Chelsea were last night linked with a shock move for veteran Stoke City striker Peter Crouch after an ankle injury to Andy Carroll ruled out a January switch to Stamford Bridge for the West Ham target man.

Antonio Conte says time is running out in the title pursuit, even if Manchester City slip up, and said the clear leaders had been lucky with late goals.

Ashley Young struck twice against former club Watford as Manchester United won a thrilling contest at Vicarage Road to close to within five points of leaders Manchester City.

It’s hard to know which subject Jurgen Klopp found more wearing to discuss; the future of Philippe Coutinho or the reprise of his Liverpool side’s familiar defensive failings.

John Terry scored for a 17th successive Premier League season as champions Chelsea beat Watford 4-3 courtesy of Cesc Fabregas’ late strike.

Tottenham 4 Watford 0: Dele Alli turns 21 tomorrow, and although Mauricio Pochettino says he loves him like a son, it is typical of the Tottenham manager’s style that he will not give special treatment to the man he believes is the best young player in Europe.

Kenya-born Bernard Lagat won a fifth World Championship gold medal for Team USA in Osaka and then proclaimed: “I feel very special.”

JEREMY WARINER of the United States won the men’s 400 metres title at the world athletics championships in Helsinki last night.