Sport Football Premier League Liverpool (1) 2 Sheff Utd (0) 0 Salah 4 Mane 64 53,321 Sky Bet Championship Derby (1) 2 Barnsley (0) 1 Marriott 45 Simoes 50 Waghorn 57 27,782 Swansea (1) 1 Charlton (0) 0 Dhanda 14 15,352 HOME AWAY P W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts Leeds Utd 26 7 4 1 19 8 8 3 3 24 13 22 52 West Brom 26 6 6 1 30 19 8 4 1 18 9 20 52 Brentford 26 7 3 2 22 8 6 1 7 19 12 21 43 Nottm Forest 25 6 2 4 14 13 6 5 2 20 12 9 43 Fulham 26 8 2 4 25 16 4 4 4 15 14 10 42 Swansea 26 6 3 5 17 15 5 5 2 15 15 2 41 Millwall 26 7 4 2 21 14 3 6 4 13 18 2 40 Sheff Wed 26 6 4 3 14 10 5 2 6 23 16 11 39 Hull 26 6 2 5 21 16 5 4 4 19 18 6 39 Preston 26 9 2 3 29 17 2 4 6 7 15 4 39 Bristol City 26 5 4 4 19 18 5 4 4 20 22 -1 38 Cardiff 26 7 4 1 19 10 2 6 6 19 30 -2 37 Blackburn 26 6 5 2 16 11 4 1 8 18 23 0 36 Reading 25 6 0 6 18 16 4 5 4 15 12 5 35 QPR 26 5 4 5 28 27 5 1 6 16 21 -4 35 Middlesbro' 26 6 4 3 12 11 2 5 6 14 21 -6 33 Derby 26 7 5 2 18 11 1 4 7 8 23 -8 33 Birmingham 26 5 2 6 19 20 3 3 7 12 23 -12 29 Charlton 26 5 3 5 18 16 2 4 7 16 21 -3 28 Huddersfield 26 4 4 6 16 21 3 3 6 14 21 -12 28 Stoke 26 4 2 7 17 20 3 1 9 16 22 -9 24 Wigan 26 4 4 4 12 15 1 4 9 12 24 -15 23 Barnsley 26 3 6 4 22 25 1 3 9 11 24 -16 21 Luton 26 4 3 5 19 20 2 0 12 13 36 -24 21 Basketball NBA: LA Lakers 117 Phoenix Suns 107-Milwaukee Bucks 106 Minnesota Timberwolves 104-New York Knicks 117 Portland Trail Blazers 93-Washington Wizards 101 Orlando Magic 122. Ice Hockey ELITE LGE: Dundee Stars 2 Belfast Giants 3-Guildford Flames 1 Manchester Storm 2. Horse Racing results Ayr Going: Soft-heavy in places 12.30 (2m4f100yds mdn hdle): Marown (B Hughes 5-2) 1; Sirwilliamwallace (9-4) 2; Portstorm (8-1) 3. Blazer’s Mill 7-4F. 10 ran. 2 1 / 2 l, 10l. (N Richards). 1.00 (3m70yds h’cap hdle): Kalaharry (C Bewley 7-1) 1; Haul Us In (15-2) 2; Teescomponentstrig (7-2F) 3. 12 ran. 3 / 4 l, 29l. (A Whillans). 1.35 (2m nov hdle): Endlessly (R Johnson 6-1) 1; Sao Maxence (5-1) 2; Doyen Breed (12-1) 3. Sunny Express evs F. 13 ran. 2 1 / 2 l, 12l. (Olly Murphy). 2.10 (2m110yds h’cap ch): Ard Chros (Sam Coltherd 7-1) 1; Casual Cavalier (4-1) 2; Ain’t My Fault (11-8F) 3. 5 ran. 9l, 1l. (W Coltherd). 2.40 (2m5f91yds h’cap hdle): Portrush Ted (A P Heskin 11-4) 1; Grand Morning (16-1) 2; Better Getalong (5-1) 3. Eternally Yours 2-1F. 9 ran. 2 1 / 4 l, 2 1 / 2 l. (W Greatrex). NR: Ryedale Racer. 3.10 (3m20yds h’cap ch): Skyhill (J Hamilton 2-1F) 1; Asking For Answers (9-2) 2; Veauce De Sivola (10-1) 3. 9 ran. 9 1 / 2 l, 11l. (Mrs A C Hamilton). 3.45 (2m nh flat): Champagnesuperover (A P Heskin 3-1) 1; Western Starlet (11-4F) 2; Paddy The Panda (25-1) 3. 8 ran. 16l, 3 1 / 2 l. (Olly Murphy). NR: Wetlands. Placepot: £110.60. Quadpot: £44.70. Chelmsford City Going: Standard 4.00 (1m2f): Cat Royale (D E Hogan 5-1) 1; Kerrera (8-1) 2; Molten Lava (14-1) 3. Odds On Oli 10-3F. 15 ran. 3 / 4 l, 2 1 / 4 l. (J Butler). NR: Brother In Arms. 4.30 (7f h’cap): Brigand (A Kirby 10-1) 1; Valley Belle (20-1) 2; Gunmaker (5-1) 3. Agent Of Fortune 4-5F. 8 ran. 1 / 2 l, hd. (J Butler). NR: Fascinating Spirit. 5.00 (7f h’cap): Revolutionise (J Hart 8-1) 1; Self Assessment (5-1) 2; Busby (2-1F) 3. 7 ran. 1 / 2 l, 2 3 / 4 l. (S C Williams). NR: Ginger Fox. 5.30 (5f h’cap): Tawny Port (R Kingscote 3-1F) 1; Savalas (4-1) 2; Verne Castle (12-1) 3. 7 ran. 3 / 4 l, 1 1 / 4 l. (S C Williams). 6.00 (1m6f h’cap): Que Quieres (L Morris 7-1) 1; Homesick Boy (5-1) 2; Falcon Cliffs (7-2JF) 3. In Demand 7-2JF. 9 ran. nk, ns. (S Dow). 