Liverpool's rout of Leicester makes it just a matter of time until they clinch first Premier League title

Liverpool are 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League, and their supporters still refuse to sing that their team are "gonna win the league" this season. There have been too many near misses at Anfield since the club were most recently crowned champions of England in 1990 for the fans to tempt fate by going too early with that particular chant, but Jurgen Klopp's players made it 17 wins out of 18 in the league this term with Thursday's 4-0 victory against closest challengers Leicester City.

It would seem that the only people who don't yet believe that the Premier League trophy is on its way to Liverpool are the very supporters who are so desperate to witness it.

Their Boxing Day win at second-place Leicester showed it's no longer a case of if Liverpool win the Premier League this season, but when. It's also become slightly irrelevant as to when they will win it, too. The only real questions that remain unanswered are about how big Liverpool's winning margin will be and how many records they will smash along the way.

Liverpool's consistency has been off the scale. Only Manchester United have been able to land a blow on Liverpool in the league, by holding them to a draw at Old Trafford in October, but the rest have all been beaten at least once. As they approach their final league game of 2019, against Wolves at Anfield on Sunday, Liverpool have not dropped three points since their very first game of the calendar year: a 2-1 defeat against City at the Etihad on Jan. 3.

It goes further. Liverpool have now gone 35 games unbeaten in the league -- Arsenal's 2004 Invincibles hold the Premier League record on 49 games unbeaten -- and 30 of those have been victories. Translate those past 35 games into points and Liverpool would be on 95 points, which is simply incredible, yet with 20 league games still to play between now and the end of the season, there is still 60 points available to Liverpool.

They can drop 12 points -- or lose four games -- and still end up with 100 points, but they're moving like a steam train right now, and current form would suggest that Liverpool are going to go well beyond City's century milestone. Such is their lead at the top that Liverpool can now play without fear or anxiety for the rest of the season because they know they have such a sizeable margin for error that the odd mistake or defeat here or there is highly unlikely to make a difference toward the outcome of the title race.

When a team plays with such freedom, they tend to win because they are playing to their strengths, which means things could only get better for Liverpool. And that will lead to the question as to whether they can claim another piece of history by emulating Arsene Wenger's great Arsenal team, which emerged as champions in 2003-04 having gone unbeaten for an entire league campaign.

Back then, the Premier League presented Arsenal with a specially made gold trophy to mark the achievement. Having waited so long to become champions, any trophy will do for this Liverpool team, but if they can make it gold like Arsenal did, the agonising wait will feel even better when, not if, it ends.

Make no mistake: The Premier League title is heading to Anfield this season. The supporters might not want to sing about it until the silverware is sitting in the trophy cabinet, decked in red ribbons, but they should throw off their inhibitions and sing it loud and clear, because nobody is catching this Liverpool team.

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Liverpool's rout of Leicester makes it just a matter of time until they clinch first Premier League title

Liverpool are 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League, and their supporters still refuse to sing that their team are "gonna win the league" this season. There have been too many near misses at Anfield since the club were most recently crowned champions of England in 1990 for the fans to tempt fate by going too early with that particular chant, but Jurgen Klopp's players made it 17 wins out of 18 in the league this term with Thursday's 4-0 victory against closest challengers Leicester City.

It would seem that the only people who don't yet believe that the Premier League trophy is on its way to Liverpool are the very supporters who are so desperate to witness it.

Their Boxing Day win at second-place Leicester showed it's no longer a case of if Liverpool win the Premier League this season, but when. It's also become slightly irrelevant as to when they will win it, too. The only real questions that remain unanswered are about how big Liverpool's winning margin will be and how many records they will smash along the way.

Liverpool's consistency has been off the scale. Only Manchester United have been able to land a blow on Liverpool in the league, by holding them to a draw at Old Trafford in October, but the rest have all been beaten at least once. As they approach their final league game of 2019, against Wolves at Anfield on Sunday, Liverpool have not dropped three points since their very first game of the calendar year: a 2-1 defeat against City at the Etihad on Jan. 3.

It goes further. Liverpool have now gone 35 games unbeaten in the league -- Arsenal's 2004 Invincibles hold the Premier League record on 49 games unbeaten -- and 30 of those have been victories. Translate those past 35 games into points and Liverpool would be on 95 points, which is simply incredible, yet with 20 league games still to play between now and the end of the season, there is still 60 points available to Liverpool.

