third-fewest goals, lowest shots-on-target percentage, second-lowest percentage of shots in the box, highest save percentage. Second-most fouls and yellow cards.

This league has taken on many of the same characteristics as the Premier League -- tons of safe passing and slow buildups -- only without the actual scoring. Counterattacking is minimal; Serie A defenses primarily park a bus in front of their goal and wait for you to take a bad shot, while offenses take their sweet, sweet time looking for something better. The average number of possessions in a Serie A match is lower than that of the slowest team in the Bundesliga. The technical expertise in this league is undeniable, but it is, like the Italian apéritif Campari, an acquired taste (and rather bitter).

The league's defining team: Lazio. Minimal possessions (89 per 90 minutes this season)? Check. High pass completion rate (84%)? Check. Plenty of yellow cards (nearly 2.5 per match)? Check. Effectiveness (top half of the league for 10 straight seasons and currently within striking distance of first)? Big check.

The league's defining player: Gianluigi Donnarumma, GK, AC Milan or Diego Godin, DF, Inter Milan. One other thing keeps goal totals tamped down: good goalkeeping. There is an abundance of it in Italy and Donnarumma, somehow still only 20 years old, could be the defining player in that regard for years to come. I'm also including Godin here for two reasons: the 33-year-old centre-back is the master of the horizontal pass and, to put it politely, he doesn't mind getting physical.

FRENCH LIGUE 1

American sports equivalent: Philip Rivers. Unashamedly aggressive, often spectacular and usually a little disappointing.

Standout traits: Second-highest direct speed, most duels, most take-ons (but second-lowest take-on success rate), most tackles. Second-fewest goals, shots on goal, assists and scoring chances. Second-most shots on direct free kicks but fewest goals on set plays. Second-lowest save percentage but most clean sheets. Second-most red cards.

From a statistical perspective, top-level French football resembles Liga MX a lot more than one might anticipate. Paris Saint-Germain spends all the money and plays exactly the possession game you would expect, but aside from maybe Lyon and Nice, the rest of the league is trying to advance the ball up the pitch at all costs.

It is perhaps a little bit too aggressive, as all this direct speed and vertical sequencing tends to simply result in turnovers. This league combines exciting young players (soon to be sold to bigger leagues) with physical veterans in a pretty unique way to create an odd overall product.

The league's defining team: Monaco The most unique club in the league -- a monied club in a monied principality on the French Riviera -- somehow plays maybe the most Ligue 1 ball in Ligue 1. It takes lots of shots (some of them even on target!) and attempts a lot of through balls and crosses. Monaco attacks, but doesn't always do it well: it's mid-table this year, but that's an improvement over last year's 17th-place finish.

The league's defining player: Andy Delort, FW, Montpellier. The Algerian international has spent most of his career in France but dabbled with Liga MX's Tigres a few years ago. It makes sense. Like Iturbe, Delort is fast and aggressive, but while he doesn't take quite as many long-distance bombs, he does attempt far too many take-ons.

MEXICAN LIGA MX

American sports equivalent: Every pickup basketball game you've ever seen (only, with world-class athletes).

Standout traits: Highest direct speed (how vertically the ball is advanced, basically), fewest possessions, fewest passes per possession. Highest percentage of forward passes, highest long-pass completion percentage. Lowest percent of shots in the box, second-lowest percentage of shots on target, fewest clearances, ball recoveries, interceptions or aerial challenges. Most shots on direct free kick, second-most goals from set plays. Most fouls and red cards.

Look, organization is fine. A pragmatic, ball-dominant team like Manchester City can obviously be fun to watch when things are clicking, but you still need some balance on the palate. Like sweet and salty, the increasingly clinical nature of the Premier League becomes a bit more enjoyable when paired with the occasional note of pure verticality and chaos.

Maybe the Bundesliga provides that note, but when you need even more seasoning, find Liga MX. These teams get up and down the pitch at whatever rate the country's elevation will let them and they put up shots, often from distance, as if there's a shot clock. This is a league of bold gestures, gusto and great entertainment.

The league's defining team: Cruz Azul. La Maquina work the ball vertically, take as many shots as possible (barely 50% of which are inside the box), and have won big recently -- they were second on aggregate in 2018-19. Granted, not many shots hit their mark this past fall, which resulted in a slip to 12th in the table, but, well, that's a pretty Liga MX thing, too.

