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Former world champion Kyren Wilson put his UK Championship disappointment behind him with some superb snooker to defeat China’s Si Jiahui 6-2 and move into the Masters quarter-finals.

At last month’s UK Championship in York, Wilson – using a replacement cue after his one had been damaged – was in tears after his 6-4 round-one loss to Elliot Slessor and said he had been “close to a mental breakdown”.

But Wilson, the 2024 world champion and 2025 Masters runner-up, has found a new cue which he has been using for a month and looked happy, confident and rejuvenated at Alexandra Palace.

In the evening session, two-time champion John Higgins moved into a 16th Masters quarter-final with a 6-2 success over Barry Hawkins to set up a last-eight tie against reigning world champion Zhao Xintong.

Higgins’ victory continued a remarkable run at this year’s Masters, where all six matches have ended 6-2.

Earlier on Tuesday, Wilson had been trying for a maximum 147 in the second frame of his match, potting 10 reds and 10 blacks before his attempt ended at 80.

Si, a former World Championship semi-finalist, trailed 3-2 in an entertaining match, before England’s Wilson pulled clear to win three frames in a row.

It has been a tough few months for Wilson after the cue he used to win the world title in May 2024 was damaged while being refurbished at the start of this season, with a six-inch piece being snapped off the end.

Wilson called the incident “a freak accident totally out of my control” and one that had “ruined the cue I was conquering the world with”.

Following his first-round UK loss to Slessor, Wilson said: “I’m just very lost. You were very close to seeing someone have a mental breakdown out there.

“I wanted the world to swallow me up as soon as I missed the pink in the first frame. It’s been a nightmare. I gave it my all – but I just knew I couldn’t win.”

Since then, he has begun using a new cue, but only reached round three at the Scottish Open, losing to world number 68 Chang Bingyu.

Wilson, 34, did also play in the Championship League earlier this month – and looked back to his best at Alexandra Palace in his first match in a Triple Crown event since that loss to Slessor.

“It has been a really tough time so I thank you for all your love you have given me, it really lifted me,” Wilson told the London crowd after Tuesday’s match.

“This venue can bring the best out of you. I still have a lot of time in this game so hopefully I can conquer this venue for a long time.”

On his cue woes at the UK Championship, Wilson added: “I had to put a ferrule and a tip on the cue on the day of my first-round match and it got to boiling point when I felt I had let people down.

“I had a bit of a hissy fit at the end of that game. I’m over that now and I’ve got a cue that I’ve been playing with since the Scottish Open and I’m very happy with it.”

Wilson, who will meet either Australia’s Neil Robertson or England’s Chris Wakelin in the next round, added: “When you go out there and can’t trust what you’re using, you have no chance.

“I think this cue is better because there’s a bit more power, a bit more whip and it’s about learning how to control that – I’ve had a month to get used to it, I’ve had to modify my cue action.”

In Tuesday night’s session, 50-year-old Higgins was in excellent form as he made six half-century breaks – 50, 71, 53, 99, 58 and 61 – to see off two-time Masters runner-up Hawkins.

The Englishman took the opening frame following a break of 58, but then let a 46-0 advantage slip in the third frame as the Scot took control.

Hawkins, 46, went almost an hour without potting a ball as Higgins, the 1999 and 2006 Masters winner, produced some superb long pots before sealing victory.

“I was delighted with the way I hit the ball,” said Higgins. “Even at the start, I felt good in myself and Barry didn’t play as well as he can, but I’m delighted to beat someone as good as him.

“I was probably seen as a decent draw for Barry but when I play like that he will be thinking: ‘How has he done that?’

On his quarter-final match on Thursday with Zhao, the first Asian player to win the World Championship, Higgins added: “I will have to produce that standard again to beat him because he is an unbelievable player.”

England scrum-half Raffi Quirke has announced he will leave boyhood club Sale Sharks at the end of the season, having been linked with Newcastle Red Bulls.

The 24-year-old, who has won two caps and memorably scored a try in England’s November 2021 win over South Africa, has been hampered by a string of injuries, with Scotland’s Gus Warr often preferred at club level.