They can drop 12 points -- or lose four games -- and still end up with 100 points, but they're moving like a steam train right now, and current form would suggest that Liverpool are going to go well beyond City's century milestone. Such is their lead at the top that Liverpool can now play without fear or anxiety for the rest of the season because they know they have such a sizeable margin for error that the odd mistake or defeat here or there is highly unlikely to make a difference toward the outcome of the title race.

When a team plays with such freedom, they tend to win because they are playing to their strengths, which means things could only get better for Liverpool. And that will lead to the question as to whether they can claim another piece of history by emulating Arsene Wenger's great Arsenal team, which emerged as champions in 2003-04 having gone unbeaten for an entire league campaign.

Back then, the Premier League presented Arsenal with a specially made gold trophy to mark the achievement. Having waited so long to become champions, any trophy will do for this Liverpool team, but if they can make it gold like Arsenal did, the agonising wait will feel even better when, not if, it ends.

Make no mistake: The Premier League title is heading to Anfield this season. The supporters might not want to sing about it until the silverware is sitting in the trophy cabinet, decked in red ribbons, but they should throw off their inhibitions and sing it loud and clear, because nobody is catching this Liverpool team.

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Heidi Broussard’s friend Magen Fieramusca charged in her disappearance

A Texas woman may have plotted for months to steal the newborn daughter of her best friend — whose strangled body was found by cops at the suspect’s home this week, according to police and reports Friday.

Magen Rose Fieramusca, 33, had been pals with victim Heidi Broussard since they met at a church camp when they were 11 years old, Houston’s KHOU-TV reported, citing a third woman who knew them both.

Fieramusca even went so far as to pretend to be pregnant herself, and the two attended prenatal doctor appointments together, the outlet reported.

Fieramusca, described as a former wedding planner, then made sure she was present in the delivery room when when Broussard gave birth to baby Margot three weeks ago, People magazine reported, citing another pal.

Then, on Dec. 12, Broussard and her baby vanished.

Cops later found the mom’s body inside the trunk of a car at Fieramusca’s home near Houston _ and baby Margot was found inside the home, unharmed, according to multiple reports.

An autopsy has determined that the mom’s death was caused by “ligature strangulation,” officials said.

On Friday, Fieramusca was arrested and charged with kidnapping and tampering with a corpse, according to police and news reports.

“It is heartbreaking circumstances that bring us here today,” Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said at a press conference Friday.

“Everyone (was) hoping for an outcome different than the one that appears we had, and that is with the loss of life,” the chief said.

“And although we are grateful that it appears as though we have safely recovered baby Margot, again, we do believe that Miss Broussard lost her life in this incident.”

No charges were filed Friday in the killing of Broussard, though Manley said “there could be additional charges filed in the case.”

He said the arrest of Fieramusca took “a tremendous undertaking” by numerous law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Texas Rangers.

Broussard and her baby were last seen together when she dropped off her 6-year-old son at his southwest Austin elementary school and returned home.

Her fiance, Shane Carey, came home to an empty house.

He told Fox 7 News at the time that he called police after making several disturbing observations — including that Broussard’s ID and Margot’s diaper bag were still in the apartment, and her car door was unlocked.

Fieramusca’s light-colored Nissan was traced to Austin around the same time that Broussard and the baby disappeared, according to the Austin American Statesman newspaper.

But Fieramusca was able to convince an official from the search-and-rescue group Texas EquuSearch right before her arrest that she had no involvement in the disappearance, KTRK-TV reported Friday.

“I can’t believe how sincere she sounded,” EquuSeartch’s Tim Miller said. “How in the world could this person sound so convincing? “

Fieramusca was being held at the Harris County Jail on $600,000 bond.

Manley said baby Margot is “currently safe, currently healthy.”

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Heidi Broussard’s friend Magen Fieramusca charged in her disappearance

A Texas woman may have plotted for months to steal the newborn daughter of her best friend — whose strangled body was found by cops at the suspect’s home this week, according to police and reports Friday.

Magen Rose Fieramusca, 33, had been pals with victim Heidi Broussard since they met at a church camp when they were 11 years old, Houston’s KHOU-TV reported, citing a third woman who knew them both.

Fieramusca even went so far as to pretend to be pregnant herself, and the two attended prenatal doctor appointments together, the outlet reported.

Fieramusca, described as a former wedding planner, then made sure she was present in the delivery room when when Broussard gave birth to baby Margot three weeks ago, People magazine reported, citing another pal.

Then, on Dec. 12, Broussard and her baby vanished.

Cops later found the mom’s body inside the trunk of a car at Fieramusca’s home near Houston _ and baby Margot was found inside the home, unharmed, according to multiple reports.