The league's defining player: Juan Iturbe, FW, Pumas. The 26-year-old winger has played in Portugal and Italy, but he has found a spiritual home in Mexico City, where his outstanding speed and dribbling abilities, plus his predilection for no-conscience, long-distance shooting, fit right in.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

American (other) sports equivalent: Sun Belt football. Lots of similarities with the Big 12, only a step down.

Standout traits: Second-most goals, shots on goal, assists and percentage of shots on target. Most possessions won in the attacking third. Fewest duels, crosses and headers (as a percentage of total shots), second-fewest aerials. Second-highest tackle percentage, second-most interceptions. Second-fewest fouls but second-most red cards.

Even if there's a difference in quality, you can find yourself transfixed by UL-Lafayette vs. UL-Monroe just as you can Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State. There are quite a few similarities between MLS and the Bundesliga -- lots of ball pressure, lots of counterattacks, lots of scoring -- and those personality traits stand out despite the almost comically large roster of teams MLS has put together.

The league's defining team: Seattle Sounders. The surest thing in the league (two MLS titles, four U.S. Open Cups, zero missed playoffs, killer attendance) is also the most MLS-style team. It's almost comforting that they sync up so neatly. The Sounders don't do much in the way of possession, and their total touches and completion rates are around the league average. But they defend better than most of their peers, and their passing in the attacking third is better than most. They play the MLS game, and they're good at it.

The league's defining player: Alejandro Pozuelo (Toronto). In terms of attacking and transition, you could make the case for LAFC's Carlos Vela here, but he was a little too successful last year. Too easy. Instead, we'll go with the 28-year-old from Spain. An attacking midfielder who excels in transition opportunities, Pozuelo has been a perfect fit for the league he joined from Belgian side Genk back in March.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Nielsen Racing has confirmed plans to compete in the IMSA Prototype Challenge series beginning with the season-opener in January at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

The British-based team will field the No. 17 Norma M30 LMP3 for Rob Hodes and Garett Grist in all six-rounds of the championship, starting with Daytona and concluding with Petit Le Mans in October at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.Hodes and Grist know each other well from recent stints in the Asian Le Mans Series together, first with United Autosports and currently with Nielsen Racing.

Most recently, the pairing finished sixth at Shanghai Int’l Circuit in what was the first round of the Asian Le Mans Series. For Nielsen Racing, this is a huge venture across the Atlantic, one in which the team is very much looking forward to.

“This is very exciting; we’re really looking forward to competing in the US for the first time,” stated Team Principal David Thompson. “We’re delighted to continue our relationship with Rob, Garett and Charles Crews in this exciting programme. We have plenty of experience now with the new Norma from first European Le Mans Series and then from Asia, so we can’t wait to get started in Daytona.”

The IMSA Prototype Challenge season will begin on Jan. 4 at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Three years after shuttering operations, Martins Motorsports is returning to NASCAR national series competition next year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

The team, owned by Craig Martins and Rodney Riessen, will field the No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro for driver Tommy Joe Martins. The team plans to contest the full Xfinity Series schedule with Martins sharing driving duties with at least one other driver.

“It’s so exciting,” said Tommy Joe Martins. “Extremely nerve wracking but also really exciting. We’ve learned so much over these last few years about this series & the business as a whole. I’ve improved a lot as a driver. Having Rodney [Riessen] as a partner in this thing is a game changer. He’s just as passionate about the success of this team as dad & I are.”

Martins Motorsports last competed in NASCAR in 2017, with the team competing in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series before ceasing operations.

Tommy Joe Martins has run part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series since then, making 46 starts between BJ McLeod Motorsports and MPM Motorsports. He has a best finish of 11th in Xfinity Series competition.

The team will have sponsorship from Diamond Gusset Jeans. The team hopes to add additional sponsorship in the coming weeks and months.

“We’ve done this before. We know how hard it is,” Tommy Joe Martins said. “We’ve done it right and we’ve done it wrong. The biggest difference this time is my experience and the school of hard knocks both my dad and Rodney have had to learn from to get to this point. We’ve also got some great partners with Diamond Gusset, AAN Adjusters and a few others that hopefully we’ll be announcing very soon. Everyone is all in to make this thing work.”

Tommy Joe Martins made it clear that he does not want to drive the car full-time and would gladly share the No. 44 entry should a funded driver be found.

“I’d gladly step out. I love driving these cars, but the best thing financially for this race team is to have me as a part-time driver, not a full-time one,” Martins said. “Right now I just want to focus on starting this year strong, getting us up in the points and proving to everyone this is a competitive race team. I think everything takes care of itself from that point on.”