However, Quirke has enjoyed a decent run of form this campaign and was part of England’s squad for the autumn internationals, retaining his place for a recent January get-together despite Leicester’s Jack van Poortvliet and Bristol’s Harry Randall both returning from injury.

“This has been the hardest decision of my life so far because Sale is the club that I grew up supporting and dreaming of playing for,” said Quirke.

“It goes without saying that I will give everything I have for the rest of the season to bring success to Sale.

“I have always seen rugby as my opportunity to explore different environments, people and places. I feel, for my rugby and personal development, that my story just needs a new challenge and a new setting.”

If he does arrive at Kingston Park, Quirke will compete with Argentina international Simon Benitez Cruz for the number nine shirt.

All Black Hoskins Sotutu, Exeter pair Josh Hodge and Rusi Tuima and Northampton forward duo Sam Graham and Elliot Millar-Mills have been secured for next season, along with Benitez Cruz’s fellow Puma Franco Molina.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with Raffi and as a homegrown player who grew up supporting the club, we all would have loved for him to continue his career with us,” said Sanderson.

Manchester City prepare offer for Marc Guehi, Bayern Munich chief tries to convince the Crystal Palace defender, and Rashford return to Manchester United is off the cards.

Manchester City are preparing to make an offer for Crystal Palace and England centre-back Marc Guehi, 25, before the end of the January transfer window, but are unlikely to meet Palace’s asking price of above £35 million. (Talksport)

But Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl has been making calls in recent days to try to convince Guehi to join them in the summer. (Sky Germany)

Despite the departure of head coach Ruben Amorim, Manchester United do not plan to bring back England forward Marcus Rashford, 28, when his loan spell at Barcelona ends. (Talksport)

Manchester United and England Under-20 striker Ethan Wheatley, 19, will join Bradford City on loan until the end of the season. (Manchester Evening News)

Nottingham Forest have made an enquiry for Bournemouth‘s English winger Marcus Tavernier, 26, but the Cherries do not plan to sell. (Daily Mail)

Tottenham Hotspur are blocking all enquiries for French forward Mathys Tel, 20, despite loan interest from Paris FC. (Florian Plettenberg)

Bournemouth are continuing talks with Ferencvaros over a deal for Hungary midfielder Alex Toth, 20, after their initial £8.6m offer was rejected. (Sky Sports)

Newcastle are considering signing a defender this month after England full-back Tino Livramento, 23, suffered a hamstring injury that will sideline him for eight weeks. (Sky Sports)

Manchester City, Brentford and Tottenham are set to miss out on Nigeria Under-20 winger Suleiman Sani, 19, with RB Leipzig finalising a £4.5m deal with Slovakian side Trencin. (Daily Mail)

Liverpool will not offload England defender Joe Gomez, 28, this month after Northern Ireland right-back Conor Bradley, 22, suffered a season-ending knee injury. (Football Insider)

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is one of Real Madrid’s top candidates to succeed Xabi Alonso as boss, with Antonio Conte and Enzo Maresca also being considered. (Fichajes – in Spanish)

New Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has pledged to speak to Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi, who have been left in limbo as part of the so-called ‘bomb squad’.

The 41-year-old Englishman, who replaced Enzo Maresca last week, is working through an extensive list of tasks after joining mid-season from Strasbourg, which shares ownership with Chelsea.

One priority is to speak to Sterling and Disasi, who joined during the 2023-24 season for £47.5m and £38.5m respectively, but are currently training at different times, on a separate pitch and in a separate building from the main squad. Both remain on the transfer list and turned down potential loan moves over the summer.

Asked about the pair, Rosenior said: “I will have conversations with them. We’re in January, as you know.

“Raheem’s had an outstanding career. I’ve got huge respect for him. Axel is someone I’ve really, really liked as a player for a long time.

“Honestly, I have to have a conversation with them. I have to have a conversation with the club. I’m being genuinely honest. I literally have got to work through a list of priorities. I will do in the next few days.”

Sterling is attracting interest from Napoli, while Roma and Lyon have explored a move for Disasi, but Chelsea currently have a maximum of six players out on overseas loans, per Fifa’s rules, and would have to cancel one to allow the pair to move on a temporary deal.

