Luke Littler will aim to move a step closer to World Darts Championship glory on Tuesday night and his path became clearer after tournament favourite Michael van Gerwen crashed out.

The 16-year-old has taken Alexandra Palace by storm and became the youngest semi-finalist ever after he beat Brendan Dolan 5-1 in the quarter-final.

A semi-final against 2018 winner Rob Cross is next up, but he will no longer have to meet Van Gerwen in the final after the three-time champion suffered one of the biggest shocks in recent times, going out 5-3 to unseeded Scott Williams.

It was a new year, but the same old brilliance from the precocious Littler, who is on the cusp of producing one of the greatest sporting stories of all time.

And the teenager believes it is going to “take a lot” to stop his juggernaut.

“It feels unbelievable. I would never have thought I would have got to the semis on my debut year,” he said. “Brendan was just another opponent in my way and I have brushed him aside and now I am into the semi-final.

“It’s going to take a lot to stop me, based on my performances so far. But it is about whatever Luke Littler turns up.

“I have got the ability to go all the way, if it’s not to be tomorrow night, it’s not to be.

“I know I have got a good chance and I have got a good feeling I could go all the way tomorrow.”

Cross has enjoyed watching Littler’s emergence, but says there will be no room for sentiment.

“Everyone loves an underdog story,” he said. “As the public and people looking at the game, everyone loves an underdog story.

“I am not being rude, I am on Luke’s side, I love an underdog story.

“It took a bit of pressure off me winning it first time as well.

“He’s fantastic and he deserves all the luck in the world, he is a nice, young boy. Tomorrow we play darts, though, and I have to go down to business.”

It has been quite a tournament for Williams, who had to apologise for insensitive comments about the war after beating Germany’s Martin Schindler earlier in the tournament, but he let his darts do the talking in a career-best performance, outscoring his illustrious opponent.

He will now meet pre-tournament favourite Luke Humphries, who breezed past Dave Chisnall in the other quarter-final.

Joey Daccord stopped 35 shots for his second career shutout as the surging Seattle Kraken registered a 3-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday to win the NHL’s Winter Classic.

Daccord recorded the first shutout in Winter Classic history and was supported by goals from Eeli Tolvanen, Will Borgen and Yanni Gourde as the Kraken delighted a crowd of 47,313 at T-Mobile Park, home of Major League Baseball’s Seattle Mariners.

Tolvanen added an assist to help Seattle to its fifth straight win. The Kraken also set a franchise record by earning a point in their ninth consecutive game (7-0-2).

Seattle jumped out to a 1–0 lead less than five minutes in when Tolvanen redirected teammate Vince Dunn’s shot past Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson.

Borgen extended the margin 2:19 into the second period with his first goal of the season, a drive off a loose puck that beat Thompson to the stick side.

Despite the Golden Knights owning a 15-6 shot advantage in the third period, the Kraken got the lone goal when Gourde forced a Vegas turnover and scored with 17:50 left to play.

Thompson finished with 24 saves for the defending Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights, who had their recent slump extended with a fifth loss in six games.

This was the first appearance for both teams in the Winter Classic, the NHL’s annual New Year’s Day outdoor event which was being held for the 15th time.

David Warner has pleaded for the return of his baggy green Australian cricket caps after they went missing from his bag on the eve of his final Test match.

In a video on Instagram, the veteran batsman said the caps were taken from his backpack during transit to Sydney ahead of Australia’s third Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“This is my last resort to do this,” Warner said.

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“A couple of days ago, our bags got freighted via Qantas. We’ve gone through CCTV footage, they’ve got some blind spots apparently, we spoke to the Quay West Hotel who we absolutely trust and have gone through their cameras, no one’s come into our rooms.

“But unfortunately, someone has taken my backpack out of my actual luggage, which had my backpack and my girls’ presents in there, inside this backpack was my baggy greens.

“It’s sentimental to me, it’s something I would love to have back in my hands walking out there come this week. If it is the backpack you really wanted, I have a spare one here, you won’t get into trouble.

“Please reach out to Cricket Australia or myself via my social media and I’m happy to give this to you if you return my baggy greens.”

