Lee has South Korea setting sights skywards
South Korea continue their push for a first Asian Cup win since 1960 and Lee Kang-in looks as if he can be their linchpin for years to come. In the 22-year-old, the Taegeuk Warriors have an in-form, forward-thinking attacker who impressed in his side’s opening game against Bahrain, scoring twice and constantly threatening with tight dribbling and defence-splitting passing. The former South Korea coach Paulo Bento often saw Lee as nothing more than an impact substitute but the current manager, Jürgen Klinsmann, sees potential in the Paris Saint-Germain player: “He’s like a flower that is starting to bloom … [his] growth over the last six months is a joy for us.” Next South Korea take on Jordan, who top Group E after a 4-0 rout of Malaysia in their first game. A win for either side would put them on the verge of finishing top, possibly avoiding a clash against the tournament favourites, Japan, in the last 16. “Everyone in the dressing room and everyone back home, the whole nation, are waiting for this trophy,” said Lee. “We haven’t won it for 64 years so we’re all motivated and hungry for this tournament.” Yara El-Shaboury
Jordan v South Korea, Asian Cup, Saturday 11.30am (all times GMT)
Gunners need to spice up title push
While in Dubai for Arsenal’s warm-weather training week, Mikel Arteta kicked back with a personal dinner service from the celebrity steak chef whose narcissism debased the 2022 World Cup presentation ceremony. Now his players need to show that they, at least, are not impostors when it comes to the Premier League title race. They need a win to arrest their stuttering form and could face few friendlier assignments than a home meeting with Crystal Palace, who have recorded one win in their past 11 across all competitions. Palace and the under-fire Roy Hodgson did not receive a proper break of their own, instead travelling to Everton for an FA Cup replay on Wednesday night, so if Arsenal fall short a lack of freshness cannot sit among Arteta’s excuses. Gabriel Jesus could make a timely return to spearhead the attack and the expectation is that Bukayo Saka, understandably flagging of late, will have been revived by the break. Arsenal hope their time in the sun has only just begun. Nick Ames
Arsenal v Crystal Palace, Premier League, Saturday 12.30pm
Saints riding high on best run for 102 years
When Southampton kicked off the Championship season with a freewheeling 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday it seemed they had used the summer wisely. A divisional record of 477 successful first-half passes suggested Russell Martin had instilled in the players his pass-and-move style in rapid time. Results nosedived during a chastening September that left Saints at their lowest ebb since administration in 2009, and an instant return to the Premier League looked impossible as Leicester and Ipswich raced away at the top. Fast forward six months and Saturday’s 4-0 win against Wednesday made it 19 league games unbeaten – their best run since 1922. They are three points off an automatic promotion spot and playing with an energy, verve and cutting edge no one thought possible when Martin’s possession-heavy style was derided as “Rustyball”. The defensive errors have disappeared, the goals are flowing and Adam Armstrong is joint-second top scorer in the league, with 14 goals and 11 assists to boot. Martin can expect some abuse when he returns to Swansea, the club he left for Southampton, but no one is mocking him now. Rob Bleaney
Swansea v Southampton, Championship, Saturday 12.30pm
Unity remains amid Reading’s despair
One of the most striking, and heartening, aspects of the protests at Reading against the club’s negligent owner, Dai Yongge, is the near-blanket backing they’ve received from supporters of other clubs, with so many other fanbases having suffered crises of their own in the past couple of decades. After Port Vale’s travelling contingent expressed backing for the on-pitch demonstration that got last Saturday’s match at the Madejski Select Car Leasing Stadium abandoned, the Reading fan groups Sell Before We Dai and Supporters Trust at Reading raised and donated more than £3,000 to Vale’s fundraiser for a statue of their legendary former manager John Rudge. A similar fraternity should be in the air at the DW Stadium when Reading visit Wigan, who were in a similar mess until last summer’s takeover, a mess that, like Reading, has cost them a points deduction in League One this season. Saturday’s match is a big one for both sides in their battles against relegation and both are in decent form, with Rubén Sellés’s Reading unbeaten in six league games while Shaun Maloney’s hosts are a better side than their 18th placing suggests. Wigan have won as many as they have lost but have been hobbled by that eight-point penalty. So amid crisis and anxiety, an occasion that showcases the vibrancy of lower-division football is expected. Tom Davies
Wigan v Reading, League One, Saturday 3pm
Toney should hold tongue – he owes Brentford
As social media campaigns go, Brentford’s “The Return: IT17” was rather scrambled by its subject, Ivan Toney, going public on returning from his eight-month gambling ban: “Whether it’s this January that is the right time for a club to come in and pay the right money, who knows?” No one at Brentford, a club built on realism, expects Toney to stay beyond the summer. This was not the first time he has spoken of grander ambitions but it felt untimely, ungrateful. Toney’s absence has denied Thomas Frank’s now struggling team their focal point, while the ban removed the possibility of selling him to find a replacement. With Yoane Wissa at the Africa Cup of Nations and Bryan Mbeumo’s involvement prevented by injury, Toney returns against Forest at a crucial time. He is likely to be rusty but, before achieving his further ambitions, Toney has a considerable debt to pay. John Brewin
