And that's where we end for today, many thanks for your company. You can join Marc Higginson on the BBC website shortly for his comprehensive live text commentary of tonight's Premier League matches between Manchester City and Aston Villa and Sunderland against West Brom.

There will be updates in 5 live Sport with Mark Pougatch, who is joined by Mark Lawrenson, Robbie Savage and Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic from 19:00 BST, a programme you can also watch on the BBC Red Button as part of Midweek Final Score, and Sportsday will return from 08:00 BST on Thursday with all the reaction so please join us then.

Liverpool fans would welcome a clean sheet from Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium tonight, but Manchester City have scored at least four goals in each of their last three league home matches against them.

BBC World Football on Twitter:, external "Malaga's Roque Santa Cruz hits out at Spanish FA/League for not being tougher on racism. He's told us today that stadiums should be closed."

Villarreal have been fined £9,800 by the Spanish soccer federation after a fan threw a banana at Barcelona defender Dani Alves during a league match between the teams on 27 April.

The facts for those needing Manchester City to slip up against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium do not make encouraging reading. City have recorded more Premier League wins (18) against Villa than against any other team - although Villa came from behind to win the reverse fixture 3-2 in September.

More from Wayne Rooney, who says former Manchester United playmakers Paul Scholes and Cristiano Ronaldo are the best players he has played alongside.

"Scholesy controlled the game and passed the ball around but in terms of winning games - Cristiano Ronaldo," said Rooney, who listed former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and ex-England striker Alan Shearer as his heroes.

Glamorgan have drawn their Division Two fixture against Worcestershire after closing on 229-7, having been set a formidable 382 for victory in Cardiff.

Former International Cricket Council and England and Wales Cricket Board chairman David Morgan will replace Mike Gatting as the next president of the Marylebone Cricket Club.

Morgan, the current president of Glamorgan, will begin his role on 1 October. He was unveiled at the Club's Annual General Meeting at Lord's on Wednesday where Gatting said: "There is work to do to continue moving the Lord's Masterplan forward over the next year with the redevelopment of the south western corner of the Ground, including the Tavern and Allen Stands, next on the agenda.

"David has the perfect experience and temperament to make this and MCC's other areas of work a great success."

The BBC has learned that the FA will take no further action against Hull's David Meyler following an incident with Adnan Januzaj that left the Manchester United winger with a cut leg.

England striker Wayne Rooney says his team can win the World Cup in Brazil, despite many predictions that they will not qualify from their group also containing Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica.

"I think we can," said the 28-year-old at a Q&A session. "We have to believe, even if no-one else will."

Adrian Harms, BBC Sussex: "Ultimately the weather was the winner in Manchester, much to Sussex's frustration having dominated this match for three days.

"Sussex have responded well to the heavy defeat against Somerset last week, and even without skipper Ed Joyce and Chris Jordan have looked a side capable of mounting a challenge for the Championship

"The return from injury of the experienced Chris Nash and Luke Wright, together with welcome runs for Mike Yardy, Rory Hamiton Brown and Matt Machan augers well for Sussex, with County Champions Durham due at Hove on Sunday.

Paul Newton, BBC Essex: "For a brief moment when Essex's fifth wicket fell to the first delivery of the second new ball, an improbable Leics victory was a distinct possibility. The score was then 213-5 with Essex a fragile 61 runs ahead. But 19 year old Kishen Velani displayed the coolest of heads to guide Essex to the safety of a draw in the company of his captain, the ever-dependable James Foster, the pair putting on 58 unbroken with few alarms.

"Leics have had the better of three consecutive draws and with a little more urgency in their second innings might have registered their first away victory since 2010. Essex hope to have their hugely successful seam bowling attack of 2013, Masters, Napier and Topley, 150 wickets between them, fit for their next match v Worcs at New Road starting Sunday week. Essex take 8 pts, Leics 11pts."

Newly-crowned world champion Mark Selby on Twitter: , externalTwitter profile updated! "World champion" does look good!

Image source, BBC Sport

Let's have a look at some stats as we build up to tonight's big Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at 19:45 BST. Liverpool fans looking for optimism with only a one point lead and having played a game more will not be overly heartened by City having won their last six Premier League home matches against Aston Villa, and 10 of the last 11.

Image source, @GaryLineker

The BBC's World Cup presenter Gary Lineker on Twitter:, external "Just interviewed this charming individual for the Brazilian doc I'm filming. He's travelled a bit."

The Match Play Championship will not be in its traditional spot in February for the first time since it began in 1999, with no available place on the tour calendar between the Tournament of Champions from 9-12 January and The Players Championship from 7-10 May.

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke will reveal the findings from the England Commission on Thursday.

Dyke set up the commission to tackle the issues around the lack of opportunities for English players in the Premier League and also focus on the future of the England team.

A host of draws in today's county cricket, Hampshire and Cardiff MCCU in Southampton, Somerset against Notts at Taunton, Essex-Leicestershire at Chelmsford and Lancashire v Sussex just across the Ship canal in showery, breezy and bracing conditions at Old Trafford.

The final part of our selection of answers from 5 live's World Cup pundit Brad Friedel, Tottenham's evergreen American goalkeeper.

Nathan: Who do you think will win the World Cup and why?

Brad Friedel: I have it down as Brazil winning the World Cup. People say there are a lot of expectations, so will they fold under the pressure? I think as a Brazilian you're expected to win things. I think Argentina and Spain will be very close. Germany and Belgium are ones to watch but I think it'll take a very special team to beat Brazil at home in the World Cup.

More from 5 live's World Cup pundit Brad Friedel, who has been taking part in a Q&A session for the BBC Sport Facebook, external page.

Bidhan: Yourself, Tim Howard and Brad Guzan - how does America produce identical and brilliant goalkeepers?

Brad Friedel: We all go to the same barber! No, I think in America we grow up playing all the American sports, which bodes well for goalkeeping. I played a lot of basketball and I bet Brad and Timmy did the same. It's important to be an athlete and I think that helps. From there, it's a mentality thing and in America I think our 'never say die attitude' lends itself to being a goalkeeper.

Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who will be part of the 5 live commentary team at the World Cup, has been taking part in a Q&A session for the BBC Sport Facebook, external page and here are some of his answers.

Robert Walton: I would like to see Gerrard, Barkley, Sterling and Oxlade-Chamberlain in midfield. Do you think Hodgson is brave enough to play with young form players?

Brad Friedel: "I think in knowing Roy, he will not be shy of playing a player because of his age. He will play who he thinks will win that game and he's a very astute manager. If I were an England fan I would have full confidence in him.