Chelsea are usually active in every transfer window but have had a slow start to January following the managerial change. Insiders insist the club’s strategy will remain similar, although Rosenior’s voice will now be part of the discussion after Maresca’s falling out with the hierarchy led to his unplanned mid-season exit.

On potential signings, Rosenior added: “The first conversation I had with the guys [the club’s hierarchy] was I want to assess the most important players, which are the ones who are here. Normally you get good surprises if you give people a chance.

“I had some really, really good surprises in the game against Charlton. Yes, we’re in January, and yes, we want the club to be as successful as possible in the short term.

“But I also think sometimes the answers lie within the building and not outside. So I’ll make a decision on that with the guys. Probably later in the week when I’ve seen everyone.”

Chelsea are expected to make more significant signings in the summer, when their preferred targets are likely to be available.

A high-quality attacker is high on the list of priorities as highlighted by Chelsea briefly checking the conditions to sign Antoine Semenyo before he joined Manchester City. Chelsea similarly considered a move for Dean Huijsen in the summer before his move to Real Madrid and will look at adding at centre-back.

Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet is among those admired, while the Blues have been tracking Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz, although other unnamed options will also be considered. Chelsea have been linked with St Etienne striker Djylian N’Guessan, but he is a target for sister club Strasbourg in France.

They are also known admirers of Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo, who has fewer than 18 months remaining on his contract at Old Trafford, with options in midfield to potentially be considered if Romeo Lavia continues to struggle with injury. Back-up goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is currently assessing his options and would need replacing if he leaves.

Academy graduate Tyrique George has struggled to make recent matchday squads and is available for sale again after his £22m summer move to Fulham collapsed on deadline day. The option to leave on loan would also be considered.

The west London club remain under substantial restrictions from Uefa in January to maintain a “positive transfer balance” and must offset any incoming deals with outgoings.

However, those restrictions will lift next season, coinciding with the Premier League introducing new Squad Cost Control ratio rules, which are less restrictive than the current Profit and Sustainability (PSR) regulations.

Chelsea have already lined up a host of players for next season, including £40m Sporting winger Geovany Quenda, Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha, Kairat forward Dastan Satapayev and Corinthians left-back Denner Evangelista. The Blues also recently completed a deal to sign defender Deinner Ordonez from Independiente del Valle to join in January 2028.

Real Madrid’s decision to appoint Alvaro Arbeloa as head coach has been met largely with scepticism. Many supporters see the move as an unnecessary, premature risk rather than a bold, strategic appointment.

On the surface, the choice appears puzzling. Arbeloa lacks the glittering senior managerial CV you may expect a Real Madrid head coach to have.

But behind the initial reaction, the move reflects Real Madrid’s prioritisation of identity and continuity, with those inside the club viewing it not as a gamble but as a calculated decision based on the loyalty of someone who has been part of Real for many years.

It is a philosophy that was made clear by Arbeloa himself at his unveiling.

“On Saturday I turn 43 and 20 of those years have been at this club. Every day I’m at the best club in the world,” he said.

“This club is about winning, winning, and winning again. When I was a player, I learned those values from the people in that dressing room. They’re still there, and that’s what matters.”

The journalists packed into the press conference for Arbeloa’s first appearance were well accustomed to such moments. This marked the 17th time there had been a change in first-team coach under Florentino Perez, president since 2009.

This latest change came after the departure of Xabi Alonso following the weekend’s Spanish Super Cup loss to Barcelona. They are second in La Liga, four points behind their great rivals.

Historically, Real Madrid under Perez have favoured managers with either proven elite pedigree or deep ties to the club. At times, Perez has turned to serial winners such as Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho to impose authority and deliver immediate success.

When stability or identity has felt threatened he has often looked inwards, promoting former players like Zinedine Zidane, who understood the club’s culture and pressure better than anyone.

Not all internal appointments have worked smoothly, however. Santiago Solari, another former player, was promoted from the reserve team in October 2018 after Julen Lopetegui’s dismissal, but he struggled to impose consistency and lasted less than six months in charge.