Barcelona will once again step up their attempts to sign Neymar next summer, sources have told ESPN.

The Barca hierarchy believes that Neymar is the natural replacement for Lionel Messi. The club believe it will be easier to bring Neymar back to Camp Nou once Messi is gone, given that Neymar has already played there and there are not too many players at his level.

The Brazil international retains a good relationship with Barca despite his acrimonious exit to Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record €222 million fee.

Mundo Deportivo's front page on Tuesday said Barca will attempt to sign the forward depending on his performances during the second half of the season, when PSG will look to finally win the Champions League.

Neymar has a tense relationship with the French champions, who refused to let him join Barca last summer despite the club's best efforts.

PSG's owners continue to make things difficult for Barca, which could go to FIFA to decide a fee, given the player has been at the club for three years and has no release clause.

Mohammad Hafeez, the Pakistan and Middlesex allrounder, has been suspended from bowling in all ECB competitions after a bowling-action assessment found his action to be illegal.

Umpires reported Hafeez's action after a Vitality Blast match between Somerset and Middlesex in Taunton on August 30, following which he underwent independent assessment at Loughborough University.

The game against Somerset was the penultimate match of Middlesex's T20 season, in which Hafeez played four matches, scoring 115 runs at a strike rate of 112.74, and taking two wickets while conceding 8.64 runs per over. Hafeez had signed on as a mid-season replacement for AB de Villiers.

Hafeez contested the findings of the assessment, which held that his elbow extension for his offbreak exceeded the 15-degree tolerance limit for bowling actions. A bowling review group, which heard his appeal at Lord's on Tuesday, suspended him from bowling in ECB competitions, and advised him to correct his action. Once he has done this, Hafeez may request a re-assessment to be allowed to bowl again.

"I have received the ECB Bowling Review Group report on my bowling action," Hafeez said in a statement. "Despite identifying procedural testing flaws, which have been accepted by the review committee, as well as realising the findings will potentially affect my reputation as a world-proven all-rounder, I accept the Bowling Review Group findings.

"As per ECB regulations, I am ready to appear for an independent analysis at an ICC-accredited centre, so that I become eligible to play in ECB-organised events."

Hafeez's action has come under scrutiny throughout his career. His first brush with the elbow microscope came all the way back in 2005, and he has been reported, suspended and cleared multiple times since then, going through various tweaks each time to get his action to conform to the 15-degree limit.

He was most recently cleared to bowl in international cricket in May 2018, after which he questioned the ICC's process for identifying and scrutinising suspect actions. No action was taken against him after he appeared before a PCB disciplinary committee and clarified his comments.

Between then and this latest development, Hafeez's action had steered clear of match officials' attention, but it did make the news when the New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor appeared to question its legality during an ODI in Abu Dhabi in November 2018.

Barcelona will once again step up their attempts to sign Neymar next summer, sources have told ESPN.

The Barca hierarchy believes that Neymar is the natural replacement for Lionel Messi. The club believe it will be easier to bring Neymar back to Camp Nou once Messi is gone, given that Neymar has already played there and there are not too many players at his level.

The Brazil international retains a good relationship with Barca despite his acrimonious exit to Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record €222 million fee.

Mundo Deportivo's front page on Tuesday said Barca will attempt to sign the forward depending on his performances during the second half of the season, when PSG will look to finally win the Champions League.

Neymar has a tense relationship with the French champions, who refused to let him join Barca last summer despite the club's best efforts.

PSG's owners continue to make things difficult for Barca, which could go to FIFA to decide a fee, given the player has been at the club for three years and has no release clause.

HOUSTON -- Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is expected to return to practice on Tuesday, a source confirmed to ESPN.

Watt tore his pectoral muscle in Week 8 while making a tackle on Oakland Raiders running back Josh Jacobs and had surgery two days later.

Watt is returning to practice eight weeks after his surgery. According to ESPN injury expert Stephania Bell, the typical recovery time for a torn pectoral muscle is three to four months.

The Texans put Watt on injured reserve, but have now designated him to return. With a return to practice, Houston has a 21-day window to add him to the active roster.

The Houston Chronicle first reported the story.

On the night Watt tore his pectoral muscle, he and the team initially thought he would be out for the rest of the season. "This game can be beautiful and it can also be brutal," Watt tweeted on Oct. 27. "Absolutely gutted that I won't be able to finish the season with my guys and give the fans what they deserve."