An autopsy has determined that the mom’s death was caused by “ligature strangulation,” officials said.

On Friday, Fieramusca was arrested and charged with kidnapping and tampering with a corpse, according to police and news reports.

“It is heartbreaking circumstances that bring us here today,” Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said at a press conference Friday.

“Everyone (was) hoping for an outcome different than the one that appears we had, and that is with the loss of life,” the chief said.

“And although we are grateful that it appears as though we have safely recovered baby Margot, again, we do believe that Miss Broussard lost her life in this incident.”

No charges were filed Friday in the killing of Broussard, though Manley said “there could be additional charges filed in the case.”

He said the arrest of Fieramusca took “a tremendous undertaking” by numerous law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Texas Rangers.

Broussard and her baby were last seen together when she dropped off her 6-year-old son at his southwest Austin elementary school and returned home.

Her fiance, Shane Carey, came home to an empty house.

He told Fox 7 News at the time that he called police after making several disturbing observations — including that Broussard’s ID and Margot’s diaper bag were still in the apartment, and her car door was unlocked.

Fieramusca’s light-colored Nissan was traced to Austin around the same time that Broussard and the baby disappeared, according to the Austin American Statesman newspaper.

But Fieramusca was able to convince an official from the search-and-rescue group Texas EquuSearch right before her arrest that she had no involvement in the disappearance, KTRK-TV reported Friday.

“I can’t believe how sincere she sounded,” EquuSeartch’s Tim Miller said. “How in the world could this person sound so convincing? “

Fieramusca was being held at the Harris County Jail on $600,000 bond.

Manley said baby Margot is “currently safe, currently healthy.”

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Jets at Ravens final score: Lamar Jackson has another five touchdown game as Baltimore rolls

Lamar Jackson certainly locked up the NFL MVP award Thursday night, 

throwing for five touchdowns in another dominant performance as the Baltimore Ravens cruised to a 42-21 victory over the New York Jets. The victory clinched the AFC North division title for the Ravens (12-2) for the second consecutive year, the first time Baltimore has accomplished the feat since the 2011 and 2012 season. The Ravens need a Kansas City Chiefs or New England Patriots loss to clinch a first-round bye and are one win away from locking up home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.


Jackson was magnificent once again, having his third five pass touchdown game this season, which leads the NFL. He also leads the league with 33 passing touchdowns and he has thrown just six interceptions. On a night Jackson broke Michael Vick's record for most rushing yards in a season by a quarterback (1,106), he completed 15 of 23 passes for 212 yards, five touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 134.4 passer rating. Jackson also had eight carries for 86 yards as the Ravens offense had 384 yards of offense when Jackson was in, averaging 7.7 yards per play.

Jackson threw his touchdown passes to five different receivers, showcasing a balanced Ravens offense that had 212 passing yards and 172 rushing yards when he was in the game. Seth Roberts led the Ravens with three catches for 66 yards and a score while Mark Andrews set a franchise record for receiving touchdowns by a tight end in a season with eight. Mark Ingram had 13 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown, while also having a receiving touchdown in the win. The Ravens finished with 430 totals yards with 218 coming on the ground.


The Jets (5-9) were in this game for a half, but turnovers and miscues allowed the Ravens to turn a close game into a blowout. Sam Darnold had an interception and a fumble, but he threw for 218 yards and two touchdowns -- both of which went to Jamison Crowder, who finished with six catches for 90 yards in the loss. Le'Veon Bell had a season-high 21 carries for 87 yards, his best rushing game with the Jets.

Below are takeaways on this game as the Ravens are one step closer from earning home-field advantage in the AFC. For a further recap and analysis of this game, as it happened in the moment, visit our live blog as well.


Why the Ravens won

Jackson was beyond dominant again, a matchup nightmare for any defense in the NFL. This week he was playing with a banged-up quad on three days rest, but still led the Ravens to three touchdowns on their first three possessions. Jackson had rushed for 64 yards in that span and threw for two touchdowns, with the Jets having no answer for him. The MVP frontrunner was even better in the second half, throwing for three touchdowns as he finished the game with 9.2 yards per pass attempt. New York had no answer for Jackson, who used his arm and legs to set up the Ravens getting off to an early 21-7 lead, going 6 for 7 for 55 yards and two touchdowns on the first three touchdowns. Jackson had an answer for everything the Jets threw at him -- especially in the early going.