The Sydney Test, which starts on Wednesday, marks the 37-year-old’s final red ball appearance for his country after more than a decade as Australia’s linchpin opener.

At a press conference on Monday, Warner announced he was also retiring from one-day cricket, but would still be available for the T20 format.

Mohamed Salah believes Liverpool can win the Premier League after his inspirational display fired the Reds to a crucial yet hard-fought win over Newcastle.

Salah recovered from a first-half penalty miss to score twice and set up another as Jurgen Klopp’s side won a New Year’s Day thriller 4-2 at Anfield to move three points clear at the top.

It was his final game before joining up with Egypt ahead of the upcoming African Cup of Nations.

Salah told Sky Sports: “It’s a great result for us. The game was very intense and we managed to pick up three points and now we are top of the table. We need to stay calm and win every game.”

Asked about his side’s title chances, he added: “We believe a lot. We need to work hard and express ourselves on the field. If we manage to do that and work hard then we can keep winning.”

Salah was pleased not to be signing off from club duty on a low note after seeing a spot-kick – the first of two he had during the game – beaten away by impressive Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

He said: “I missed the pen – I didn’t want to leave with national team with that performance.

“The first one I was confused because the goalkeeper moved, but the second one I did like I did in training.”

Salah opened the scoring with a tap-in early in the second half. That effort was quickly cancelled out by Alexander Isak, but Liverpool took control through Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo.

Sven Botman pulled another back, but Salah wrapped up the win the hosts – who racked up 34 shots – deserved after a foul by Dubravka on Diogo Jota.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “Nobody should be really surprised that Mo can change a game. The more goals you have, the more you are used to missing chances and understand what you have to do to keep going and improving, and that was what Mo did.

“It was a super game from start to finish, super high intensity. I loved so many aspects of the game except the goals we conceded.

“It was an unbelievable game with and unbelievable atmosphere.”

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted his side were fortunate to get in goalless at half-time, but he had issues with both spot-kicks given against them.

“I’m still confused over the penalties we conceded. The second one especially didn’t look like a penalty,” he said.

“There are two ways to look at it: the challenge on Sean Longstaff (in the second half) was a pen for me and that changes the game massively and then they go up the other end and it wasn’t (a penalty).”

A fifth defeat in six league matches, and one win in 12 away games, has left Newcastle struggling to stay in reach of the top four.

“We have to do everything we can to protect that confidence so that is why I think we need not to over dramatise things,” Howe added.

“It was a really good performance from Liverpool, they made it very difficult for us – we did well to come in 0-0.

“Take away the penalty moments, the goals we conceded were disappointing.”

Craig Halkett has challenged Hearts to round off a productive festive period by ensuring they head into the winter break in third place in the cinch Premiership.

The Jambos have taken 10 points from their last four matches and have won seven of their last 10 league fixtures to get themselves into a strong position in the battle for a European place.

A victory at bottom-of-the-table Livingston on Tuesday would keep Steven Naismith’s side clear of Kilmarnock and St Mirren in third place.

“We were disappointed not to beat Ross County on Saturday, but the draw has kept the momentum going,” said defender Halkett.

“We want to finish this tough run of games on a high, so it’s a crucial one.

“December’s a really tough month for everyone. We have done brilliantly to get into third and then just to finish off this block with a win would be good.”

Halkett recently returned to action following almost a year out with a knee injury and he admits the break is probably coming at a good time in order for him to get fully fit.

“I’m feeling good,” he said. “It has been a long year and myself, the manager and the sports scientists all know it’s going to take a few games to get back up to 100 per cent.

“But right now I am feeling as good as I can be.

“It was always important for me to come back in and play a couple of games before the break. I didn’t want to go into the break not having featured, so it was good to get some minutes under my belt.

“We have another game at Livingston and then I can work hard during the break to come back.”

Halkett joined Hearts from Livingston four and a half years ago and he is surprised to see his former side adrift at the foot of the table.

“Livingston have been in the top league for five or six years now and it was a great achievement every single year they did it,” said Halkett.

“So to see where they are is a bit of a surprise but I still think they’ll have enough to get out of it.

“We’ve spoken about the break for us and the break is probably coming at a good time for them as well.