6.30 (1m h’cap): Strawberry Jack (B Curtis 11-4F) 1; Fields Of Dreams (7-1) 2; Samphire Coast (6-1) 3. 6 ran. nk, 3 / 4 l. (G Scott). 7.00 (1m nov): Summit Reach (R Kingscote 9-4F) 1; En Famille (16-1) 2; Midnight Traveller (7-2) 3. 13 ran. 5l, 3 / 4 l. (R Beckett). 7.30 (1m nov): Al Maysan (A Kirby 5-2) 1; Rideson (9-4F) 2; La Foglietta (33-1) 3. 13 ran. 1 / 2 l, 1 1 / 4 l. (C Appleby). Jackpot: Not won, pool of £18,705.35 carried over. Placepot: £1,032.50. Quadpot: £42.10. Lingfield Going: Standard 11.45 (1m1yds h’cap): Toro Dorado (L Morris 11-4F) 1; Holiday Magic (4-1) 2; Windsor Cross (9-2) 3. 9 ran. nk, 1l. (E Dunlop). NR: Casina Di Notte. 12.15 (1m1yds h’cap): River Dawn (B Curtis 13-2) 1; Noble Peace (9-4F) 2; Mr Mac (16-1) 3. 8 ran. hd, 1 / 2 l. (P Cole). NR: Brains. 12.45 (7f1yds h’cap): Bendy Spirit (Connor Murtagh 7-4F) 1; Blake’s Vision (11-1) 2; Wailea Nights (5-1) 3. 6 ran. 4l, hd. (R Fahey). 1.15 (6f1yds h’cap): Gold Brocade (B Curtis 5-2) 1; Taste The Nectar (7-1) 2; Irish Acclaim (10- 11F) 3. 5 ran. 1 / 2 l, hd. (M Appleby). 1.50 (6f1yds nov): Elmejor (K O’Neill 4-1) 1; Dreaming Away (evs F) 2; Equipped (33-1) 3. 5 ran. 2 3 / 4 l, 1 1 / 4 l. (J Best). 2.25 (5f6yds h’cap): Equally Fast (D Probert 7-1) 1; Roundabout Magic (15-8F) 2; Starchant (14- 1) 3. 9 ran. 1 / 2 l, 3 / 4 l. (R Harris). 2.55 (1m4f h’cap): Kyllachy Gala (L Morris 6-1) 1; Matewan (7-2) 2; Purdey’s Gift (4-1) 3. Skerryvore 5-2F. 7 ran. 3l, 1 1 / 4 l. (M Botti). 3.30 (1m2f h’cap): Music Major (L Morris 6-1) 1; Enmeshing (14-1) 2; Arlecchino’s Arc (4-1) 3. Deadly Accurate 3-1F. 12 ran. nk, 1 1 / 4 l. (M Attwater). NRs: Fivehundredmiles, Gerry The Glover. Placepot: £34.30. Quadpot: £13.00. Fixtures Cricket 2ND TEST (day 1 of 5) .-Cape Town: South Africa v England (8.30am). 3RD TEST (day 2 of 5) .-Sydney: Australia v New Zealand (11.30pm). Rugby Union GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP Sale v Harlequins (7.45) GUINNESS PRO14: Cardiff Blues v Scarlets (7.35), Ulster v Munster (7.35). INDIGO GROUP PREMIERSHIP: Ebbw Vale v Merthyr (7.05). Sport on TV BASKETBALL: NBA, Houston Rockets v Philadelphia 76ers - Sky Sports Action 1am (Sat). CRICKET: South Africa v England, second Test - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Cricket 7.30am; Australia v New Zealand, third Test - BT Sport 2 11.15pm. FOOTBALL: A-League, Melbourne City v Western United - BT Sport 2 8.30am. GOLF: Sentry Tournament of Champions - Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf 11pm. RUGBY UNION: Gallagher Premiership, Sale v Harlequins - BT Sport 1 7pm; PRO14, Ulster v Munster - eir Sport 1 7pm. Database Tomorrow Laviai Nielsen talks to Ben Bloom Women to watch in 2020 Exclusive interview Charlotte Thomas tells James Corrigan teenage years in four continents were the making of her Globetrotter charting journey to the summit A s a 26-year-old, Charlotte Thomas does not quite fulfil the image of an up-and-coming superstar-in-waiting, particularly as there are three younger Englishwomen above her in the world rankings. Yet such has been the unusual path of a journey that included her living in four continents in her teenage years that Thomas is still, in fact, in the infancy of her career. And her first year in the major leagues suggested England’s assault on the top of the female game may even yet be four-pronged. Certainly, no Briton has enjoyed a better start on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour, the biggest women’s circuit by far. Having graduated through the