Why the Jets lost

The Jets had an excellent equalizer against the Ravens run offense, which entered the game first in the NFL averaging 200.5 rushing yards and 5.5 yards per carry. New York's defense allowed 3.0 yards per carry and 78.8 rushing yards per game. All the Ravens did was have 34 carries for 218 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry -- completely controlling the line of scrimmage against the Jets' front seven. When Jackson was in the game, the Ravens had 26 carries for 172 yards, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. The Ravens had three runs of 20-plus yards on their first three possessions -- the Jets allowed just three 20-plus yard runs all season prior to this game. Baltimore won the chess battle with New York resulting in a blowout loss for the Jets.

Turning point

The Jets were still within striking distance of the Ravens in the third quarter, trailing 21-7 with the ball and another opportunity to cut the deficit to one score. Instead, Darnold created a disaster that helped Baltimore put the game away. On third-and-8 from the Jets' 35-yard line, Darnold stepped back to pass but never saw Ravens linebacker Tyus Bowser come off the edge and blow past the tight end for the easy sack.

Darnold never had a full grip of the ball and fumbled as he was going down. Jihad Ward recovered the ball at the Jets' 24-yard line, which was New York's second turnover of the night. The Ravens scored two plays later as Jackson found Marquise Brown for a 24-yard touchdown to put Baltimore up 28-7, which was the commanding three-score victory the Ravens needed to put away the Jets.

Play of the game

Jackson decided to take matters into his own hands as the Ravens faced a fourth-and-1 on their own 29-yard line with a 28-7 lead. Jackson signals the Ravens to stay on the field as they went for the bold decision to go for the first down. Jackson rolled to his right and bought enough time to find Andrews for the first down, a gain of 36 yards as Jackson threw the pass on the run.

Three plays later, Jackson found Seth Roberts for the 33-yard touchdown, his fourth touchdown pass of the night. On an evening full of highlight plays by Jackson, his leadership and ability to deliver a clutch throw on a risky situation was most impressive.

Quotable

"It's pretty cool. He was my favorite player growing up. It's amazing and I'm going to cherish that forever. I just got to keep it going, you know records are made to be broken .. like (Mike Vick) said." - Lamar Jackson on breaking Vick's record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season.

Jackson has 1,106 yards on 159 carries, leading the NFL with 6.96 yards per carry. Jackson is averaging 79 rushing yards per game and is on pace to finish with 1,264 yards. Jackson is currently fifth in the NFL in rushing.

Up next


The Ravens are inching closer toward wrapping up home-field advantage for the AFC playoffs, but they'll get 10 days off before they face off against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, December 22. The Jets host the Pittsburgh Steelers that same day in what will be Bell's first game against his former team. 

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Jets at Ravens final score: Lamar Jackson has another five touchdown game as Baltimore rolls

Lamar Jackson certainly locked up the NFL MVP award Thursday night, 

throwing for five touchdowns in another dominant performance as the Baltimore Ravens cruised to a 42-21 victory over the New York Jets. The victory clinched the AFC North division title for the Ravens (12-2) for the second consecutive year, the first time Baltimore has accomplished the feat since the 2011 and 2012 season. The Ravens need a Kansas City Chiefs or New England Patriots loss to clinch a first-round bye and are one win away from locking up home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.


Jackson was magnificent once again, having his third five pass touchdown game this season, which leads the NFL. He also leads the league with 33 passing touchdowns and he has thrown just six interceptions. On a night Jackson broke Michael Vick's record for most rushing yards in a season by a quarterback (1,106), he completed 15 of 23 passes for 212 yards, five touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 134.4 passer rating. Jackson also had eight carries for 86 yards as the Ravens offense had 384 yards of offense when Jackson was in, averaging 7.7 yards per play.

Jackson threw his touchdown passes to five different receivers, showcasing a balanced Ravens offense that had 212 passing yards and 172 rushing yards when he was in the game. Seth Roberts led the Ravens with three catches for 66 yards and a score while Mark Andrews set a franchise record for receiving touchdowns by a tight end in a season with eight. Mark Ingram had 13 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown, while also having a receiving touchdown in the win. The Ravens finished with 430 totals yards with 218 coming on the ground.


The Jets (5-9) were in this game for a half, but turnovers and miscues allowed the Ravens to turn a close game into a blowout. Sam Darnold had an interception and a fumble, but he threw for 218 yards and two touchdowns -- both of which went to Jamison Crowder, who finished with six catches for 90 yards in the loss. Le'Veon Bell had a season-high 21 carries for 87 yards, his best rushing game with the Jets.