“They can go away, rest, recover and reset before they come back and I’m sure they’ll do everything they can to stay up.”

David Moyes may have had the best year of his managerial career but he has yet to agree a new contract at West Ham.

Moyes led the Hammers to a first trophy in 43 years in June when they won the Europa Conference League, and they ended 2023 lying sixth in the Premier League.

“If I look back on things to win a trophy would mean that I would say ‘yes’, it would have to be my best year,” said the former Everton and Manchester United boss.

“To win a trophy in 2023… you have to say it was difficult for the first part of last season, we couldn’t get a result, we didn’t start well, we had a few new players coming in.

“But once we got to the World Cup, that was my thing. I think we improved in the second half of the season. Somebody said to me it’s been my best start to a season, but I think probably the second half of last season was my best finish because of winning the trophy.”

The Hammers hierarchy are understood to be about to open talks with Moyes about a new contract, with his current deal set to expire this summer.

Asked whether the uncertainty surrounding his future could affect West Ham’s ability to sign players in January, the 60-year-old Scot added: “Yes, of course.

“But I also hope players will also talk about a guy who has managed over 1000 games, and I’m comfortable with it.

“I can go and discuss it tomorrow because I’ve got a great relationship with the board so I can do it at the right time, and there seems to be more talk from other people whereas we’re quite cool about it.”

Moyes will check on the fitness of centre-halves Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd and midfielder Lucas Paqueta ahead of Tuesday night’s visit of Brighton.

Zouma and Aguerd missed Thursday’s 2-0 win at Arsenal while Paqueta limped off with a calf problem.

Luke Littler became the youngest player ever to reach the semi-finals of the World Darts Championship when he defeated Brendan Dolan on Monday.

The 16-year-old now has a shot at claiming an historic place in the sport as he takes aim at the title over the next two days at Alexandra Palace.

Here, the PA news agency looks at some of sport’s other teenage prodigies in recent years.

Wayne Rooney – 16 years old

Though his breakthrough moment undoubtedly came when he scored past David Seaman from 30 yards in October 2002 to end champions Arsenal’s 30-game unbeaten Premier League run, Rooney had actually made his senior Everton debut two months earlier against Tottenham, setting up a goal for Mark Pembridge in a 2-2 draw.

England’s Euro 2004 opener against France in Portugal shot him to international stardom before he signed for Manchester United later that summer, going on to become all-time top scorer for both United (253) and for England (53), though his international tally has since been surpassed by Harry Kane.

Ronnie O’Sullivan – 17

O’Sullivan became the youngest-ever winner of a ranking event when, aged 17, he beat Stephen Hendry to claim the 1993 UK Snooker Championship. Two years later, he was victorious in the 1995 Masters to add another record to his CV by the age of 19, both accolades that he still holds.

Victory in the 2022 Snooker World Championship was his eighth, drawing him level with Hendry for most wins, as he has lived up to the excitement that accompanied his arrival onto the scene more than 30 years ago to become one of the sport’s all-time greats.

Sky Brown – 13

The skateboarder became the UK’s youngest-ever Olympian when she competed at the Tokyo games aged just 13 and followed it up by becoming the country’s youngest medal winner when she took bronze in the women’s park skateboarding event.

She has continued to set records in the years since, most recently by becoming the first British winner at the skateboarding World Championships in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates in February 2023.

Cesc Fabregas – 16

Fabregas became Arsenal’s youngest-ever player when he made his first-team debut in a League Cup tie against Rotherham at Highbury in September 2003 and clocked another club record when he scored his first goal in the next round in a 5-1 win over Wolves.

It was the following season though that his true breakthrough arrived, taking up a regular place in the team’s midfield aged 17 at the start of the 2003/04 season as they sought to defend the title won the previous campaign. He went on to win two league titles with Chelsea as well as the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships with Spain.

Gianluigi Donnarumma – 16

AC Milan were in the midst of their decade-long barren spell when Donnarumma was thrust into the first team at the age of 16 in 2015, preferred to the veteran club legend Christian Abbiati and former number one Diego Lopez.