Houston clinched the AFC South with a victory over the Buccaneers on Saturday, so it will host the Tennessee Titans in Week 17 and then host a playoff game.

Watt did not miss a game during the first five seasons of his career, but he has dealt with major injuries in three of his past four seasons. In 2016, Watt only played in three games before undergoing season-ending back surgery. The following year, Watt broke his leg in Week 5.

In 2018, Watt played in all 16 regular-season games, finishing the season with 16 sacks, which ranked second in the NFL.

When Watt got hurt, he led the NFL in pressures and quarterback hits. Houston is ranked 26th in the NFL with 31 sacks this season.

The NFL Power Rankings are all about deciding who is the best of the best from a team standpoint. We're taking that one step further this week, as our NFL Nation reporters select the MVP for the teams they cover.

No matter how good or bad a team is this season, it will have a player who's worthy of praise (this is even true for the Lions). Our power panel -- a group of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities -- evaluates how teams stack up throughout the season.

Previous rankings: 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | Preseason

1. Baltimore Ravens (13-2)

Week 16 ranking: 1

Team MVP: Lamar Jackson, QB

Jackson isn't just the MVP of the Ravens. He's the best player in football. Jackson leads the NFL with 36 touchdown passes and ranks No. 6 in the league with 1,206 rushing yards. In leading the Ravens to their first-ever No. 1 seed, Jackson has thrown for four or more touchdowns in four games and has rushed for more than 100 yards in five games. He has 43 touchdowns (36 passing and seven rushing), eclipsing the TD total for 21 other teams this season. Jackson is redefining the quarterback position, and he's finishing just his first full season as an NFL starter. -- Jamison Hensley

2. New Orleans Saints (12-3)

Week 16 ranking: 2

Team MVP: Michael Thomas, WR

If not for Lamar Jackson, Thomas would have a great chance to become the first receiver to win the league MVP award. His 145 receptions broke Marvin Harrison's single-season record (143) with one game to spare. He also leads the NFL with 1,688 receiving yards and has nine touchdown catches. He has been a go-to guy for both Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater. And he has been vital for a team that is short on reliable targets in the passing game. Thomas has 116 more catches than any other wide receiver on the team. -- Mike Triplett

3. San Francisco 49ers (12-3)

Week 16 ranking: 3

Team MVP: George Kittle, TE

His final receiving numbers won't approach the record-breaking standard he set last season but, believe it or not, Kittle has been even better in 2019. Despite missing two games with ankle and knee injuries, Kittle was easily the Niners' most indispensable player. As a punishing blocker and a dynamic receiving threat, Kittle does it all for the Niners, making him one of the most valuable non-quarterbacks in the league. -- Nick Wagoner

4. Kansas City Chiefs (11-4)

Week 16 ranking: 4

Team MVP: Patrick Mahomes, QB

Mahomes isn't winning this award by as wide a margin as last year, but he's still the one who makes the Chiefs' offense work. Mahomes, along with a greatly improved defense, is the reason the Chiefs can feel confident in a deep playoff run. -- Adam Teicher

5. New England Patriots (12-3)

Week 16 ranking: 6

Team MVP: Stephon Gilmore, CB

A top candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, Gilmore has six interceptions and his excellence in man coverage against a wide variety of receivers has been instrumental in the success of the defense, which has been been the backbone of the team. Gilmore has two pick-sixes, which are exclamation-point plays in his stellar season. -- Mike Reiss

6. Green Bay Packers (12-3)

Week 16 ranking: 7

Team MVP: Aaron Jones, RB

All the talk about how new coach Matt LaFleur's offense was tailor-made for Jones turned out to be spot on. He leads the team with 1,415 yards from scrimmage -- the most by a Packers back since Eddie Lacy (1,566) in 2014 -- and joined Jim Taylor (1962) and Ahman Green (2003) as the only backs in franchise history to post 1,250-plus yards from scrimmage and 17-plus touchdowns in a season. Jones is up to 19 total TDs after the Packers' win over the Vikings on Monday night. -- Rob Demovsky

7. Seattle Seahawks (11-4)

Week 16 ranking: 5

Team MVP: Russell Wilson, QB

Wilson is the obvious choice for the Seahawks even though he has fallen off his MVP pace from earlier in the season. He's fifth in the NFL in passer rating at 107.3 and has thrown 29 touchdown passes to only five interceptions for a 5.8 TD/INT ratio that also ranks fifth. Wilson has led five game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime, one reason the Seahawks have tied the NFL record for most one-score victories with 10 and have white-knuckled their way into another playoff berth. Bobby Wagner gets honorable mention for MVP as the league's leading tackler through 15 games. -- Brady Henderson