Below are takeaways on this game as the Ravens are one step closer from earning home-field advantage in the AFC. For a further recap and analysis of this game, as it happened in the moment, visit our live blog as well.


Why the Ravens won

Jackson was beyond dominant again, a matchup nightmare for any defense in the NFL. This week he was playing with a banged-up quad on three days rest, but still led the Ravens to three touchdowns on their first three possessions. Jackson had rushed for 64 yards in that span and threw for two touchdowns, with the Jets having no answer for him. The MVP frontrunner was even better in the second half, throwing for three touchdowns as he finished the game with 9.2 yards per pass attempt. New York had no answer for Jackson, who used his arm and legs to set up the Ravens getting off to an early 21-7 lead, going 6 for 7 for 55 yards and two touchdowns on the first three touchdowns. Jackson had an answer for everything the Jets threw at him -- especially in the early going.

Why the Jets lost

The Jets had an excellent equalizer against the Ravens run offense, which entered the game first in the NFL averaging 200.5 rushing yards and 5.5 yards per carry. New York's defense allowed 3.0 yards per carry and 78.8 rushing yards per game. All the Ravens did was have 34 carries for 218 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry -- completely controlling the line of scrimmage against the Jets' front seven. When Jackson was in the game, the Ravens had 26 carries for 172 yards, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. The Ravens had three runs of 20-plus yards on their first three possessions -- the Jets allowed just three 20-plus yard runs all season prior to this game. Baltimore won the chess battle with New York resulting in a blowout loss for the Jets.

Turning point

The Jets were still within striking distance of the Ravens in the third quarter, trailing 21-7 with the ball and another opportunity to cut the deficit to one score. Instead, Darnold created a disaster that helped Baltimore put the game away. On third-and-8 from the Jets' 35-yard line, Darnold stepped back to pass but never saw Ravens linebacker Tyus Bowser come off the edge and blow past the tight end for the easy sack.

Darnold never had a full grip of the ball and fumbled as he was going down. Jihad Ward recovered the ball at the Jets' 24-yard line, which was New York's second turnover of the night. The Ravens scored two plays later as Jackson found Marquise Brown for a 24-yard touchdown to put Baltimore up 28-7, which was the commanding three-score victory the Ravens needed to put away the Jets.

Play of the game

Jackson decided to take matters into his own hands as the Ravens faced a fourth-and-1 on their own 29-yard line with a 28-7 lead. Jackson signals the Ravens to stay on the field as they went for the bold decision to go for the first down. Jackson rolled to his right and bought enough time to find Andrews for the first down, a gain of 36 yards as Jackson threw the pass on the run.

Three plays later, Jackson found Seth Roberts for the 33-yard touchdown, his fourth touchdown pass of the night. On an evening full of highlight plays by Jackson, his leadership and ability to deliver a clutch throw on a risky situation was most impressive.

Quotable

"It's pretty cool. He was my favorite player growing up. It's amazing and I'm going to cherish that forever. I just got to keep it going, you know records are made to be broken .. like (Mike Vick) said." - Lamar Jackson on breaking Vick's record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season.

Jackson has 1,106 yards on 159 carries, leading the NFL with 6.96 yards per carry. Jackson is averaging 79 rushing yards per game and is on pace to finish with 1,264 yards. Jackson is currently fifth in the NFL in rushing.

Up next


The Ravens are inching closer toward wrapping up home-field advantage for the AFC playoffs, but they'll get 10 days off before they face off against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, December 22. The Jets host the Pittsburgh Steelers that same day in what will be Bell's first game against his former team. 

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Care home resident granted 'big biceps' stripper wish

Staff at a care home made a Christmas wish come true for a resident with a visit from a stripper with a "large chest and big biceps".

The woman was given almost the "full Monty" after she placed her request on a "wishing tree" at the Suffolk home.

Managers said most people asked for a beach trip or a nice afternoon tea but they decided to respond to the request for a "fireman" to strip off.

The wish was granted at the Glastonbury Court care home in Bury St Edmunds.

The stripper, dressed as a fireman, turned up two weeks ago and began swinging his belt around wildly before stripping down to his underpants.

"I thought that he was amazing - I wish he could visit us every day," said the resident who made the request.

"He made me feel like I was young again, I loved every second."

Home manager Sharlene Van Tonder said care home life was not all about knitting or watching television, and said they were "keen to ensure that there are no limitations so that every day can be different and fun".

However, she admitted that a well-oiled man-in-the-buff was not the "typical kind of visitor" the elderly residents usually entertained.

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