Standing at a height of 6ft 5in, he took up the mantel of first-choice goalkeeper with a stature that defied his young years, and the following year became Italy’s second-youngest ever goalkeeper when he made his international debut in a friendly against France. He has since helped the team to win Euro 2020 where he saved two penalties in the final shootout against England.

Sheffield Wednesday’s upturn in form continued as they recorded a 3-1 Championship victory over 10-man Hull at Hillsborough on New Year’s Day.

Three second-half goals from Marvin Johnson, Djeidi Gassama and Josh Windass saw the Owls past their Yorkshire rivals, who had Tyler Morton dismissed in the first half.

The result sees the Owls move up to 22nd and three points from safety, whilst the Tigers slip to seventh in the table.

Wednesday manager Danny Rohl made two changes to the team that beat Preston 1-0 at Deepdale, with Liam Palmer and Windass coming in.

Hull boss Liam Rosenior also made two switches to the side that won 3-2 at home to Blackburn, with Sean McLoughlin and Jason Lokilo joining the starting XI.

In the first chances of the game, Wednesday skipper Barry Bannan had a go from range but his effort went comfortably wide.

Next, Johnson’s terrific cross from a short corner was headed narrowly wide by Michael Ihiekwe.

The home side’s pressure continued as Bannan’s corner found the head of Windass but goalkeeper Matt Ingram saved well.

It was an action-packed first half and it was only some brilliant last-ditch defending from both sides that stopped the opener from going in.

The contest became a much tougher one for the away side when they were reduced to 10 men in the 35th minute after Morton was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Gassama.

Striker Bailey Cadamarteri blazed a shot over the crossbar in Wednesday’s last chance of the half.

The Owls made a lightning quick start to the second half and took the lead in the 49th minute. Johnson crashed the ball into the roof of the net to get his second as in many matches.

Wednesday doubled their advantage with a Gassama wonder goal, 55 minutes in. The youngster cut in from the left before curling a beautiful effort from range past goalkeeper Ingram.

Substitute Ashley Fletcher’s header went just over the crossbar as his search for a first goal in Wednesday colours continued.

Windass added a third in the 72nd minute with a superb half-volley from the edge of the box which arrowed into the bottom corner and put the game beyond any doubt.

The Tigers pulled one back in the 76th minute when Ihiekwe was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area and substitute Scott Twine stepped up to convert the penalty.

Luke Littler gave a big hint that he was going to take the sporting world by storm when he was just three years old.

The 16-year-old from Warrington has enjoyed an historic run to the semi-final of the World Championship at Alexandra Palace, becoming the youngest player to ever do so.

Nicknamed ‘The Nuke’, he is just now two wins away from producing one of the greatest sporting stories of all time.

He has always been a star in the making as videos have emerged of him throwing darts as a toddler and imitating Raymond Van Barneveld’s famous celebration after he won his 2007 world title.

Littler was not born until 20 days after that famous match with Phil Taylor at the Circus Tavern, so few would have expected him to beat the Dutchman on his way to the last four in this year’s tournament.

But the way he demolished his hero in the last-16 tie showed that his breakthrough is no fluke.

He qualified for the tournament by winning the World Youth Championship in November after a prolific year on the Development Tour and that was another big sign that he was destined for the top.

In his early years he loved playing football and is an ardent supporter of Manchester United, but when his dad Anthony recognised his talent at the oche, he told his son to give up football as a nine-year-old and the rest is history.

It is difficult to imagine Littler – who also likes rugby league, supporting local club Warrington – going back to the typical 16-year-old that he was before the tournament started.

He enjoyed playing on his Xbox, FaceTiming friends and eating kebabs, but a different world will await him after his exploits in north London, whatever happens in the next 48 hours.

He has earned celebrity status and his exploits have already transcended the world of darts.

He has had pictures and exchanged messages with a host of top Premier League footballers, while the media have taken a keen interest in him and what type of kebabs he likes to eat.

Having secured a £100,000 pay check and a PDC tour card for the next two years, it is clear that Littler will now be eating at the top table of darts.

Leicester manager Enzo Maresca said he put no pressure on Tom Cannon to perform ahead of the Championship leaders’ 4-1 win against Huddersfield.

Cannon scored twice on his full debut for a Leicester side who now have a 10-point lead at the top of the table ahead of Ipswich.