8. Minnesota Vikings (10-5)

Week 16 ranking: 8

Team MVP: Dalvin Cook, RB

Fairly obvious answer, no? Cook is expected to be shut down for the final week, given the Vikings have locked up a playoff bid, but the running back's impact on this offense is the reason they'll be playing in January. The way the offense was built around him has helped everyone be successful, notably quarterback Kirk Cousins, whose play-action attack has the Vikings firing on all cylinders. When Adam Thielen missed six weeks, Minnesota was able to thrive with the heavy use of its run game, and Cook entered the league-wide MVP conversation in that stretch. -- Courtney Cronin

9. Buffalo Bills (10-5)

Week 16 ranking: 9

Team MVP: Tre'Davious White, CB

On a Bills team that seems greater than the sum of its parts, White stands out as its clear-cut best player. Buffalo's lone Pro Bowler has established himself as a top-three cornerback in the league with a strong case for being the best player at the position. His six interceptions are tied for the league lead and he has yet to give up a touchdown despite lining up against the opposition's best receiver. White will likely reset the market when he signs his next contract, although he is eligible for a fifth-year option this offseason. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

10. Houston Texans (10-5)

Week 16 ranking: 10

Team MVP: Deshaun Watson, QB

Although the offense has been inconsistent, the Texans would not be AFC South champions without Watson's impact. In 15 games, Watson has thrown 26 touchdown passes and is just four passing touchdowns away from setting a single-season franchise record. -- Sarah Barshop

11. Tennessee Titans (8-7)

Week 16 ranking: 11

Team MVP: Derrick Henry, RB

Whenever the Titans need to put together a big drive, Henry is the player they lean on. He has been the most reliable and productive player for Tennessee. His 1,329 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns rank among the league's leaders. Henry's four-game stretch of 100 yards or more on the ground fueled Tennessee's four-game winning streak that propelled the team back into the hunt for a playoff spot. It's pretty clear the fourth-year back is the MVP in the fans' eyes, as shown by the "HEN-RY, HEN-RY" chants after he breaks off long runs. -- Turron Davenport

12. Los Angeles Rams (8-7)

Week 16 ranking: 12

Team MVP: Aaron Donald, DT

In an uneven season for the Rams, Donald is consistently the best player on the field. The two-time defending NFL Defensive Player of the Year has 12.5 sacks, which ranks sixth in the league, and has absorbed multiple double- and even triple-teams. That has enabled teammates to find more success in getting to the quarterback; the Rams are third in the league with 49 sacks. -- Lindsey Thiry

13. Philadelphia Eagles (8-7)

Week 16 ranking: 16

Team MVP: Carson Wentz, QB

Wentz has been lights out over the past three games, completing 71% of his throws for 910 yards with six touchdowns and zero interceptions to rally the Eagles to a December push that has them on the doorstep of capturing the NFC East title. And he has done it with all three of his original starting receivers and primary running back Jordan Howard sidelined with injuries. Wentz was up-and-down for much of the season, but he has recaptured his MVP-like form at the most critical point of the year. -- Tim McManus

14. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)

Week 16 ranking: 13

Team MVP: Dak Prescott, QB

The close to the season has not been kind to Prescott. His production has tailed off and he is banged up with a sprained right shoulder, injured right index finger and a sore left wrist. But he has been the Cowboys' MVP, carrying them at times in the passing game while making big plays with his feet. The Cowboys are as committed to him being their future quarterback as they have ever been. Prescott has more steps to take, but he has added new aspects to his game over the years. Ask yourself two questions: If he's not the MVP, who is? Where would this team be without him? -- Todd Archer

15. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)

Week 16 ranking: 14

Team MVP: TJ Watt, OLB

The defense is the obvious strength of this team, and Watt has been its consistent anchor. With 14 sacks, seven forced fumbles and two interceptions, Watt is a strong Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Without his forced turnovers, the Steelers wouldn't have been in a number of games, and he kept them competitive even when the offense couldn't hold up its end. Watt is also a leader. The tabletop soccer game in the Steelers' locker room was brought in by Watt to boost camaraderie -- one example of the ways he has helped maintain the culture that makes the Steelers unique. -- Brooke Pryor