Former Liverpool, West Ham and Real defender Arbeloa’s appointment fits within that same pattern. While he lacks the heavyweight resume of some of his predecessors, he embodies the profile Perez has repeatedly trusted – a former player aligned with the club’s values.

Alonso shared many of these same qualities, but his managerial experience was largely outside Real’s system, whereas Arbeloa has built credibility within the club’s own coaching structures.

“I spoke to Xabi yesterday,” Arbeloa said. “Our friendship comes before everything. We spoke for a long time yesterday, and I wished him well because he’s a fantastic coach.

“I’m sure he’ll do great things in the future. We’ll always be close, as we have been all these years.”

Arbeloa, who takes over for Wednesday’s Copa del Rey match at Albacete, was the head coach of Real Madrid’s reserve team for seven months prior to the appointment.

Since his coaching career began in 2020 he has spent it entirely in Real Madrid’s youth system, winning multiple league titles, before progressing to manage their reserve team, Castilla.

“Real Madrid’s academy is the best in the world, and we’ve proven that for many years,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to coach many players over the years, and they’ve brought me here.”

According to those close to the club, Arbeloa is considered a more attacking coach than Alonso, with a warm personality and strong communication style.

He favours a 4-3-3 formation, emphasises a high press, and encourages an aggressive, attacking approach. He prefers to play with wingers on their opposite flanks.

Many of these characteristics are influenced by the coach who had the greatest impact on him, Jose Mourinho, who Arbeloa played under at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013.

“I carry a lot of what I learned from him, but I have to be myself,” Arbeloa said. “Trying to be Mourinho would only end in failure – I need to be Alvaro Arbeloa.”

He also acknowledged the broader role of all his past managers, saying each shaped his coaching style in different ways.

Alonso’s dismissal as Real Madrid coach has left fans divided and uncertain.

In Madrid on Tuesday, it was hard to find a supporter wholly positive about the changes.

Fan Mario Gonzalez acknowledged that while “the team was not performing at the level expected” and boos reflected understandable frustration, he questioned whether the decision was rash: “A hasty decision? Perhaps. Is it the best thing for Real Madrid? We will see in the coming months.”

Juan Antonio Lillo pointed out Alonso’s struggle to implement his ideas, saying “he has tried to change too many things at once, and that usually clashes with the complacency of some players”, while noting the club’s historic impatience: “Real Madrid does not understand waiting.”

The reporting tone in the Madrid media around Alonso’s tenure and dismissal has been a mix of critical, cautious, and somewhat sympathetic, reflecting both frustration with results and recognition of his status as a club legend.

One report said the dressing room was split, with England midfielder Jude Bellingham among those who did not believe in Alonso.

Bellingham publicly shut down these reports on social media on Tuesday, calling the authors clowns and using an expletive to describe what he thought of them.

“Damaging misinformation”, Bellingham called it.

In a recent press conference, he encouraged supporters to not believe everything they read, emphasising that Alonso had his full support.

But these type of reports had left their mark on some of the fans we spoke to.

Alfredo criticised the club and argued Alonso “gave in to these spoiled players and did not know how to impose his ideas”.

The length of Arbeloa’s contract is still unknown, which suggests Real Madrid want to keep their options open.

“I’ll be here as long as Real Madrid want me to be,” he said when asked. “This is my home, and it always will be.”

There have been whispers linking former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp to the job should the club decide to appoint a new manager in the summer.

Klopp is currently working as the head of global soccer for Red Bull but despite his long-term contract there, reports in Germany suggest he could be in contention.

Some reports went as far to say Klopp wants the role.

“There were a few people who felt they needed to bring it up with me,” Klopp told ServusTV on Monday when asked about it.

Whether speculation or not, it was a hot topic in Madrid as Arbeloa was announced.

While Real’s long-term direction seems uncertain, Arbeloa was keen to focus on the immediate future.

“I’ve found a group of players full of desire,” he said.

“We’ve got the rest of the season ahead and despite the effort this week, everyone is eager to be on the pitch tomorrow.

“They share my excitement and want things to go well, to win games, fight for everything, and enjoy it, which is what it’s all about.

“Every player gets a clean slate from me. It’s a fresh start. Nothing else matters. Everyone looks motivated and excited to have a great season.”