Watford 1 Tottenham 1: When one thinks of managerial spats in the Premier League, it is usually Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger, or Pep Guardiola, but now we have a new contest on the cards: in the blue corner, Big Sam Allardyce, the heavyweight from Dudley, against Marco Silva, the Portuguese middleweight.

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.

The Brazilian court case in which former Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) president Pat Hickey was expected to testify at the end of this month has been suspended.

A supreme court judge in Brazil has dismissed a request to suspend the court hearing of Kevin Mallon, the THG executive arrested on the eve of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro last year.

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.

Portugal has declared three days of national mourning after 61 people were killed in raging forest fires.

Lionel Messi produced yet another master class as Barcelona marked the end of Luis Enrique's Nou Camp reign by lifting the Copa del Rey.

Manchester United 2 Crystal Palace 0: Jose Mourinho yesterday gave United supporters a glimpse of their future with four full debutants, their youngest player in 61 years and the club’s youngest line-up in Premier League history.

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

A moment of magic from Emre Can illuminated an otherwise poor quality game and fired Liverpool a huge stride closer to securing Champions League football next season.

Watford v Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp says he will only concentrate on his own side as the Premier League’s top-four race hots up.

Barcelona blitzed Osasuna with four goals in 10 second-half minutes to temporarily move three points clear at the top of LaLiga with a 7-1 victory at the Nou Camp.

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.

Son Heung-min hit a brace as Tottenham kept their Premier League title ambitions alive with a comprehensive win over a poor Watford side at White Hart Lane.

Premier League

Watford 1, Crystal Palace 1: One could hardly tell from the thunderous expression on his face at the full-time whistle, as his new charges at Crystal Palace were held by Watford, but big Sam Allardyce said he was “excited” to be back in the big time.

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

Manchester City 2 Watford 0: Pablo Zabaleta’s first goal in over two years set Manchester City on their way to a nervous victory over Watford which confirmed the theory that Pep Guardiola’s revolution is still very much a work in progress.

Burnley 2 Watford 0: Ireland international Jeff Hendrick and Michael Keane scored their first Premier League goals as Burnley brushed aside a ragged Watford 2-0 at Turf Moor last night.

Watford 3 Manchester United 1: Well that didn’t last long. The optimism that followed Jose Mourinho to Old Trafford has quickly disappeared with a third successive defeat, the first time the manager has endured such a run since his Porto days in 2002.

Watford 1 Arsenal 3: Typical Arsene Wenger, stubbornly turning logic on its head.

Portugal 2 Wales 0: It shouldn’t be all about Cristiano Ronaldo, it really shouldn’t, but from the moment people labelled this match as Ronaldo v Bale you knew there was no way on earth he was going to settle for second best — and that’s why Wales are finally out of Euro 2016 and Portugal can look forward to the final in Paris on Sunday.

Iceland 1 Portugal 1: It was meant to be all about Cristiano Ronaldo in St Etienne but a man nicknamed Thor stole his thunder as Iceland held Portugal to a 1-1 draw in Group F.

Liverpool 2 Watford 0: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has rescinded his invitation for all fans to travel to Basel for the Europa League final after admitting it was “not too smart”.

West Ham 3 Watford 1: Andy Carroll and Mark Noble were on target as West Ham kept their chances of a top-four finish alive with a 3-1 win over Watford.

Watford 1 Everton 1: Heurelho Gomes lauded a “great result” for Watford after they ended their run of four successive Barclays Premier League defeats with a 1-1 draw against Everton at Vicarage Road.

Manchester United 1 Watford 0: Louis van Gaal perhaps had a point earlier this week when he warned Marcus Rashford the hard work is only just beginning.

Watford 1 Leeds United 0: Defeated Leeds manager Steve Evans has hailed cup counterpart Quique Sanchez Flores as a “fantastic addition” to the Barclays Premier League.

Gary Neville’s awful time as Valencia coach continued with a sorry 1-0 loss at also struggling Real Betis yesterday —and the former Man United defender is now surely close to losing his job.

Tottenham 1 Watford 0: Erik Lamela believes Tottenham have momentum in the title race after this deserved win lifted them to second spot.

However the likelihood of Chelsea playing European football next term receded further.

Watford 2 Newcastle 1