ASHLEY BARNES

CRISTIANO RONALDO’S overhead kick against Juventus was stunning and testimony to enduring athleticism but Barnes’s goal against West Brom was special, too. The Burnley forward was not as far off the ground as Ronaldo but if the 28-yearold’s fourth goal in as many games is not being spoken of in quite the same breath as the Real Madrid star’s then it is at least worthy of featuring in the same paragraph.

JAMES MILNER

WHEN Jurgen Klopp told the midfielder he would be playing left back last season, he considered saying no. This season, meanwhile, Milner has struggled to get into the Liverpool team at all. But when the call came to replace Emre Can against Manchester City, Milner produced a performance of tactical intelligence and spellbinding energy. He is 32 now and retired from international duty at the start of last season. It may have been too early.

BRITISH HORSERACING AUTHORITY

RATHER underplayed by the media at the end of Cheltenham week was the fact six horses died, bringing the total to a shameful 17 in the last three festivals. Now the British Horseracing Authority are to review procedures by analysing data from all Cheltenham meetings over the past two decades. It will make grim reading but is a worthy move, nonetheless.