16. Chicago Bears (7-8)

Week 16 ranking: 15

Team MVP: Allen Robinson, WR

The Bears have one of the league's worst offenses, yet Robinson has managed to catch 89 passes for 1,076 yards and seven touchdowns. That productivity is remarkable when you also factor in the wild inconsistency of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Still, Robinson continues to thrive despite all the built-in obstacles on Chicago's offense. That is the true definition of an MVP. -- Jeff Dickerson

17. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

Week 16 ranking: 18

Team MVP: Darius Leonard, LB

Andrew Luck had owned this spot every year he played since he was drafted in 2012. But now this is Leonard's spot. He'll lead the Colts in tackles (115 currently) for the second straight season while contributing five sacks, six passes defended, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and a touchdown. And Leonard doesn't have to worry about a Pro Bowl snub this year, either, as he made the first of what will likely be numerous Pro Bowl squads during his career. -- Mike Wells

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)

Week 16 ranking: 17

Team MVP: Shaquil Barrett, OLB

Barrett went from signing a one-year "prove it" deal and playing in the fourth preseason game to putting up 16.5 sacks in 15 games -- second in the NFL -- and essentially being pegged as the one guy the Bucs cannot let out of the building this offseason. Had Mike Evans and Chris Godwin finished the season healthy, they would be in consideration. Jameis Winston would be too, considering he is approaching 5,000 passing yards, but his 28 interceptions have cost them games. -- Jenna Laine

19. Oakland Raiders (7-8)

Week 16 ranking: 19

Team MVP: Josh Jacobs, RB

Despite missing two of the Raiders' past three games with a fractured right shoulder, the rookie running back has carried the Raiders' offense in rushing for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns on 242 carries (4.75 yards per carry). "He is a tough guy, he is a great kid and he's smart. And he's a great competitor," Raiders coach Jon Gruden said of Jacobs. "Those are the things that people don't see. Maybe they feel it, but he is off the charts when it comes to being on the mark in terms of his assignments, and he has a lot of pride in his performance. He's the perfect centerpiece for our offense." -- Paul Gutierrez

20. Atlanta Falcons (6-9)

Week 16 ranking: 22

Team MVP: Julio Jones, WR

Jones, who reached 12,000 receiving yards quicker than any receiver in history, isn't the team MVP just because he is arguably the most feared player in the NFL. His value goes beyond statistics with his professionalism and the way he mentors young players. When he speaks up, people listen, and Jones was vocal in putting the blame on the players and not on coach Dan Quinn. Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, a first-time Pro Bowler and a first-class pro, is the runner-up. -- Vaughn McClure

21. Cleveland Browns (6-9)

Week 16 ranking: 20

Team MVP: Nick Chubb, RB

Chubb has been a reliable and steady force in this otherwise turbulent and dispiriting Browns season. The second-year back out of Georgia, who was named to his first Pro Bowl last week, is primed to win the NFL rushing title, despite Cleveland's offensive problems along the line and in the passing game. Never once has Chubb been a part of the surrounding drama that has enveloped these Browns at every turn. All he has done is break tackles and move the chains. He's Cleveland's clear MVP. -- Jake Trotter

22. Denver Broncos (6-9)

Week 16 ranking: 24

Team MVP: Justin Simmons, S

That's not to say wide receiver Courtland Sutton or pass-rusher Von Miller aren't worthy. But in a year filled with key defensive injuries, Simmons has helped Denver become the best red zone defense and a top-10 unit overall. Simmons has had a career year as one of only a handful of players to top 80 tackles and grab at least four interceptions this season. He has played every snap the past two seasons -- 1,079 in 2018 to go with 1,008 through 15 games this season. He is slated to be an unrestricted free agent at season's end and should be one of the Broncos' top offseason priorities. -- Jeff Legwold

23. Los Angeles Chargers (5-10)

Week 16 ranking: 21

Team MVP: Austin Ekeler, RB

The third-year running back out of Western Colorado has been this scuffling team's most consistent performer. Ekeler leads the Bolts with 11 total touchdowns. His 950 receiving yards are the most among running backs in the NFL this season and the second most in team history behind Lionel James' 1,027 in 1985. -- Eric D. Williams

24. Arizona Cardinals (5-9-1)

Week 16 ranking: 25

Team MVP: Chandler Jones, OLB

There has been one constant this season for the Cardinals: Jones getting sacks. He leads the league with 19 after a four-sack performance against the Seahawks. And for a defense that's allowing more than 400 yards per game -- second most in the NFL -- Jones has been one of the few bright spots while forcing himself into the conversation of the league's best defenders. -- Josh Weinfuss

