NASCAR scored a victory at Le Mans on Tuesday when the Hendrick Motorsports crew won its class in the pit crew competition

Joao Palhinha scored a stunning equaliser as Fulham held Brighton and Hove Albion to a 1-1 draw at the Amex Stadium. The Seagulls were the better team in the early stages and were rewarded through Evan Ferguson’s neat finish before Palhinha’s superb strike secured a point for the Londoners. The result extended Brighton’s winless run to three as they rued missed chances in front of goal. Roberto De Zerbi’s side showed little signs of fatigue following Thursday’s 2-0 Europa League win over Ajax and nearly took an early lead. Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno kept out Carlos Baleba’s shot from range in the seventh minute and saved Simon Adingra’s effort inside the six-yard box moments later to keep it 0-0. Baleba was pulling the strings for Brighton as his vision and inch-perfect passes picked out the pacey Adingra, who enjoyed runs into space. The hosts got the goal they deserved after 26 minutes. Igor Julio drove the Seagulls up the pitch and when Ferguson retrieved the ball outside the box he showed excellent composure to slide the ball past Leno with his left foot into the bottom corner. The goal highlighted a gulf in quality between the two sides and the lethargic Cottagers were fortunate not to concede again immediately after the kick-off when their defence was caught napping by Adingra. A rain-soaked Marco Silva cut a frustrated figure and his pleas to his Fulham players were left unanswered as Willian’s wasteful free-kick put an end to the first spell of meaningful possession the visitors had enjoyed in the Brighton half since the opening minutes. Left-back Antonee Robinson was struggling to cope with Adingra and the American then gifted Ferguson a back pass, but the Seagulls’ goalscorer failed to double his tally when he was denied by Leno after 40 minutes. Brighton started the second half quickly and Lewis Dunk was unfortunate not to score in the 49th minute. The skipper lined up a set-piece and his side-footed effort dipped onto Leno’s crossbar. Fulham made Brighton pay for their missed chances as they made it 1-1 in the 65th minute through Palhinha. The visitors threw men forward in numbers and the Portugal international got the ball out of his feet on the edge of the box and blasted an effort past Jason Steele. The goal swung the momentum in the Londoners’ favour and substitute Rodrigo Muniz nearly punished Brighton from the restart through an audacious back heel that was kept out by Steele. Both teams had opportunities to win it with Robinson clearing an effort off the line before Harry Wilson came close to grabbing a winner at the other end. Read More Republic of Ireland heading in the right direction – striker Callum Robinson Mikey Johnston issues Netherlands warning as Ireland look to finish on high Ireland beat Gibraltar to spare Stephen Kenny further questions over immediate future Stephen Kenny puts speculation to one side for Gibraltar clash Talking Points as Republic of Ireland seek win against minnows Gibraltar Manchester United v Man City LIVE: Latest Premier League updates

A gambling scandal has left Iowa State with a quarterback quandary

Former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby believes the performance of Alexis Mac Allister could be crucial in the top-of-the-table clash with Manchester City. While the two teams are generally well-matched in most positions, the hosts boast Rodri, who is regarded as the world’s best in the holding role, while Jurgen Klopp has had to field Mac Allister as a makeshift number six. It is an unfamiliar position for the Argentina World Cup winner, who is more effective in a slightly more advanced role, but he has been asked to do a job as Liverpool’s all-new midfield still takes shape after a summer overhaul. Japan international Wataru Endo was one of four midfield arrivals in the summer and while he is accustomed to the defensive job, the 30-year-old has been entrusted with only two Premier League starts and is unlikely to be in consideration against the defending champions. “When you look at the midfield three, I still think we need to find the right balance and combination,” Molby told the PA news agency at the launch of the club’s Ultimate LFC Experience, a package which includes giving fans the opportunity to train at Melwood – the former home of the men’s team and current training base of the women’s side. “We’ve managed to get away with that midfield from game to game, but there is every chance Bernardo Silva and Julian Alvarez will be playing in there and he (Mac Allister) will have to look after those and that’s a big job in itself. When you look at the teams who are doing well they all have a world-class number six Former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby “You only have to look at City and what happened when Rodri was out through suspension and they lost games (against Wolves and Arsenal) – that’s how important a world-class number six is. “When you look at the teams who are doing well, they all have a world-class number six so that’s an area where we might need to look at. “The majority of games we will get away with it because of the general quality we have, but there might be one or two games where we go ‘we need someone better in that position’. “That is not a criticism of Alexis as he is not a number six, he is more of a number eight, so the quicker we can get in there the quicker we will improve.” :: For more information about the Ultimate LFC Experience go to www.liverpoolfc.com/stadium-tours Read More PA selective guide to sport on TV for w/c November 27 Nathan Heaney eyeing middleweight world title fight against Janibek Alimkhanuly Eddie Howe sees no benefit to Newcastle over loans between associated clubs

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Manchester City face arch-rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday. Here, the PA news agency looks at how Pep Guardiola’s side made it to Wembley. Man City 4 Chelsea 0 (third round, Jan 8) City sailed through with surprising ease as Chelsea put up little resistance at the Etihad Stadium just three days after a hard-fought Premier League clash between the sides at Stamford Bridge. A superb Riyad Mahrez free-kick, a Julian Alvarez penalty and a Phil Foden effort effectively wrapped up the contest in the first half. Mahrez completed the scoring from the spot late on. Man City 1 Arsenal 0 (fourth round, Jan 27) City edged a tight and entertaining game that lived up to its pre-match billing as a heavyweight contest. A tidy finish from defender Nathan Ake, placing a shot into the bottom corner after good work from Jack Grealish, settled the tie in the 64th minute. Bristol City 0 Man City 3 (fifth round, Feb 28) Foden struck twice as City saw off their Championship hosts with little alarm. The England midfielder opened the scoring after seven minutes when he turned home a low Mahrez ball at the back post and made victory certain with a deflected effort after the break. Kevin De Bruyne added a brilliant third with a low curling shot from outside the area. Man City 6 Burnley 0 (quarter-finals, Mar 18) City gave their former captain Vincent Kompany a hero’s reception on his return to the Etihad – but showed his Championship-leading side little mercy on the field. The prolific Erling Haaland, who had smashed five past RB Leipzig just days earlier, helped himself to a hat-trick as the Clarets were put to the sword. Alvarez weighed in with a double and Cole Palmer also got on the scoresheet in the rout. Man City 3 Sheff Utd 0 (semi-finals, Apr 22) Another promotion-challenging Championship side failed to lay a glove on City as Guardiola’s men booked a return to the final for the first time in four years after three successive semi-final defeats. Mahrez took centre-stage by scoring the first FA Cup semi-final hat-trick since 1958 and the first at Wembley. The Blades were made to rue missing a gilt-edged early chance through Iliman Ndiaye as Mahrez grabbed his first from the spot, ran through the defence for a fine solo second and swept in to complete his treble. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live How managers Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag fare ahead of FA Cup final How Manchester United reached the FA Cup final for a 21st time Former Wrexham defender Neil Taylor warns club to avoid ‘circus’ over signings

Miguel Andújar drove in three runs and Joshua Palacios hit a pinch-hit three-run homer as the Pittsburgh Pirates held off the Chicago Cubs 8-6 on Thursday night

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to look in-house to help out their banged-up defense