It’s been said that if your romantic relationship can survive race week in Galway, well, it’s a union worth pursuing, such are the potential pitfalls on the track and in the snugs of those hallowed, cobbled streets.

Quotes to remember from the year in football...

Monday morning quarterback

Christian Eriksen was credited with a brace as Harry Kane was denied a crucial goal in the Golden Boot race in Tottenham's 2-1 win over Stoke.

Would this be “like trying to turn around an oil tanker with a canoe paddle”?

Here are all the latest headlines this lunchtime.

Daniel Storey reviews this weekend’s Premier League action.

Bournemouth added to the pressure on West Brom manager Alan Pardew with a late comeback to win 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium.

All seven Premier League clubs hosting matches today are hopeful of their fixtures going ahead in a weekend sporting programme badly affected by snow.

Four things we learned from the Premier League this weekend. 

Jonny Evans is to be reinstated as West Brom captain, Baggies boss Alan Pardew has confirmed.

Olivier Giroud hasn’t put a foot wrong since joining Chelsea from Arsenal. Will he get the nod ahead of Alvaro Morata for the Barcelona clash this week? writes Daniel Storey

The January transfer window is often a let-down. 

Daniel Sturridge has joined West Brom on a loan deal until the end of the season.

West Brom appear to have won the race to sign Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge on loan after the striker turned down the chance to go to Newcastle.

Our man inside the game says video assistants can never replace a referee’s instinct.

What the papers say

What the papers say.

West Brom forward Jay Rodriguez has been reported to the Football Association for a remark allegedly made to Brighton defender Gaetan Bong during Saturday’s Premier League match between the two clubs.

Stoke left with a difficult decision

West Ham are working with West Brom and Jake Livermore to discover what sparked the England midfielder's altercation with home fans at the London Stadium.

Angry Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes the referee did not see the incident which saw a controversial penalty deny his side victory at West Brom.

Jay Rodriguez's last-minute penalty earned struggling West Brom a deserved point against uninspiring Arsenal.

Paul Clement became the sixth Premier League manager sacked this season when bottom club Swansea City ended his one-year tenure on Wednesday but any upswing in results the Swans enjoy will be largely down to luck, according to a leading analyst.

Jose Mourinho's men are 11 points behind runaway leaders Man City in the table.

Manchester United survived a late scare to clinch an uninspiring victory at West Brom.

Liverpool 0 - West Brom 0: There is an exciting new game at Anfield: Guess the Liverpool team. No one seems to know quite which line-up Jurgen Klopp will go into a game with these days. The only guarantee is that it will not be the team you expected.

Our man inside the game says English football is upside down when it comes to hiring managers.

New West Brom boss Alan Pardew insists he has a point to prove after his exit from Crystal Palace last year.

Newcastle ended a run of four straight defeats after coming back from 2-0 down to claim a gutsy point at West Brom.

Rafael Benitez has launched a passionate defence of his Newcastle team as he attempts to end a damaging run of four successive Premier League defeats.

Daniel Storey highlights the five things we learned from this weekend's Premier League action 

Crystal Palace are preparing to appoint Roy Hodgson as manager after sacking Frank de Boer following only four Premier League matches in charge.

Frank de Boer has been sacked by Crystal Palace after only four Premier League matches in charge.

It was always one of the very first vital snippets of information shared with new arrivals at Newcastle, along with showing them to their space in the dressing room, and a reminder to laugh at the gaffer’s jokes, however bad they were.

Frank de Boer’s appointment as Crystal Palace manager took the number of former Barcelona players now managing in the Premier League to five, 25% of the total workforce and a ringing endorsement for the philosophy of Total Football Johan Cruyff introduced to the Catalans after making it famous in his native Netherlands.

The 62-year-old, who only took charge at Selhurst Park on December 23, guided the Eagles to safety on May 14 following a 4-0 defeat of Hull, who were relegated as a result.

Steve McClaren was tonight sacked by Derby for the second time in less than two years after a five-month second spell.

Alan Pardew is in the frame to become Norwich's new manager.

Sam Allardyce is still looking for his first victory as Crystal Palace manager after his side came off second best in an FA Cup third round goalless draw at former club Bolton.

The former England manager succeeded in coaxing an improved performance from some of his players.

Larry Ryan dons his Santa hat to dole out Christmas presents to the sporting world.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

Chelsea have equalled a club-record run of 11 consecutive league victories.