25. New York Jets (6-9)

Week 16 ranking: 27

Team MVP: Jamal Adams, S

And it's not even close. Adams, selected to his second Pro Bowl, is the catalyst of an overachieving defense. He has been a force near the line of scrimmage, racking up 6.5 sacks (1.5 shy of the NFL record for defensive backs) and 12 tackles for loss. The defense is just ... well, different when he's on the field. The subject of midseason trade rumors, Adams will be a big story in the offseason, as he likely will seek a new contract. -- Rich Cimini

26. Carolina Panthers (5-10)

Week 16 ranking: 23

Team MVP: Christian McCaffrey, RB

This is a no-brainer. McCaffrey needs 67 yards receiving in the finale to become the third player in NFL history to have 1,000 yards receiving and rushing in the same season. He leads the NFL in total yards from scrimmage by a wide margin. In a season in which the Panthers lost seven straight after a 5-3 start and head coach Ron Rivera was fired, McCaffrey is the lone bright spot -- period. Said safety Tre Boston: "Christian is a highlight of what's going on, 'cause if we didn't have him, I can only imagine." -- David Newton

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10)

Week 16 ranking: 26

Team MVP: Leonard Fournette, RB

There were questions about Fournette's commitment, work ethic and maturity coming into the season, and he has answered them all. He has rushed for a career-high 1,152 yards (and counting) and his 1,674 scrimmage yards (and counting) are the fifth most in franchise history and the most since Maurice Jones-Drew's franchise record of 1,908 set in 2011. Fournette hasn't missed a practice or a game and has become one of the team leaders. It hasn't been a great season on the field for the Jaguars, but Fournette has been one of the few bright spots. Without him, they wouldn't have won the five games they have. -- Mike DiRocco

28. New York Giants (4-11)

Week 16 ranking: 29

Team MVP: Markus Golden, OLB

You know it's a rough year when his top competition was punter Riley Dixon. But Golden has 9.5 sacks and could have more if not for being forced to share more than a few in which he did the majority of the work. This was the high reward the Giants were hoping for when they signed Golden to a one-year deal this offseason. Golden looks like the player he was before tearing his ACL two years ago -- pressuring quarterbacks and finding himself in the backfield on a regular basis. He has been the Giants' best and most consistent defensive player by a mile. -- Jordan Raanan

29. Detroit Lions (3-11-1)

Week 16 ranking: 28

Team MVP: Matthew Stafford, QB

Yes, it's strange to name someone who has played only half a season an MVP, but Stafford was playing at an MVP pace when he got hurt (2,499 yards, 19 touchdowns, five interceptions), and since he has been out, Detroit has been awful. The Lions are winless without Stafford in the lineup, and it just proves he is the team's best and most valuable player. -- Michael Rothstein

30. Miami Dolphins (4-11)

Week 16 ranking: 31

Team MVP: Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB

It's a two-man race between Fitzpatrick and receiver DeVante Parker, who is in the midst of a breakout season in surpassing 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. Many players credit Fitzpatrick -- who in Sunday's win over the Bengals became the first Dolphins quarterback since Dan Marino to throw for 400-plus yards and four TDs -- for keeping together a young, constantly evolving team and guiding them out of the depths of an 0-7 start. Since then, the Dolphins are 4-4, including a win over the Eagles -- a team that will clinch the NFC East title with a victory in Week 17. -- Cameron Wolfe

31. Washington Redskins (3-12)

Week 16 ranking: 30

Team MVP: Terry McLaurin, WR

Punter Tress Way has been the most consistent player, but McLaurin, a third-round pick in April, is the only one who provided any sort of juice or sizzle to the offense. He'll enter the finale with 58 catches for 910 yards; he's 17 yards and two receptions away from setting rookie team records in both categories. He also could become the 21st player to surpass 1,000 yards receiving as a rookie -- and first since 2016. McLaurin has accomplished this despite a less-than-ideal quarterback situation. Still, he has three 100-yard receiving games and seven touchdowns. He also has 15 receptions for 20 yards or more; the rest of the roster has combined for 20. -- John Keim

32. Cincinnati Bengals (1-14)

Week 16 ranking: 32

Team MVP: Shawn Williams, S

It's hard to pick an MVP for the worst team in the NFL, but Williams deserves recognition. The safety essentially lined up at linebacker all season as he tried to keep the defense afloat. Williams has a team-high 109 tackles heading into Week 17. -- Ben Baby

Britain’s world under-18 200m record-holder tells Jessica Whittington about a year to remember

One of Amy Hunt’s main memories of a year she describes as having been “beyond my wildest dreams” is her feet feeling on fire as she blazed to a world under-18 200m record of 22.42.