Symetra Tour, the main feeder division, the Guildford girl marked her LPGA debut with a stunning runner-up finish. It helped that this was, essentially, a home tournament – Victoria, Australia. “Yeah, you could say I’ve not had the normal route,” Thomas says. “I started golf at 11, when we were still living in England and I was told that I was not allowed to play rugby with the boys. So, I went to the range that was right next door to the rugby pitches. I was hopeless, but the pro there thought it’d be a challenge and I’ve never looked back. It’s been golf all the way.” All the way around the world that is, starting in Singapore. “When I was 12, my dad’s work meant we had to move there. I remember when our parents told me and I was in floods of tears. I had my friends and my golf. But we had to go and I absolutely loved it.” Thomas still works with Craig McLean, the coach she met in Singapore, and together they have plotted her unique course towards the elite. In the summers, Thomas would go back to England to play in amateur events and then, in the Australian summer, she would do the same. Except Singapore was so wildly off the radar for the US college recruitment programme that she went unnoticed for a long time. “My family made Melbourne its base and Craig was over there, too,” she recalls. “I didn’t join the US college system until I was on my way to being 20. I lived in Seattle for four years, graduating from the University of Washington just three years ago. People ask me what it was like, moving around so much when I was a teenager, but it’s a pretty good way to prepare for being a golf pro.” Deep down, however, home will always be England. “My dad would disown me if I told him I wanted to play under any flag!” she laughs. “My mum, Fleur, was born in New Zealand and she’s the one who got me into golf. I have three brothers and they are all good golfers as well. Billy was on the bag when I finished second at the ISPS Handa Vic Open, and that’s the best week I’ve had so far. The course was just across the bay from our family house, I just caught a ferry each day.” Thomas came sixth in her first LPGA Tour event on US soil, in Phoenix – banking more than $100,000 (£75,000) in the process – but then endured 11 missed cuts in the rest of 2019. “I look at it as a learning curve,” she says. “Being a rookie exhausts you. You don’t know the courses, you don’t know where the locker room is, you don’t know where registration is. And I didn’t have an agent, so I had to do everything myself. It sounds like little things, but they do pile up.” Thomas’s father, Chris, will manage her this year and she is anticipating feeling a lot more comfortable in the environment. And in Charley Hull, Bronte Law and Georgia Hall, she has a trio of fellow Britons to inspire her. “What they’ve done has made me want to get to the top even more. I watched them all in the Solheim [Cup for Europe in September] and thought, ‘I have to do that.’ ” To make herself eligible for Catriona Matthew’s 2021 team, Thomas must be a member of the Ladies European Tour and she will play in qualifying school in Spain this month. “The Solheim has to be a big aim for me these next few years,” she says. “And someone recently mentioned the Olympics in August. I’m a way off yet, but I should have the attitude that it might be feasible. I’ll get there one day, though.” Eyes on the prize: Charlotte Thomas sees her career as a learning curve MICHAEL ZEMANEK/BPI/REX 15 *** The Daily Telegraph Friday 3 January 2020