Brentford v Nottingham Forest, Premier League, Saturday 5.30pm
Mali making their mark at Afcon
As the second week of Africa Cup of Nations action gets under way, the competition is wide open. Several traditional powerhouses and expected favourites failed to win their opening matches, raising the possibility of early exits for some of the established teams and paving the way for a potential first-time champion. Enter Mali, Africa’s biggest underachievers who have never clinched the title despite six semi-final appearances. Against South Africa the Eagles secured a well-fought victory and the jubilant scenes after their win could serve as a catalyst for a promising campaign. With a wealth of talent in Real Sociedad’s Hamari Traoré, Leipzig’s Amadou Haidara and others, Mali will want to show they are well equipped for a deep run in the tournament with another strong group stage performance. YE-S
Tunisia v Mali, Africa Cup of Nations, Saturday 8pm
Reds take aim at depleted Chelsea in WSL
Manchester United have the opportunity to make history this weekend in the Women’s Super League when they face a team they have never beaten: the defending champions, Chelsea. The Blues will have to do without Sam Kerr who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. It is a big loss for the club as, while she is always dependable, she is even more potent against United and is a menace to Mary Earps, scoring 10 goals in 10 games against the United goalkeeper for club and country. With Chelsea deprived of Kerr and their talismanic captain, Millie Bright, through injury, this could be United’s time to get one over their rivals. Marc Skinner’s side will have to do it at Stamford Bridge in front of a large crowd, with more than 20,000 tickets sold. It is almost a must-win for United if they want to reignite their WSL title hopes – they sit seven points behind Chelsea at the summit. Arsenal or Manchester City could finish the weekend top if Chelsea lose, with the Gunners taking on Everton and City playing Liverpool. Sarah Rendell
Chelsea v Manchester United, WSL, Sunday 12.30pm
Ahmedhodzic dilemma tests Blades’ new harmony
Stick or twist: sell this month or delay until the summer? The now harmonious relationship between Sheffield United’s owner, Prince Abdullah, and Chris Wilder could be tested by Napoli’s serious interest in Anel Ahmedhodzic. The 24-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina defender, who grew up in Sweden, arrived in South Yorkshire 18 months ago for what now looks a bargain £4m from Malmö. He played a key part in promotion from the Championship and has recently captained Wilder’s side. With the side’s key centre-half, and usual skipper, John Egan, sidelined by an achilles tendon injury until late spring at the earliest, selling Ahmedhodzic now could ruin Wilder’s hopes of avoiding relegation. On the other hand, the cash would be extremely welcome at Bramall Lane. Meanwhile, the new loan signing Ben Brereton Díaz will be hoping to endear himself to the fans with a goal or two against West Ham. Louise Taylor
Sheffield United v West Ham, Premier League, Sunday 2pm
Solanke can accelerate Euro 2024 charge
It is more than four months until England travel to Euro 2024 but Gareth Southgate’s squad already feels something of a closed shop, with a few undroppables such as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham and several, more debatable, shoo-ins, including Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson, almost certain to make the plane. That sense of continuity is probably a good thing but in attack there is scope for a forward to make a late play for a spot, with Kane the only guaranteed pick. Dominic Solanke, who has registered eight goals in his last eight games, is the leading English goalscorer in the Premier League and, on Sunday, he will hope to extend his prolific run when Bournemouth host one of his former clubs, Liverpool. Southgate is well versed on Solanke, having selected him while in charge of England Under-21s. Now the 26-year-old needs to prove he is the best of the rest. Ben Fisher
Bournemouth v Liverpool, Premier League, Sunday 4.30pm
Threadbare Wolves ponder future without Kilman
While Wolves fans look ahead to the West Brom FA Cup fourth-round tie that follows after beating Brentford, there is a tough Premier League assignment to complete. Brighton have won the teams’ past four meetings, scoring 16 goals in the process, and won this fixture 6-0 last season. They return to action for the first time since 6 January, having enjoyed the full Premier League break. Wolves’ mid-winter break was truncated by the replay against Brentford and Gary O’Neil spoke afterwards of “a very small, tired group to do some work with before we go to Brighton”. A budget teetering close to profit and sustainability limits means there will be no raft of recruitments, with O’Neil admitting to a sell-to-buy situation. Max Kilman, linked with West Ham last week, fits the bill of a pure-profit cashable asset as someone bought in from non-league, but selling the club captain would be unpopular. JB
Brighton v Wolves, Premier League, Monday 7.45pm