It was quite some summer for the 17-year-old as after her record-breaking run in Mannheim she went on to win double gold at the European Athletics Under-20 Championships in Borås, claiming the 200m title as well as securing 4x100m success.

Her year came to a close with further victories as she was voted British female under-20 athlete of the year in the AW Readers’ Choice Awards as well as winner of the Lillian Board Memorial Award for junior female by the British Athletics Writers’ Association in London. She then swapped the pages of AW for Vogue as she was included in the fashion and lifestyle magazine’s ‘Bright Young Things’ feature, something the teenager described as “an incredibly surreal experience”.

thank you so much @BritishVogue for including me in your jan 2020 issue in the ‘Bright Young Things’ feature. an incredibly surreal experience ✨

hair by @NaokiKomiya
make-up by @LauraDomini2
wearing @Sportmax pic.twitter.com/b8IvTgJpxa

— Amy Hunt (@AmyHunt02) December 7, 2019

“It has been beyond my wildest dreams, really. I never would have expected to have such an incredible year,” says the Charnwood sprinter. “It’s a massive testament to all the people who work so hard around me and work so hard behind the scenes in making me the person and the athlete that I am.

“It has been entirely unbelievable. I still really haven’t quite processed it yet. It is really still sinking in. Not even just the time, but European Juniors – I never expected to have double gold there at my age, at 17. Looking forward to next year is really exciting.”

Reflecting on her record at the Mannheim Junior Gala, which was a PB by three-quarters of a second, Hunt adds: “It was like 40 degrees out there and my overriding memory from the race is ‘oh my gosh, my feet are absolutely burning up’.

“I crossed the line and I really expected to see something like 22.9 and if I had done really well maybe a 22.8, I might have just snuck in there. Then I saw 22.4 and I just couldn’t believe it. It’s so hard to sum up. It was a huge, massive shock.”

Not only did her time improve on Candace Hill’s world under-18 best of 22.43, it also beat Dina Asher-Smith’s British under-20 record of 22.61 and matched the mark that European champion Asher-Smith ran on the same day at the Prefontaine Classic in America.

“I didn’t even quite realise the implications and how good that time actually was until afterwards and everyone was saying ‘by the way, it’s actually a world record’,” says Hunt, who is coached by Loughborough-based Joe McDonnell.

“I hadn’t even been looking at that. I didn’t even know I had broken Dina’s British junior record because I hadn’t been thinking I was going to do anything like that. I had no goals in mind, I had no idea.”

can’t believe this just happened pic.twitter.com/yH9ONVlyaP

— Amy Hunt (@AmyHunt02) June 30, 2019

Asher-Smith went on to improve her own British senior record with 21.88 when winning world gold in Doha, with Hunt ending the year ranked second on the UK senior list behind the 24-year-old.

“That’s insane,” she says. “Dina is such a massive inspiration to me and women’s sprinting at the moment in Britain is in such a good place.

“To be second on those rankings, it’s really insane to me, because there are so many amazing girls doing really well at the moment. To be up there with them is really great.”

Hunt has another two years of racing as an under-20 athlete and her focus in 2020 will be the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Nairobi, while she intends to take everything else in her speedy stride.

“We’re just going to see what happens,” says the English literature, chemistry and music A-level student, who plays the cello to grade 7 standard and had performed in two concerts during the week of our interview. “There are a lot of different variables next year.

“I’ve got my exams. World Juniors is probably my major competition I’m going to focus on because I only get one chance to do it and it’s going to be in Kenya so a new experience for everyone involved. That’s my No.1 priority.

“Next year I’m definitely looking to run some really fast 100m races,” she adds. “Up until my 200m at Mannheim I was doing mostly 100m and then I became the 200m girl after one race! My PB going into this year, because I hadn’t done it much, was like 24.3, so I nearly took a whole two seconds off my PB in one year!

“I’m aiming for 11.1, 11.2 in the 100m and we’ll see, because I don’t know whether I’m going to focus on that or do both of them at the World Juniors next year.

“The 200m, I can definitely go faster. I was quite lucky with my conditions at Mannheim but I know I can definitely replicate that time.”