The 21-year-old opened the scoring and added another just after the hour mark, as well as seeing another effort ruled out for offside.

Goals from Leicester captain Ricardo Pereira and Stephy Mavididi completed the scoring for the hosts. Huddersfield captain Michal Helik pulled one back but Maresca’s side were always in control as they stretched their unbeaten record to 10 matches.

Cannon had been out of action until last month due to a stress fracture of the back which Leicester discovered when the player signed in September.

“It hasn’t been easy for Tom, he was two or three months out with the injury, then we’d been winning games with Jamie Vardy, Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka,” said Maresca.

“Tom’s had to wait for his chance and, yes he scored two goals. But when you don’t play games, and suddenly you get your chance, everyone is expecting big things.

“But it’s difficult to do those things.

“I told him to ‘just go out there, and don’t think it’s your first time and you need to show people, or me, that you’re good. Because if you’re here, we think you’re good enough. Just enjoy it’.

“It’s not easy, but he gave everything along with the whole team.”

Maresca explained what happened when Cannon signed.

“We bought Tom thinking he was fit. We saw from the medical and saw he had a problem, we didn’t know that,” he said.

“It was strange as he had been playing at Everton. But I knew Tom from his loan spell at Preston last season, and he scored eight goals.

“But even though he was fit, he wouldn’t have played from the start because there are so many good forwards here.”

Cannon says he hopes to emulate Vardy at Leicester, and Maresca says he will learn from the former Golden Boot winner.

“I think if you ask any striker in the world, they would want to learn something from Jamie Vardy,” said the Italian.

“But if Tom’s 50 per cent as good as Jamie, then I’ll be happy.”

Huddersfield manager Darren Moore said Leicester showed why they are promotion favourites.

“We were beaten by the better side on the day, they’re top of the league for a reason – the players can’t feel any disgrace for their performance,” said Moore.

“The second goal was disappointing for me as that took the game away from us.

“At 3-1, we had some wonderful opportunities, if we’d taken them then it might’ve been a different end to the game.

“That’s credit to how we set up and how we go about games.

“From a mental aspect, we have that endeavour not to give up and show commitment. That’s really important and we did get back into the game.

“But when they scored the fourth goal, that was it for the game. But Michal has scored seven goals as a centre-back, but if you ask him, he’d rather have the clean sheets and the wins.

“We feel more now that we are fitter and more robust.”

Swansea caretaker boss Alan Sheehan called for the process of appointing a full-time manager to be completed this week in the wake of a 1-0 home win over West Brom.

Sheehan was speaking after seeing his side notch a first win over a top-six team in the Championship since February 2022 – and keep a clean-sheet for the first time in 11 games since November 4.

“I’d say we are closer to a decision on the new manager but at the moment I’m just trying to enjoy this victory,” said Sheehan, who has picked up 11 points from his seven games in temporary charge.

“I’ve had conversations this week but like I keep saying, there is a process to go through and I understand there’s obviously a lot of people interested in the job. It needs to be concluded this week, I’d say.”

A goalless first half in torrential rain at the Swansea.com Stadium gave way to a far more dynamic and free-flowing second period. Liam Cullen’s goal ended a purple patch for the home side, although Josh Tymon also hit the post.

“To get back-to-back home wins and to beat a top-six side builds confidence,” added Sheehan.

“What we saw out there was a team fighting for the badge and working hard together in and out of possession.

“We have had a difficult period – Southampton and Coventry away and then West Brom at home. If we had taken all our chances at the start of the second half the game could have been done.

“There were goals that were just one pass or touch away and we also hit the post. We need to get better at beating the press, although it is a really positive day.”

Defeat on New Year’s Day ruined the festive record of Carlos Corberan’s Baggies, who came into the game on the back of 1-0 home wins over Norwich and Leeds.

“We are disappointed in the result but it is no big disappointment other than that,” said Corberan. “I saw the team compete in the way we have to compete.

“We were better than them in the second half of the first half but then they found a way to compete with their set pieces in the first half of the second half.

“We were better in the second part of the second half but couldn’t score. We had two good chances to score in the first half, of which (Brandon) Thomas-Asante’s was the biggest.”