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In brief

• Anfield fans urged to keep faith in inexperienced players • Radamel Falcao 'very happy' at Atlético Madrid Rodgers backs young Liverpool players Brendan Rodgers has urged Liverpool fans to have faith in his young players. The manager criticised his team after the 3-1 Boxing...

Salute Scotland's great and good of 2012 | Kevin McKenna

Whether it was sport, politics or charity, this has been a memorable year for the nation Being a large-glass-of-Bacardi-and-Coke-half-full sort of chap, I have tended to see the good in every year that passes. Even in those years when the occasional personal crisis has occurred I find there have...

Match Report: Perfect student Theo Walcott of Arsenal scores full marks with a stunning hat-trick in Newcastle hammering

Given that these two teams have been involved in matches this season that have finished 7-5, 5-2 and 4-3, another feast of goals and dreadful defending was perhaps only to be expected, if not on this epic scale.

Match Report: Sir Alex Ferguson revels in the routine after wild week

Once he had left Alan Pardew metaphorically bloodied and broken, Sir Alex Ferguson finished his press conference by making an impassioned plea for some duller football.

Match Report: Pavel Pogrebnyak lifts Reading’s hopes of escaping drop

The Monkees’ “I’m a Believer” boomed out at the final whistle, which was fitting enough, but the DJ must have been tempted to reach for the theme tune for The Great Escape.

Match Report: Swansea's Danny Graham comes in from margins to force Martin Jol into desperate measures

Martin Jol played the final seven minutes with Brede Hangeland up front. It smelt like a desperate move and that is precisely what it was.

Match Report: Joke is on Aston Villa as Wigan Athletic hit three

The supporters of Aston Villa are surviving on gallows humour and ironic cheers. But for how long? Only three goals conceded this time.

Match Report: Cameron Jerome pulls out cracker to rescue Stoke from Southampton

Cameron Jerome’s stunning late equaliser denied Southampton maximum points and took some of the sting from Tony Pulis’s fury after a contentious red card had threatened to derail Stoke’s comeback.

Match Report: Furious Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspur makes stand against diving 'persecution’

Going down was high on the agenda here but Tottenham’s rise under Andre Villas-Boas continued with a victory which lifted Spurs up to third in the Premier League.